After Presidential candidate Barack Obama's "National Anthem snub" the question that many are asking is "Is Obama a patriot or a political grandstander?"
By now most people have heard about Obama's "Sometimes He Does, Sometimes He Doesn't" as explained by an Obama spokesperson.
They further explained on Inside Edition, "In no way was he making any sort of statement, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous." That's his campaign's reasoning for him not holding his hand over his heart at Senator Tom Harkin's Steak Fry event on September 16 in Indianola, Iowa.
A minor debate has ensued that his failure perform the traditional etiquette constitutes evidence that Barack Obama is unpatriotic and therefore unfit to hold the office of president. This is based on the idea that the gesture of dissent was intentional.
In all fairness since the definition of patriotism is in question here let's allow for clarification. According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006
PATRIOTISM - devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty. [Origin: 1720-30; PATRIOT + -ISM ]
So the question remains does Obama's position support that definition? Is he a Patriot?
This isn't Obama's first protest though! In an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Barack Obama states that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
By now most people have heard about Obama's "Sometimes He Does, Sometimes He Doesn't" as explained by an Obama spokesperson.
They further explained on Inside Edition, "In no way was he making any sort of statement, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous." That's his campaign's reasoning for him not holding his hand over his heart at Senator Tom Harkin's Steak Fry event on September 16 in Indianola, Iowa.
A minor debate has ensued that his failure perform the traditional etiquette constitutes evidence that Barack Obama is unpatriotic and therefore unfit to hold the office of president. This is based on the idea that the gesture of dissent was intentional.
In all fairness since the definition of patriotism is in question here let's allow for clarification. According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006
PATRIOTISM - devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty. [Origin: 1720-30; PATRIOT + -ISM ]
So the question remains does Obama's position support that definition? Is he a Patriot?
This isn't Obama's first protest though! In an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Barack Obama states that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.
"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he explained in the interview. "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 testament to my patriotism."
His campaign issued a statement: "We all revere the flag, but Senator Obama believes that being a patriot is about more than a symbol. It's about fighting for our veterans when they get home and speaking honestly with the American people about this disastrous war."
And Bill Maher (the man who characterized the 911 terrorists as courageous) says, "...when I see the little flag right here, the first thing I think is, you voted for, and still like, George Bush...". Most have already concluded that Maher is truly a man who was born to be an idiot!
Here, in an excerpt from a letter written by Obama he explains further:
"Thank you for inquiring about the false accusation that I have refused to sing the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance. I knew when I decided to run for President that I would not be immune from the "anything goes" form of attack politics that has been so prominent in our elections in recent years. And this outrageous charge is just another example of the kind of mean spirited, "shock" politics I will move beyond as President."
He later calls it as a "baseless and particularly hurtful political attack".
So let me see if I get this right. Obama believes that by telling us what he believes makes this country great and by taking a political stand for the veterans and the war that "that alone" qualifies him as a patriot!
Further anyone who questions his patriotism is practicing mean spirited, "shock" politics, a painful political attack, an argument, by the way, popularized and mastered by the Clintons.
Let's break this down:
The "National Anthem" and the "Pledge of Allegiance" have become an accepted form of reverence for our country and our overall form of government as well as a sign of respect for those who are currently fighting, have fought for and have died for our country and our free way of life.
It became popular in the 60's and has had a rebirth today to characterize those who show this form of patriotism as jingo's*! They were once labeled as old fashioned or having blind loyalty.
*Jingo(Jingoism) - a person who professes his or her patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.
So rather than attack the ideas he chooses to use a retro protest tactic to gain attention to his position. In the process he has insulted all current and former service personnel, yes those very people whom he wants to lead.
Additionally after his own indiscretion he wants to deflect blame to those who protest against his protest by portraying himself the victim of their mean spirited politics. Let's turn it into a Democrat vs. Republican issue. A petty argument!
Looking more like the Clintons everyday!
Obama has made a tactical error in decorum. Rather than emulate the controlled and respectful qualities of a leader he has resorted to a childish protest in order to gain attention to a political stand that he likely feels is not being taken seriously. He has provided us with a demonstration that is in the true spirit of the juvenile "Shock Tactic" style of the Generation X crowd where "Anything Goes".
So... is Obama a Patriot or a Political Grandstander?