The Republican Party has already started taking shots at Presidential candidate Barack Obama, who has recently received focus of possibly achieving the frontrunner status after sweeping the month of February primaries and caucuses. The most recent point of attack surrounds Obama's patriotism, following his wife, Michelle Obama's comment about being really proud of the United States. In addition, Obama has been criticized for not wearing an American flag pin during his campaign and that he was once seen without his hand on his heart during the national anthem. Obama's response to the reporter who questioned him on he topic included that this was simply the next effort to bring him negative press. He triumphed when he recalled:
"You will recall that the reason I came to national attention was a speech in which I spoke of my love of this country."
He furthered explained his wife's comment, clarifying that it was in regards to the turnout throughout the elections. He addressed the hand over his heart as something that three-quarters of people at sporting events do not cover their heart, and he added that wearing a pin should have nothing to with patriotism as the Republicans has decided it should. All in all, he did a very good job at defending himself and his patriotism, again quickly putting an end to any bad press that his campaign receives. He seems to handle take any bad press and turn it into positive, free airtime.
Information from this blog was found on CNN @ http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/24/obama.patriotism/index.html
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I agree with this post that Obama and his campaign have been very good, and very successful, at minimizing the importance of a negative story. This patriotism debate started with Michelle Obama's remarks, like you pointed out, which are slightly jarring to anyone who hears them for the first time. It is indeed odd for a potential first lady to admit that she's never before, as an adult, been proud of the United States. No matter what she meant, it's a tricky statement to make, and almost impossible to defend. You get the sense that Michelle means a lot of what she is saying with that statement, in that she is finally proud of the direction the US is heading (as Bush prepares to leave office) and the excitement that exists over a Presidential candidate like her husband. Whatever she meant by it, the Obama campaign did the right thing by not defending this position as it appeared to voters.
Patriotism is a tricky subject for Democrats because of the public perception, especially among so-called "middle Americans," that Democrats don't really support the troops and are now ashamed of their country. Such ideas are seen as blasphemous, and the Democrats have suffered as a result of their stance against the war in Iraq, which signals less-than-honest support for the troops fighting in that war. Democrats, like Obama, will have to fight back charges from the Republicans that they are not as patriotic or loyal to their country. Therefore, Barack must do what he did here, as he defended his love of the USA, which, as he stated, was the subject of a speech back in 2004 that launched his national political career.
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