I've Got A Bracelet Too, from uhh, umm, it's right here . . .

The Patriot Room ^ | September 27, 2008 | Bill Dupray

[Bill Dupray]

Gaffe of the night.

[gusopol3]

my daughter watched with a college age crowd, generally Obama sympathetic, but they laughed out loud at “I’ve got a bracelet too.”

[Dustbunny]

What a small minded immature boy Obama is. The 'I've got a bracelet too' comment proved it. He has probably had the bracelet all of two days.

Everything about Obama is theatrical, rehearsed and scripted. Nothing he says or does comes from the heart.

[reg45]

“I’ve got a bracelet too.”

It's in a shoebox at home along with my flag pin. Maybe, I can sell them on E-Bay. After all they were worn by - me - and should fetch a tidy sum.

[Lux-In-Domino]

The bracelet gaffe pretty much sums it all up. Senator Obama tried so hard to measure up and be an equal to Senator McCain which Obama failed miserably to do. He has a bracelet too, but he can’t recall the fallen soldier’s name. Obama called Senator McCain by his first name “John”, in a desperate attempt to elevate himself as an equal, but instead Obama came across as disrespectful. Also, Obama found himself agreeing to many things McCain said... partly because McCain is absolutely correct and also because Obama does not have anything original to offer. In the end, we witnessed McCain who spoke calmly and clearly from the heart... words flowed effortlessly and with deep conviction, very genuine indeed! I could not say the same for Obama... words came out, but they were empty... as if they were recited from memory... lacking conviction ... without soul.

[hecht]

could you imagine the “senior moment” if McCain couldn’t remember the name of the soldier on his bracelet

[jilliane]

I’m so sorry I didn’t see this post and made the comment below on antoher FR thread...I thought this was the defining low point for Obama...

The one thing I felt was disgraceful by Obama was the “me too” about the bracelet.

McCain has been wearing the bracelet for a long time and has spoken from the heart about the significance of it for him repeatedly...you know he believes it to his soul.

Obama’s “uh I gotta a bracelet too....”...was a low point even for him. Got his bracelet recently (a political stunt) …he seemed to almost not even know who it belonged to …stuttered over it…had to read the name on it... filled in words that supported his position….exploited the loss of a soldier for a political checkmark on a list of how to even up a score with McCain… rather than wearing it as a badge of honor

[jilliane]

In hindsight...McCain repeated twice that he has worn his since “the August before last...(2007)...I wondered if he knew Obama got himself a bracelet and was going to use it and that’s why he kept making the point about WHEN he got his.

[LADYAK]

Can someone explain the bracelet to me? I did not watch the debates...our son died in June and politics just doesn’t interest me but I am now interested in the bracelets

jeremyearnshaw.com

[RummyChick]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a63v0GF8Fs4

[SECURE AMERICA]

Obama: I got a bracelet too.

Thought this was billed as a debate between Presidential Candidates.
Who left the 5th grader in? Whahhh. I’m taking my ball and going home..
And there are human being, American citizens that are actually going to vote for this child....

[rabidralph]

I think he said he got it in Green Bay so he’s had it less than a week. He was in Green Bay on Monday.

[rabidralph]

I’m sorry for the loss of your son. You have my prayers.

[kcvl]

Used in Obama fundraising letter.

05/10/08

A variation on the story is featured in Obama’s latest national fundraising letter, which went out this week to hundreds of thousands of supporters across the country.

The woman the senator references, Tracy Jopek, gave Obama a bracelet honoring the memory of her son, Ryan, when the candidate visited Green Bay on the Friday before the Wisconsin primary.

Ryan Jopek, 20, died in 2006 in Iraq, where he was deployed with the Wisconsin National Guard.

Tracy Jopek, who lives in Merrill, has been an Obama backer since the Illinois senator announced his candidacy for president last year.

******

Ryan Jopek followed his father into the Wisconsin National Guard, shipping out for basic training right after high school graduation. He deployed to Iraq in 2005, following his father, who had deployed there earlier.

Ryan Jopek was two weeks from going home when he volunteered for a mission and was killed by a roadside bomb. He is survived by his parents; younger sister, Jessica; and younger brother, Steve.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news//285632

[kcvl]

“I didn’t want him to go, but he was proud to serve his country,” said his mother, Tracy Jopek. “He was the greatest kid you ever had, always smiling, loved his family, loved his friends. He loved life and he was excited to be coming home.”

[Ladysmith]

http://herobracelets.org/

My heart breaks for you and yours. May your son’s service never be in vain.

[Vaduz]

I’ve got a bracelet too.”
The real question here is does it match his dress?

[rexgrossmansonlyfan]

Can I sue you for destroying my computer. I just laughed so hard the coke I was drinking spewed out of my mouth.

[Aln in Eastern WA]

What if Gov. Palin had committed this gaffe?

As a veteran, I find Obama’s inability to remember even the soldier’s name embarrassing.

[Brown Deer]

Funeral services will be held Monday in Merrill for Ryan David Jopek, a sergeant with the Antigo and Merrill-based National Guard unit who was killed while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Jopek, 20, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006 from a roadside bomb in Tikrit, Iraq. He was a member of Troop E 105th Cavalry, based in Antigo and Merrill. The unit was mobilized to Iraq on June 6, 2005 as part of the Appleton-based 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry and is scheduled to return home later this month.


Born June 1, 1986 in Alliance, Neb. he was a son of Tracy (Smith) Jopek of Merrill and Brian Jopek of Antigo. He graduated from Merrill High School in 2004.

Sgt. Jopek followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in August, 2003 as a scout assigned to Troop E, 105th Calvary. In Iraq, the unit was responsible for providing convoy security.

Sgt. Jopek was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Commendation medals. Additional medals include Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Iraqi Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service, and the Armed Forces Reserve with "M" Device. He also received the Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant posthumously.

He enjoyed playing basketball, soccer, golf and football. He was also interested in music, monster trucks, airplanes, and his 1966 Chevrolet half-ton pick-up truck, which he planned to restore.

Sgt. Jopek was an avid Chicago Bears fan and his family said he modeled his life after his childhood hero, the legendary Bear running back Walter Payton. He loved all of his many friends and family.

In addition to his parents, survivors include a sister, Jessica Jopek of Merrill; a brother, Steven Jopek, Merrill; maternal grandparents, Donald and Carrie Smith of Bayard, Neb.; his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Peg Jopek of Antigo; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Merrill High School Field House. Rev. Robert Smallman and Rev. Charles Hoffmann will officiate.

Burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Merrill National Guard Armory.

source: Antigo Daily Journal, Aug. 9, 2006