Conservatives say Obama lacks patriotism

AP ^ | 24 FEBRUARY 2008 | NEDRA PICKLER

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives on Internet and in the media to question his patriotism.

Now Obama's wife, Michelle, has drawn their ire, too, for saying recently that she's really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Conservative consultants say that combined, the cases could be an issue for Obama in the general election if he wins the nomination, especially as he runs against Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain.

"The reason it hasn't been an issue so far is that we're still in the microcosm of the Democratic primary," said Republican consultant Roger Stone. "Many Americans will find the three things offensive. Barack Obama is out of the McGovern wing of the party, and he is part of the blame America first crowd."

Opponents of Sen. John Kerry proved in the 2004 election that voters are sensitive to suggestions that a candidate is not sufficiently patriotic. The Democratic presidential nominee's campaign was torpedoed by critics of his Vietnam War record called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, even though he won multiple military honors and was lauded by his superiors.

The Swift Boat campaign started as a relatively small television ad buy that exploded into an issue that dogged Kerry for months. The Massachusetts senator has conceded since losing to President Bush that the campaign and his lackluster response to unsubstantiated allegations he considered unworthy of a reaction likely cost him the election. And the term even became part of the campaign lexicon — swift boating.

Obama already is the subject of a shadowy smear campaign based on the Internet that falsely suggests he's a Muslim intent on destroying the United States. Obama is a Christian and has been fighting the e-mail hoax, which also claims he doesn't put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, and he's been trying to correct the misinformation.

"Whenever I'm in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America," Obama frequently tells voters.

"I've been going to the same church for 20 years, praising Jesus," he adds.

Retired Major General Scott Gration, an Obama military adviser, said he expects the attacks will only increase if Obama wins the Democratic nomination.

"People are projecting things and taking things out of context," Gration said. "There's absolutely no question in my mind that Michelle and Barack are extremely patriotic, appreciate our freedoms and our values and everything else that the flag represents."

Officials with the McCain campaign and the Republican Party say they won't be suggesting Obama is less than patriotic, and instead plan to focus their criticisms on his record and inexperience if he wins the nomination. Well-funded outside groups, however, consider anything fair game.

Conservative Republican consultant Keith Appell, who worked with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, said Obama's opposition to the war will create a "striking contrast between McCain the war hero and Obama the poster child for the anti-war movement."

"If you are McCain, you want to play up the decorated war hero, loves his country, served his country," Appell said. "You want to play those themes up as much as possible, especially in comparison to Obama and his role in the anti-war movement."

On Monday, Michelle Obama told an audience in Milwaukee, "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change."

Cindy McCain, McCain's wife, days later responded by saying, "I have, and always will be, proud of my country." Barack Obama has expressed frustration that his wife's remarks had been taken out of context and turned into political fodder — both the Obamas say she was talking about politics in the United States, not the country itself.

Last summer, Obama was photographed by Time magazine at an event in Iowa standing with his hands folded during the national anthem. His primary rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson appear beside him, with their hands on their hearts.

It has been repeatedly reported that the moment came during the Pledge of Allegiance, but that's not the case.

In October, Obama told Iowa television station KCRG that he decided to stop wearing a U.S. flag lapel pin during the run-up to the Iraq war because it had become "a substitute for, I think, true patriotism."

"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great and, hopefully, that will be a testimony to my patriotism," Obama said.

Obama's comments led conservatives and media commentators to question his patriotism.

"First he kicked his American flag pin to the curb. Now Barack Obama has a new round of patriotism problems. Wait until you hear what the White House hopeful didn't do during the singing of the national anthem," said Steve Doocy, co-host of "Fox and Friends" on the Fox News Channel.

"He felt it OK to come out of the closet as the domestic insurgent he is," former radio host Mark Williams said on Fox.

Gration said he had a copy of the national anthem photo e-mailed to him by a friend who didn't know the facts and questioned how a military man could support someone who doesn't honor the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I go to baseball games and football games and there's just a minority of us who put our hands over our heart. It's not an indication of patriotism," Gration said. Gration said he personally wears a flag pin, but "if I meet someone who doesn't have a lapel pin, it doesn't mean they are more or less patriotic than I am."

And, he added, "I don't think you can find Barack again not putting his hand over his heart at the national anthem."

[SampleMan]

To be fair, its not just Barak, most Democrats lack patriotism. The rest simply lack judgment.

[Archon of the East]

We don’t say it, we notice it. Big difference.

[bannie]

He may have plent of "patriotism," but it ain't for America.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Heck, that’s just a plus to a lot of democrats. If it came out that he really was a Muslim, he’d probably gain more supporters! I have a bad feeling that we’re gonna wake up one morning in January with this Saul Alinsky acolyte running the executive branch.

[bannie]

plenty

SHAME ON ME!!!!

[italianquaker]

We OBSERVE that he is not patriotic

[angkor]

All of these are losing issues which McQueeg will of course use as the staples for his losing campaign.

[org.whodat]

“consultant Keith Appell, “ Why did they not just say forbes.inc say’s.

[KC_Conspirator]

I notice that as well - his statements that he did not like to wear the US flag lapel, his refusal to participate in the national anthem, and the statements of his wife about being ashamed to be an American. But, no, its all in our head, right? (sarcasm)

[bert]

What we really say is Democrats lack patriotism.

Love of utopian fantasy precludes love of country.

If you are a Democrat you are an inferior American

If you claim to be a Democrat but not inferior, you were a Democrat. The party has left you.

[sirchtruth]

This guy is exactly what America does NOT need right now. He is nothing but an anti "America Is Great" canidate. No different than any liberal loser out there currently.

He's full of empty words.

[norwaypinesavage]

"I don't think you can find Barack again not putting his hand over his heart at the national anthem."

Too late, he's already been caught.

[JasonC]

"everything else that the flag represents"

You know,

running away,
60% tax rates on the self employed,
appeasing foreign tyrants,
trillion dollar giveaways to foreigners who hate us,
communist organizing among the disaffected,
slandering the US military and servicemen,
fake but accurate smear campaigns,
mandatory Stalinist brainwashing seminars from age 3,
calling your president a Nazi for daring to fight for Americans,
watching Iran get nuclear weapons without moving a muscle

- you know, the *core values* of a modern democrat.

[John D]

He should pick Ron Paul for his running mate. They would make the perfect anti-American pair.

[freespirited]

"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great and, hopefully, that will be a testimony to my patriotism," Obama said.

So it's not a great country already?

Let me guess: it won't be great until it elects him.

[From many - one.]

Please note:

“Whenever I’m in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,” Obama frequently tells voters.

And, it seems, only then. He must be aware theat there might be other photos out there.

[montag813]

Facts are stubborn things.

[Godwin1]

Barak lacks patriotism. So what! He is a modern Democrat and that’s part of the package. True, Obama is more open then most about it—his rejection of the flag, his promise to apologize to “the world” because America took steps to defend itself without first asking “the world’s” permission, his open-borders contempt for our sovereignty. His wife’s outspoken hatred for our country is another clue. And have you seen the website of the “church” he and his family belong to? We are being destroyed from within.

[napscoordinator]

I never wear an American Flag Lapel pin...I don’t think that has a thing to do with patriotism. What pissed me off about Obama was when he did not put his hand over his heart. That is what is horrible. Even Clinton was paying allegence to the country and flag.