'I've Got a Bracelet, Too'

NewsBusters ^

[Lexinom]

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

[Lexinom]

See tagline. It was a gaffe, it was funny, and gives us a window into the maturity issue.

[rbg81]

Wow, I’m impressed. Don’t expect the MSM to pick up on this little inconsistency, though.

[Salamander]

Geeze...that was just stuff from a piddly 3 pages of Google image searches.
I’m sure there are hundreds if not thousands more where he’s *not* wearing his “Precious”.....;]

[kabar]

Obama was given the bracelet in Feb 2008 even though the soldier died in August 2006.

Why Obama wears a fallen soldier's bracelet-- February 18, 2008

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Other Carter legacies:

Robert Mugabe
The overthrow of the Shah and takeover by the ayatollahs

[Salamander]

It just wasn't politically expedient or relevant in 2006 but in 2008, he can -use- it for his own glorification.

Soulless and calculating, he is.

[kabar]

The mother approached him in 2008 not 2006, i.e., 18 months after her son had been killed.

[Salamander]

Hmmmm.

[kcvl]

Brian Jopek, the father of Ryan Jopek, the young soldier who tragically lost his life to a roadside bomb in 2006, recently said on a Wisconsin Public Radio show that his family had asked Barack Obama to stop wearing the bracelet with his son’s name on it. Yet Obama continues to do so despite the wishes of the family.

http://tinyurl.com/4x6hjr

Mr. Jopek, a man who believes in the efforts in Iraq and is not in favor of Obama’s positions on the war, what he and his ex-wife think of Obama continually using their son’s name on the campaign trail.

Jopek began by saying that his ex-wife was taken aback, even upset, that Obama has made the death of her son a campaign issue. Jopek says his wife gave Obama the bracelet because “she just wanted Mr. Obama to know Ryan’s name.” Jopek went on to say that “she wasn’t looking to turn it into a big media event” and “just wanted it to be something between Barack Obama and herself.” Apparently, they were all shocked it became such a big deal.

[kabar]

I know all that. How well does the former husband represent the ex-wife’s views, especially since seven months ago she was singing a much different tune? Read the article. My theory is that the Obama campaign initiated the bracelet idea, not the wife, but she went happily along being an Obama supporter and “political junkie.”

[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