Thank you, Senator Obama

[question everything]

for standing with respect during the national anthem while at Harkin's Iowa Steak Fry.

I've never liked the "custom" of placing one's hand on one's heart..

[jillan]

1. Guess someone wanted to put their hand elsewhere.

[jmp]

2. That's not going to play well ...

In many parts of the US.

[geek tragedy]

46. It won't play well with Ann Coulteresque idiots. eom

[Bitwit1234]

3. OK we'll change the almost 300 year old custom just for you and Obama

[silverojo]

7. Good Lord, I thought the OP was being sarcastic

This is the kind of disrespectful behavior one would expect from an ill-bred clod like Bush, not a Democratic candidate. :mad:

[beaconess]

19. What's disrespectful about not putting your hand over your heart during the National Anthem?

I thought the tradition is to put your hand on your heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. The sign of respect is standing up during the playing of the Anthem while putting your hand on your heart during the Anthem is, in my view, a personal choice.

Of course, if he were DEFACING the flag . . .


Mountain out of a molehill. Is there nothing more substantive that can be debated on DU?

[Connie_Corleone]

35. Obama is using proper etiquette since no one was facing the flag.

[geek tragedy]

45. You're talking like Ann Coulter.

Note that he wasn't facing the flag, which means that a hand over the heart isn't required or necessarily appropriate.

But, go ahead, and call him an America-hating Communist.

Or call him an Islamofascist terrorist.

[silverweb]

49. See post 34.

It will correct your mistaken assumption. :)

[2rth2pwr]

4. A least he made a stand on this issue

maybe next time he could do away with the anachronistic custom of standing up and just sit back and enjoy the music.

[PatSeg]

5. "One of these things is not like the others"

One of these things doesn't belong.
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
Before I finish my song?

Sorry, Sesame Street flashback!

[jillan]

6. ----

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Nutmegger]

8. WTF? Why does Obama hate Amurika???

Teh HORROR!11!1!1

(R&K!)

[Silence Dogood]

9. Obama standing in the twilight zone of his career

very presidential/not.

[Perry Logan]

10. Unelectable.

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Let's hope this was just before or after the music started.

Or is this disrespect a habit of his?

[Ethelk2044]

12. Go ahead the Ann Coulters of Du

can not find anything to get him on that will stick. Then you become Ann Coulter.

[Adelante]

15. Actually, this *would* stick and that's the problem

As I said below, I don't know if this was his posture throughout the national anthem or it was just before or after, but if Obama did what the OP is claiming he did, he just handed a big old beribboned present to his opposition in the primaries, and if he is fortunate enough to reach the GE, forget about the high old time the GOP will have (or even have now) with it. Stating the obvious shouldn't make me or anyone in this thread "Ann Coulter" - if Obama did it, he will have to deal with the consequences, as would any other candidate.

[beaconess]

20. Yeah - like the MoveOn ad is "sticking?"

It doesn't take much to "stick" with the right wing. Why let that determine how we operate or turn us into a bunch of crabs in a barrel bizarrely trying pre-empt the nuts on the other side?

I'm sure we can find a snapshot of every single Democratic candidate (not to mention most Americans, including each of us) doing something that someone on the right could claim to be un-American or immoral or just plain weird. So what?

I'm not the least bit concerned about a photo of a candidate standing respectfully during the (apparent) playing of the National Anthem. And I think the only people who would have a problem with are those who are looking for anything with which to try to tear him down. Petty.

[Adelante]

23. So what is he's in a primary race, first of all

Even if we forget the right wing, this is a bad visual for him, because his Democratic opposition can use it to very good effect against him. When the brochures or the ads turn up a week or two before the Iowa caucus, you may be saying so what until the cows come home.

However, I do not judge Obama on this before knowing the circumstances of the photo. I am not concerned with his patriotism, either, but with the political wisdom of providing a shot like this to his opposition.

[beaconess]

39. What shot did he "provide" to the opposition?

A shot of him doing exactly what he was supposed to do in this situation?

[geek tragedy]

50. I will not vote for any Democrat who uses crap like this.

That includes the general election.

[maximusveritas]

21. Are you joking?

The only person in the world who noticed this appears to be the OP. The only way it would become an issue is if people here make it one and that would be quite a sad thing indeed.

[Adelante]

24. I am not joking nt

[question everything]

40. Actually, it was in TIME

and, in contrast to what some think, I do really like this. I have always found the putting one's hand over one's heart very pretentious. I don't like the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of meetings, either, nor do I like any invocation at the start of a meeting. I have nothing against Obama, am not trying to bash him. But, hey, this is not the first time that DUers shoot first and ask questions later.

Perhaps we should sometimes have a debate here, on DU, about these "customs." After all, we are considered to be "anti-America," anyway, so why not talk about this?

[geek tragedy]

51. Apparently there are people as dumb

as the OP who hang around here.

Or, they're unprincipled hack followers of a certain other candidate who would be just as happy voting Republican.

