Family Told Obama NOT To Wear Soldier Son's Bracelet… Yet He Still Does? WITH UPDATE

publiusforum.com ^ | 09/28/08 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

**UPDATE**

Jopek Mother Confirms She Asked Obama NOT To Use Bracelet in Campaign

This afternoon the Associated Press was at last able to contact Tracy Jopek, mother of Sergeant Ryan David Jopek, the KIA soldier on the bracelet that Barack Obama is using on the campaign trail. Ryan's Mother is confirming that she gave the bracelet to Mr. Obama, but is also confirming that she asked him to stop using her son's name on the campaign.

After Tracy Jopek gave Sen. Barack Obama a bracelet in honor of her son who was killed in Iraq, she asked Obama not to mention the bracelet on the campaign trail.

She did, however, claim that she was "satisfied" with how Obama discussed the bracelet in the presidential debates last week.

But, we have another little mystery with these AP reports. The original headline for this report was "Soldier's mother 'ecstatic' about Obama's bracelet," released at about 7PM the evening of the 28th. But a few hours later, the AP changed it to "Soldier's mom defends Obama's mention of bracelet."....

Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...

[Mobile Vulgus]

We had this on FreeRepublic earlier today. Here's an update...

[pennboricua]

before this is done and over she will evolve into another Cindy Sheehan, mark my word!

[seastay]

listen here, 13 minutes into the interview, the father said that the mother had asked Obama NOT to wear the bracelet.

http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/wau/rt51080329_iraqwar5years.mp3

The mother was reported to have changed her mind, true or not, the fathers testimony, in his own voice still stands.

[Old Sarge]

He gets a pass.

[FlingWingFlyer]

before this is done and over she will evolve into another Cindy Sheehan, mark my word!

Some people just won't pass up an opportunity for that 15 minutes of fame.

[TheZMan]

Yes I can, no you can’t, yes I can, no you can’t.

There’s been so many conflicting stories on this over the last 2 days it’s past the point of retarded.

[cruise_missile]

Lets not forget he used the bracelet as a prop and he forgot the fallen soldier’s name.

[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

[ExSES]

Lets not forget he used the bracelet as a prop and he forgot the fallen soldier’s name.

The mind-numb followers will never comprehend that!

[kingattax]

The mind-numb followers will never comprehend that!

nor will they care

[wjcsux]

Rest in Peace soldier.

[CitizenM]

Note: Italics are mine.

The question about the bracelet begins at 11:12 into the radio program. What is apparent and said by Sgt. Jopek's father is that Tracy (Jopek's mother) wanted Obama to have the bracelet as something between her and Obama. The words used by the father were "so he (Obama) could put a name with it," (meaning the loss of her son as a symbol representative of the loss of other young men in the war). Also, later when the bracelet gift became publicly known, Tracy asked Obama to stop wearing the bracelet when he made public appearances.

First...it is obvious Obama didn't "put a name with it" as intended by Tracy...as he clearly demonstrated in the debate that he didn't even remember the Sgt's. name .

Second...Obama had to have made a concerted effort to wear the bracelet for the debate, and that is obvious since Sgt. Jopek's father said that Obama had stopped wearing it for a while as originally requested by Tracy (that point is also made by Sgt. Jopek's father in the conversation on the tape).

The conclusion: Obama cannot even keep his word to one sorrowful mother, who is an Obama supporter, and who did not want to become the center of attention again and have this become a political issue, or be confronted by others over the bracelet exchange. Which, of course, is exactly what has now occured again, as Obama has made it so.

When it comes to promoting himself and his campaign objectives, Obama has no honor. And this is a man whose word we should trust?

To Tracy Jopek, this was a sacred gift and a private memory she shared willing with Obama because she trusted him to respect the loss of her son as she intended.

To put it simply: Obama did not have the decency, and common courtesy, to treat her gift and request with the dignity she expected.

[Sun]

Maybe you could call a national talk show about this.

[Mobile Vulgus]

Maybe you could call a national talk show about this.

I am sure they are all on it. Even the AP had to take this one up.

[Sun]

“I am sure they are all on it.”

I hope so.

[Sun]

Prayers for this brave man, his family and all concerned.

[Tempest]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-obama-bracelet,0,6413408.story

Conflicting stories

[YoungRenaissanceMan]

heard the father was a mccain supporter

[Mobile Vulgus]

Really, there isn’t anything “conflicting” with this story. The fact is the woman asked Obama not to use her son’s name and she has reiterated that today. But, there Obama is still using the name.

[BuffaloJack]

That’s like giving a 5 year old a whistle and asking him not to blow it.