Recieved an e-mail with an odd picture this afternoon, so I decded to check it out, and apparently this did happen. Makes me wonder WTF he is thinking.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp

Honestly I would have voted for the guy, but now probably not. Despite what our current Commander in Chief has done, our country still rests n the 200 years of history we have good, bad or otherwise. It's not the leadership we salute. It's our nation, and our way of life.

This guy is a lousy candidate for leader of this country. He has spent a few years as an elected Senator, and written a book that people apparently liked. What does he have to show other than that for qualifications?

What he has shown as a campaigner is that he can be molded by his handlers the same as any other politician. Once it became apparent that he was no longer the favorite he was looking like early on, he started going negative and attacking rather than sticking to his early comments of being above that and running on his own ideas and ideals.

The manner in which he allowed his flag pin to even become a discussion topic showed me he would not be an impressive leader. Rather than simply say there was no story there, he chose to act like a pretentious prima dona, and has obviously carried that over to the national anthem now.

The fact that not even an Oprah endorsement could boost his numbers shows that the country has been wising up to Obama as President, and wants something better for the country. And there are definitely better qualified candidates.

I don't see any candidates worth a shit. Not one. Scary times for our Country.

:devil

Obama's point is that displays like flag pins and recitations are so purely symbolic as to have as much to do with patriotism as, say, David Vitter's wedding ring has to do with fidelity. These displays, he seems to think, are more for show than for substance. There may well be something to do this, but without presenting this viewpoint more strongly, it leaves him open to attack. It's just not a great stand to take while running for President.

I disagree that Obama's been too molded by handlers or somesuch. He's been willing to say, to people's faces, things they don't want to hear rather than pander to every crowd's fondest wishes for a candidate (he raised the point of merit in a speech before the teacher's union, for example). Obama's problem is really the opposite: He's a terrific and inspirational orator, but not a practiced politician, and it shows in many ways, large and small. Do you think a political handler would recommend that he not say the Pledge?

Also, Obama has had to go after Hillary, because after his rapid rise in popularity and political funding, he's stagnated. He needs to differentiate himself from Clinton (as all candidates do) so that people see a choice between them and will, hopefully, view his choices as superior to hers. People aren't giving him millions to sit around in second. He's tried to do this for the past 6 months, but nothing's changed, so he's taking a harder edge. I haven't seen anything veer into unacceptable territory though.

I like most of Obama's policies and prefer him to Clinton, but he's definitely fallen in my eyes. Needs more time to percolate, really. And he needs to realize that pledges and pins aren't that bad, really, especially if you want to be President.

While he certainly isn't obligated to put his hand over his heart (there are some First Amendment sticking points with enforcement of the Flag Code) it isn't a smart thing to do.

As an elected representative, he should mirror the attitudes of his constituents. I'm quite sure his personal stand isn't entirely reflecting that of those who elected him.

I guess as a veteran I feel differently about the flag just being a "symbol". The Commander in Chief is the last person I'd expect not saluting or holding the flag in high regard. I don't know about other military bases but in the Army when you hear the Retreat or Revellie you stop what you're doing and pay proper respects to it. I would expect my highest commander to do the same.

As a vet myself I agree. Its disturbing he would choose to take this type of a stance in regards to the anthem.

I'm quite sure his personal stand isn't entirely reflecting that of those who elected him.

Or maybe it is....

Regardless, it's poor form in any event.
Like Fild, I am a veteran, and whenever I hear Revellie or Retreat, I'm reminded of a story I read while serving:

The story goes there was a young soldier, who was always rushing to leave post before Retreat sounded, or not bothering to stop and get out of his car when Reveille was sounded in the morning.
A sergeant saw this soldier 1 day, and asked him why he didn't pay proper respect to the flag.
The soldier replied that he was too busy getting real work done, and didn't have time to spend on something like that.
The sergeant replied,"It's not a chore, it's an honor to salute the flag. There are veterans that have no legs, that wish they could stand to do that honor. There are some without arms, that wish they could salute. There are others that have no sight, that wish they could lay eyes on Old Glory, just one more time. You don't salute for yourself, you salute for all those that cannot, and for all those before you, that gave their lives."