[Ethelk2044]

26. Wrong what the voters are worried about War, Taxes

[geek tragedy]

42. He was following proper etiquette.

Only the DUrdge impersonators here seem to care.

Some people here are soooooo pathetic that they'll INVENT a rightwing attack on a Democrat.

[geek tragedy]

48. Ann Coulter is smarter than the idiots in this thread.

At least she bashes her opponents--the left.

These idiots bash others on the left using phony rw talking points.

Proof that being a good progressive or even a good American isn't necessary to post here.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Hil and Vilsack's wife look like they are looking around wondering why the anthem has not yet begun-

they certainly look distracted and what is Bill Richardson looking at--I know, the camera!

[Adelante]

14. There is nothing wrong with the custom

I can't tell if Obama raised his hand to his chest after this shot was taken, but if he's making some kind of protest here, it's wrong-headed, if not political suicide.

[Ethelk2044]

27. get some glasses and see where the flags are placed and where he is facing. duh

[Adelante]

29. Rudeness is not as effective as you might think

It's a discussion. Duh.

[geek tragedy]

43. Swiftboating other Democrats is not so effective

at doing anything but helping the Republicans.

Keep it up, though. All the closet freepers are showing themselves.

[flashl]

16. Have anyone asked themselves ...

if the flag is behind him. Why would he be putting his hand across his heart while facing away from the flag?

[jefferson_dem]

17. He routinely uses the flag as a backdrop at his events.

For all those "concerned" about his lack of patriotic expression...

[Adelante]

18. I know he is good patriot

There is no question. I would like to know if he maintained the posture in the OP pic throughout the national anthem. If yes, I would like to know if he did this as some kind of protest. Or what was going on?

[jefferson_dem]

22. According to this blog diary it was throughout...and a statement of the awkwardness of the setup...

A singer performed the national anthem with pre-recorded accompaniment. Her rendition was heartfelt and definitely unique. Most people would have had difficulty singing along with her. I noticed that all of the candidates except Obama held their hands over their hearts. Obama held his hands folded in front of him throughout. This is not criticism - the "hand over the heart" looked akward on the stage - I was standing in the same fashion as Obama.

http://georgep.mydd.com/story/2007/9/17/141759/633

I'm not sure if this is typical for him or was just the case at this single event. Like you, I would advise him (as if i would ever have the opportunity or he would listen) to assume the more traditional posture in the future.

[Adelante]

28. Thanks, jeff_dem

If it was not a protest, I have less of a problem with it in terms of political missteps. Still not a good visual, but it doesn't have to haunt him if he adjusts.

[Pirate Smile]

31. Here is one comment from that MyDD thread.

"Re: The Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa (none / 0)


None of the candidates demonstrated proper flag etiquette, unless they were facing the flag.

In the absence of a flag they should face the singer. I don't pledge the singer, although many people do.

The flag was placed inconveniently (for media impact?) "

[flashl]

30. Faux patriotism rhetoric or false flag-like hysteria

We are in the midst of an implosion through corruption, incompetence, and malfeasance and we are supposed to be worried about a presidential candidate's stance as a measurement? Pleeez

[JohnnyLib2]

25. Can some one supply factual information about HIS custom on this?

Sheeeesh, one photo.

[Connie_Corleone]

32. Why is it "custom" to place your hand over your heart during the

singing of the national anthem? I thought that was for the pledge of allegiance. It doesn't make any sense to put your hand over your heart during a song.

I've seen people stand for the national anthem and not put their hand over their heart. It doesn't mean anything.

I don't see a problem with it.

[beaconess]

37. I agree completely n/t

[question everything]

41. Neither do I

and I, too, question this "custom."

I did mean it when I thanked him for his stand. Perhaps this can start a debate of what is "real" patriotism. I thought that it was they who like to wrap themselves with the flag while never wearing the uniforms that are meant to protect the meaning of the flag.

National anthem, flag, pledge of allegiance... are they symbols of what is really important, or are they sacred cows by themselves?

[demommom]

33. Wow!

I am a very strong supporter of Joe Biden, however; I find this a bit
ridiculous. The man is standing respectful and that is all that I know that should be expected. If you want to put your hand over your heart,fine if not also fine. Come on people,this is imo, really reaching.

[Connie_Corleone]

34. Well, I just looked up some information on this...

And when the National Anthem is playing, you face towards the music and stand at attention. If you're facing the flag, then you place your hand over your heart.

No one is facing the flag in the picture, so the proper etiquette is to stand at attention.

[beaconess]

38. In other words, Obama is the only one who seemed to know how to behave around the flag?

Wonder how that will go down with those seeking to drag him through the mud over this one. :-)

[geek tragedy]

44. And the DUrdge-lite idiots here are foaming

at the mouth.

[silverweb]

47. Exactly.

Thanks for looking it up and verifying.

:thumbsup:

[zulchzulu]

36. None of them were facing the flag, so it's all a bunch of bs anyway

If you want to play the purity card on flag etiquette, you're supposed to face the flag as well. I wonder how many of them clapped after the playing of the national anthem. That's not supposed to be done either.