So, by now you probably know that Obama didn't put his hand over his heart during a singing of the National Anthem (circulating photo at right), and that FOX made a big deal about it, and that suddenly pundits pretended they toootally had memorized United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171: "During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart" (which no one in the photo is fully observing), and that Obama explained himself. But the issue just won't die.The original video on this is from the middle of September and the Washington Post did a nice debunking of the scandal a couple of weeks ago; so did Snopes.
But a still photo of the scene taken by a Time magazine photographer is still finding its way into in-boxes. In the past week, we received a mass email from an older conservative friend in Texas as proof that Obama is unpatriotic, and several people we know have received similar viral emails lately. The most common message (wrongly suggesting it wast the Pledge of Allegiance, not the National Anthem):
Barack Hussein Obama's photo (that's his real name)... the article said he REFUSED TO NOT ONLY PUT HIS HAND ON HIS HEART DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BUT REFUSED TO SAY THE PLEDGE... how in the hell can a man like this expect to be our next Commander-in-Chief????
This weekend, we talked to a cousin working on the Obama campaign who said that it appears to be circulating widely now and still doing damage.
We'd like to take issue with the idea that everyone knows to put hand over heart during the National Anthem. We've been to enough ball games to know that most people simply remove their hats (reserving the full hand-on-heart treatment for the Pledge).And we just dug up a photo taken this summer at the Demolition Derby in Delaware County, NY, that corroborates this. The county is conservative and God-fearing and deeply patriotic. We attend every year, and before the cars start smashing into each other, everyone sings the Star Spangled Banner. Here's a photo of the grandstand at that moment.
Note that only a few percent of the attendees have their hands over their heart. Far more have their hands clasped in front of them, just like Obama.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. Check the link to the picture of President Bush with his hand who knows where during the national anthem broadcast on Fox News no less. Okay zealots-is Bush a Commie-Muslim too? http://mediamatters.org/items/200710240006
teacherman at 9:25PM on Jan 26th 2008
2. wbigtummy - you're a Retarded Fucking Moron! Why don't you just FACE IT!!!
brandon at 9:10PM on Feb 6th 2008
3. Good job, Ada
Thank you
susanlynn at 1:12PM on Nov 19th 2007
4. He's a left-wing Communist bastard. Why don't you just FACE IT!!!
wbigtummy at 12:07PM on Nov 6th 2009
5. Ada, I don't believe it is just a big thing for us to remember to put our hands on our hearts when we are children. Or in sports game not remembering to do so with all the excitements of the games. But it is a big deal when you are running for President, and it is a big issue. I do not care for this man, I believe that most of the democratics will vote republican if he is elected. Not because he is "black"- because I am half black too, but because he cannot speak- always sounding like porky pig- and because he is using the "race" card. This week he is playing the "religous card". Instead of personally calling Hillary and asking them if they had damaging information, he gets on national t.v. and crys to the world about unfairness. A good way of getting people to stop remembering his terrible performance on the debate. I don't know about you and your blog viewers, but if I hear the Pledge Alliance been said, I immediately put my hand on my heart and if I hear "Our Father who art in heaven" been said, I immediately bow my hand. It is how you are raised, and I guess most of the people you show in that game, were raised unamerican!!
Jaki Baez at 2:09PM on Nov 19th 2007
6. i think there's a bit of a difference between hoo-haws down at the local demolition derby, and a u.s. senator with aspirations of being the leader of this country. reaching a bit for a defense, aren't you? this is not the first time for this sort of behavior from "osama" obama. he IS a VERY UN-patriotic man. that is not an opinion, that is proven fact. i don't go by what these liars say (and they're ALL liars), i go by what they do.
americanfirst at 2:27PM on Nov 19th 2007
7. Ridiculous comparison. The people at the Demolition Derby are not runnng for President of the United States of America and future Commander in Chief of the Military, who all pledge to this country, the only super power left and the leader of the free world. Come on, it is a telling statement about Obama and he has lost my vote as a result of this. Why is he running for office if he will not support the pledge of allegiance to this country? What's up with him. Don;t say he doesn't know the "law" on this and that's his excuse, he is running for President, right? His statement is clear and hopefully the voters will make it clear to him that this is unacceptable.
d. baker at 2:16PM on Nov 19th 2007
8. I pledge allegiance to multi-national corporations,
and for the ceo's for whom I work.
One nation under surveillance,forget liberty and
justice for all.
-- George W. Bush
BOB JOHNSON at 2:16PM on Nov 19th 2007
9.
wbigtummy -
You obviously don't understand the first thing about the American Political. Barack Obama doesn't even want to force people to have health insurance, like Hillary does. I don't know about you, but letting people decide whether or not to sign up for a healthcare plan is neither left-wing nor communist. We don't have many left-wingers in the United States. Truly left-wing politicians are ridiculed and dismissed as crazy (Dennis Kucinich).
I'll put it this way; throughout the 20th Century, only two presidents have been more right-wing than Bill Clinton: Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush. The man reformed welfare and enacted numerous free-trade agreement. Even Hillary served on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart.
I get sick of ignorant fools calling Democrats left-wingers. Most of them, Barack Obama included, are not socialists by any means.
Tony Messinger at 2:20PM on Nov 19th 2007
10. Obama is dead wrong.... I won't vote for him. We need someone to stand up and be proud to be an American; someone that won't take the pledge of allegiance out of our schools and will hold his hand over his heart. We need someone to hold our hertiage, our National Anthem and flag dear. I'm tired of all of the blood liberals that take for granted what this country is founded upon. If they don't like it leave it.
Ruth at 2:53PM on Nov 19th 2007
11. Americanfirst, we will be waiting for your "proof" of Sen. Obama's "unpatriotism." Not putting his hand over his heart won't cut it. You have to do better than that. And please do not drag out the old bit about him attending a muslim school as a small child. Been there, done that. No one can help where they go to school a a small child.
I guess everyone is a "liar" who does not agree with your neocon agenda.
David S. at 2:53PM on Nov 19th 2007
12. He's been a U.S. senator for how long now? Do they not recite the pledge before begginning each session? For him to infer he didn't know is bogus. What else doesn't he know about this country and it's traditions? Would he like it if elected if no one called him Mr. President or if the military refused to salute him. He should know the basic premises on which this country was founded. Period.
Don at 2:57PM on Nov 19th 2007
13. 5. I pledge allegiance to multi-national corporations,
and for the ceo's for whom I work.
One nation under surveillance,forget liberty and
justice for all.
-- George W. Bush
BOB JOHNSON at 2:16PM on Nov 19th 2007
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Brilliant!!!
Patty at 3:08PM on Nov 19th 2007
14. Ada, how can I get a larger copy of that photo of the NY Demolation Derby ? I want to help campaign for Obama and I would love to have that picture with me.
Thanks
susanlynn at 3:01PM on Nov 19th 2007
15. I'm tired of all of the blood liberals that take for granted what this country is founded upon. If they don't like it leave it.
Ruth at 2:53PM on Nov 19th 2007
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HOW DARE YOU!!!
As a Democrat and a LIBERAL I'm here to let you know that you are dead wrong!! And what the hell is a blood liberal anyway??? I am so sick and tired of small minded people that can't accept the fact that just becausewe do not all act or feel the same way we are Un-Americans. Why don't you leave!!!!!!
Patty at 3:08PM on Nov 19th 2007