November 07, 2007
Waiter! Pity party for one!
Apparently, this photo -- and the criticism it generated -- is getting under Obama's skin.
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) - Barack Obama complained on Wednesday about an Internet photo that claims the Democratic presidential candidate didn't hold his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.
"This is so irritating," Obama said when asked about the photo in Muscatine, Iowa.
The photo, which has circulated widely on the Internet, was taken in September during Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's annual Democratic fundraiser. A message accompanying the photo claims Obama didn't observe the pledge.
Obama said the photo was taken during the singing of the national anthem, not the pledge.
"My grandfather taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was 2," Obama said, his annoyance obvious. "During the Pledge of Allegiance you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem you sing."
A woman also asked Obama about the photo Tuesday night during a town hall meeting in Cedar Rapids, evoking a similar reaction.
"This is the classic dirty trick of the campaign," Obama said.
He added that he's often the target of anonymous criticism on the Internet.
"You've got e-mails saying I'm a Muslim plant trying to take over America," Obama said. "We've seen this before."
He advised the woman to tell the sender of the e-mail the real story.
"You don't have to curse them out, just tell them they've got their facts wrong," he said.
Is Obama saying that Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, and the unidentified lady in the background don't know what to do during the national anthem? Because, notwithstanding what his grandfather taught him, the U.S. Code says they're right and he's wrong.
Sec. 301. National anthem
(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.(Pub. L. 105-225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1263.)
If the photo looks familiar, it's because I ran it before; you'd think that Obama would have left the story alone. Now that we've ascertained that -- in addition to being stubborn and just plain wrong -- he's also remarkably thin-skinned, it seems to me that it calls into question his ability to withstand the sure-to-be rough and tumble campaign to come.
There's an American witticism often raised in relation to feckless crapweasel politicians: When you're in trouble and in a hole of your own creation, stop digging.
Apparently Obama's not famliar with this pearl of folk wisdom.
And referring to the photo as a "dirty trick" is pathetic.
Keep digging, buddy.
Posted by Mike Lief at November 7, 2007 02:52 PM
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Comments
Besides, he's not singing ! Obviously grandpa Obama gave some bad advice, or somethin' like that.
Who cares; they are all idiots anyway.
Did you see Rudy's interview last night on NBC? Pretty good stuff
Posted by: vern at November 7, 2007 05:00 PM