bashin' obama

I recently received another ‘Obama anti-American’ email. While I personally believe Senator Obama is slightly less patriotic than sushi, and I pray the level of political acumen displayed in Illinois will not become pandemic, I think bashers should have their facts straight lest they lose their credibility and thereby reduce their bashing effectiveness. Bash accurately or not at all.

This most recent email, like most, cites an incident during a democratic party get together in Iowa hosted by Senator Tom Harkin (see ‘sushi’ above—that’s a ‘dig’ not a ‘bash’, and as such needs not be supported as a bash).

There are 2 popular themes to these emails
1- The U.S. flag lapel pin issue; Senator Obama's patriotism is called into question due to his stated choice to not wear the U.S. flag as a lapel pin. It is my understanding there is no rule in effect at this time, with the exception of location (section j), pertaining to non-service related U.S. flag lapel pin protocols. ABC News video: Senator Obama addresses the lapel pin issue.

2- The pledge of allegiance issue, or more accurately the national anthem issue; Senator Obama's patriotism again called into question as he is seen to not place his hand over his heart during the 'Star-Spangled Banner'. Time magazine photo Many emails in my inbox portray this photo as being taken during the pledge of allegiance. After tracking down a video of the event I discovered (to the horror of my poor ears) it is in fact taken during a rather ‘original’ rendition of the national anthem.

ABC News video of event

--we can only hope this is an off day for the singer …. Holy Crap…..--

In a quote from ABC News article Senator Obama states:

"I was taught by my grandfather that you put your hand over your heart during the pledge, but during the Star Spangled Banner, you sing!"

Two things immediately jump to mind:

The first is his grandfather was in error. This is somewhat excusable since his grandfather appears to have been a Kenyan in service to the British.
From Early Years
“Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.”

-CITE-
36 USC Sec. 301 01/02/2006

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 36 - PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Subtitle I - Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies
Part A - Observances and Ceremonies
CHAPTER 3 - NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM1A\1\ MARCH, AND
TREE

-HEAD-
Sec. 301. National anthem

-STATUTE-
(a) Designation. - The composition consisting of the words and
music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing. - During a rendition of the national
anthem -
(1) when the flag is displayed -
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at
the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the
flag were displayed.

-SOURCE-
http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/36C3.txt
(Pub. L. 105-225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1263.)

The second is none of his co-workers has clued the poor ignorant bastard in to the fact he’s wrong. Maybe they don’t know. They should. They get paid a crapload of money to know this stuff.