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 3 of 3)
31. I know there are many comments here already but one point remains. In the nice little durby picture you post, these people are normal citizens. Normal citizens on mass need reminding and sometimes reteaching of certain things we take for granted. Obama is a US senator - a representative of our country and supposedly a model citizen. Whether he meant to or not, he made a statement that it is ok to only observe SOME of the traditions and respects that we have fought over and are tested on every day. I want someone who observes ALL of the traditions and holds my country in the highest standard - not just sometimes, but ALL of the time. I don't care how many times he hears the Star Spangled Banner in a day, week or year.
Tiersa at 4:41AM on Dec 15th 2007
32. "He's a left-wing Communist bastard. Why don't you just FACE IT!!!
wbigtummy at 11:38PM on Jan 10th 2008"
Damn, the right-wing trolls are out tonight!
You're a barely-alive illiterate nematode! Why don't you just face it!
brandon at 12:04AM on Jan 11th 2008
33. (Shootin' for that next flame award by Ada!)
brandon at 12:05AM on Jan 11th 2008
34. wbig, you do realize that repeating the same crazy-ass comments means everyone stares at you like they do the looney guy shouting racial slurs on the street corner, don't you?
brandon at 12:40PM on Jan 11th 2008