Obama should probably read that story.....

I am a veteran, and whenever I hear Revellie or Retreat

I see there are similarities between the Army and the Marines...we both heard Revellie but as a Marine I never heard retreat! :devil

feh :p

Or maybe it is....

Regardless, it's poor form in any event.
Like Fild, I am a veteran, and whenever I hear Revellie or Retreat, I'm reminded of a story I read while serving:

The story goes there was a young soldier, who was always rushing to leave post before Retreat sounded, or not bothering to stop and get out of his car when Reveille was sounded in the morning.
A sergeant saw this soldier 1 day, and asked him why he didn't pay proper respect to the flag.
The soldier replied that he was too busy getting real work done, and didn't have time to spend on something like that.
The sergeant replied,"It's not a chore, it's an honor to salute the flag. There are veterans that have no legs, that wish they could stand to do that honor. There are some without arms, that wish they could salute. There are others that have no sight, that wish they could lay eyes on Old Glory, just one more time. You don't salute for yourself, you salute for all those that cannot, and for all those before you, that gave their lives."

Obama should probably read that story.....

Wish I could rep hit you Six; that's awesome.

Awww, Shucks, Twern't nuthin...
I always thought that was an good story.
Just wish I could remember where I read it.

No matter what the candidate's politics or views, he or she has to "look" presidential in the eyes of the people, otherwise the candidate is going to lose a lot of points.

Over the last several thousand years people have fought and died over symbols and what they stood for. The flag of the United States of America is easily recognized the world over. There are other notable flags from other countries, but the U.S. flag is probably one of the most widely known around the world.

A few years ago I was traveling outside the country and was very obviously a "gringo" in a Central American nation. At that time, Americans and American tourist dollars were not as well appreciated as they are today. I had been walking down the street (middle of the day) and noticed that I was being shadowed by a small group of men. They moved ahead when I did, stopped when I did and would loiter on the street if I went into a shop.

I was concerned about the possibility of being mugged and robbed... in broad daylight. I knew I was quite some distance from my hotel and there was no taxi in sight... so I continued to walk and occasionally popped in and out of shops to try to keep them at a distance. I could not find a police officer anywhere... not that it would have really done me much good.

I picked up the pace a little bit and they stayed with me. I began to look for a way out of this situation before it went really bad. Up ahead was a major intersection and what appeared to be a larger street with heavier traffic. I figured that I might find a taxi there. By the time I got to the corner, these men were only a few steps behind me and I was looking around hoping to find someplace to run to.

As I turned the corner, I saw the most beautiful sight I had ever seen... the Stars and Stripes flying ahead of me, gently blowing the breeze. I had wound up in front of the American embassy. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the group of men stop dead in their tracks and turn around, quickly going back the way they came. Perhaps they saw the flag too... or maybe it was the armed Marines at the gate. Either way, I showed my passport and stepped onto the sovereign territory of the United States.

Salute the flag? Put my hand over my heart? Bet your a** I do... and my President should do the same, no matter what his personal opinions are.

/rant off

I concur that Obama should most likely at least be keeping up appearances and putting his hand over his heart. I just want to make that clear before I ask the question below.
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Dissent, criticism of our government and the established order are two of the cornerstones of the freedom we enjoy in this country. The first image that springs to mind is the student in Tiananmen Square, standing in front of the tanks. All over the world there are people who crave these freedoms we take for granted. We have the luxury to quibble over much less profound displays.



Considering all of the people who have died "for our freedom", should Obama be so soundly criticized for exercising this hard earned right, or should the above points illustrate even more strongly the reasons for him to honor the flag?

He can exercise his rights in any way he chooses. The government isn't going to round him up, and put him in prison.
However, he should also be prepared to recieve criticism from people for choosing to exercise it in this fashion.

If he wants to be Commander in Chief, showing disrespect to those that have fought to give him the opportunity to aspire to such a position is pretty fucked up. His handlers at least should know better, even if he does not.

I doubt he's listening to his "handlers," whoever they are, in this matter.

By handlers I mean his campaign staff and manager, advisors, etc. The folks that will be blamed when his campaign does not achieve it's goal.