Obama responds to flag photo

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The photo continues to circulate on the Internet and a voter here this afternoon asked Sen. Barack Obama to explain why he did not have his hand over his heart in front of a giant American flag when the other candidates standing next to him did.

Calling the viral e-mail a "classic dirty trick," the Illinois Democrat told his supporters to correct the record and that the image is not what it appears to be.

"This is just so irritating," Obama responded. "This was not the Pledge of Allegiance. This woman was singing the Star Spangled Banner. Now, I was taught by my grandfather that you put your hands over your heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. The Star Spangled Banner, you sing. So that's what I did."

The photo was taken this summer at Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry in Indianola, Iowa.

"These aren't the only e-mails that are going out," Obama said. "You've got e-mails saying that I'm a Muslim plant that's trying to take over America and this and that and the other."

Obama, speaking to about 350 people in the gymnasium of a community center, advised a polite response to those sending around the message.

"If you get this e-mail from someone you know, set the record straight," he said. "You don't have to curse them out, just tell them that they are misinformed."


http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/obama_responds_to_flag_photo.html

Their biggest fears are Edwards and Obama.

that's why they're attacking him. They're trying to build a dem backlash for Obama, just like DUers said when Rove attacked HRC

Obama is a great man.
This kind of crap is all the Repugs got. O by the way - his middle name is Hussein - did you hear me? - HUSSEIN!

The rule has always been hand over heart for the pledge only -- not while singing the anthem. What IS the deal here? Did the other candidates keeps their hands over their hearts for the entire National Anthem or did the camera catch them the moment after Obama put his hand down but before the others did?

I was told it's a form of civilian salute and it's the thing to do.

I've been doing it for over 50 years.

I was taught in school that the civilian salute was for the pledge only and not the anthem. Obviously there could be regional differences, but I distinctly recall being taught this from the then-current US flag code. I wonder if the code was changed at some point in all the intervening years. BTW, in the Chicago area (as another DUer has pointed out) the rule I was taught still holds as the appropriate behavior at public and political events.

It starts with something so ridiculous no reasonable person takes it seriously, and before it's done the smear campaign dominates the airwaves. I hope that not a single Democrat is taking part in this nonsense.

didn't wear a flag lapel pin during the last debate. Where's the outrage over that?

I guess since the RW twits don't want to deal with their record they have to manufacture an phoney issue to take the focus away from their failure.

Mz Pip
:dem:

Much better than his McBigot responses

Well done.

put your hand over your heart during the national anthem.

No, totally curse them out. They're fucking idiots: "Oh! he doesn't have his flag lapel pin on! He doesn't put his hand over his heart! His middle name is Hussein! Real Americans wrap their dicks with flags before they reach under the bathroom stall!" Screw them anyway.

and good for Obama in debunking this RW crap.

You know what else is annoying? Obama still refusing to apologize for hiring an "ex-gay" clown to headline his campaign fundraiser and spew homophobic filth to a receptive audience.