An odd judge of Barack Obama’s patriotism

February 24, 2008

From email smears to misleading pictures making the rounds, Barack Obama’s critics have tried, with varying degrees of subtlety, to argue that the Illinois senator somehow lacks the requisite patriotism to be president.

Yesterday, the AP’s Nedra Pickler tackled the charges.

Sen. Barack Obama’s refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives on Internet and in the media to question his patriotism.

Now Obama’s wife, Michelle, has drawn their ire, too, for saying recently that she’s really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Conservative consultants say that combined, the cases could be an issue for Obama in the general election if he wins the nomination, especially as he runs against Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain.

“The reason it hasn’t been an issue so far is that we’re still in the microcosm of the Democratic primary,” said Republican consultant Roger Stone. “Many Americans will find the three things offensive. Barack Obama is out of the McGovern wing of the party, and he is part of the blame America first crowd.”

I can appreciate the newsworthiness of the trend, especially given the way partisan outlets like Fox News have tried to make this nonsense a central issue of the campaign. And Pickler does note some of the flaws with the effort to smear Obama.

But why, then, quote Roger Stone?

Josh Marshall notes:

The AP’s Nedra Pickler asks disgraced Republican dirty-trickster Roger Stone for his opinion. Stone you’ll remember is the guy who got caught making threatening phone calls to New York Gov. Spitzer’s (D-NY) elderly father and last month set up an anti-Hillary group with the acronym C-U-N-T.

Surprisingly enough, Stone thinks the answer is yes.

Of course he does. You may not know Roger Stone, but I’m sure you know his work. He is a right-wing hatchet-man extraordinaire, brazenly cynical, and free of any sense of decency or honor in a political career that began as Nixon’s “youngest Watergate dirty trickster.” Various reporters have referred to him as “a state of the art sleaze-ball,” “an extreme rightwing sleazeball,” and the “boastful black prince of Republican sleaze.” (You might notice the common thread among the decriptions.)

Stone has, to one extent or another, dabbled in at least eight presidential campaigns, including Reagan’s, Bush’s, Dole’s, and Bush’s, including helping lead street protests in Florida against a recount in 2000.

As for his new endeavor — “Citizens United Not Timid” — Stone has conceded that he picked the name only after failing to “come up with words for B.I.T.C.H.”

Why would the AP consider him a qualified, legitimate voice on assessing Obama’s patriotism?

Why? Because it’s Nedra Pickler. Need we say more?

  • Why? Because it’s Nedra Pickler. Need we say more?

    Nope. She’s in a league of her own as far as hackdom goes.

  • ***Why would the AP consider him a qualified, legitimate voice on assessing Obama’s patriotism?***

    Actually, I think this is a good move on AP’s part. Stone’s credibility will be hilariously easy to dismantle, thus isolating a larger part of the GOP rank-and-file from McCain. Besides, who else would they interview? Even Limbaugh is joking about voting for Obama.

    And how in Hades’ name are we supposed to keep buying the crap that John McCain is a war hero? He hot-dogged one plane into the ass end of an aircraft carrier, and pulled a “low and slow” (read: Nyah, nyah! You can’t get me!) stunt right in front of the NVA anti-aircraft emplacements. The only reason he even made it into the air wing was because of his family history (two admirals)—and you’ll notice that the Navy drummed him out after he got home. History shows sailors in worse shape than this guy was eventually rising through the ranks to flag command.

    When the Navy decides that a “legacy officer” needs to go, it’s a pretty sure sign that the man shouldn’t be given command authority. They didn’t want to give him command of a ship—and now the GOPer elite wants to give him the whole blasted fleet?

    Um…I don’t think so….

  • After the most despicable political behavior I can recall by repubs at their 2004 convention – remember the purple band aids? – I am not willing to accept the media narrative that McCain is a ‘war hero’. A ‘prisoner of war hero’? Sure. An actual war hero? I don’t see how. Certainly he suffered an awful experience in Vietnam, and he has my deepest sympathy. But, “Hero” requires accomplishment in the face of adversity. There’s no doubt he faced terrible adversity, but what did McCain actually accomplish? Call him a prisoner of war hero, or perhaps a war victim. But don’t call him a war hero unless the objective is to diminish what truly makes a hero. McCain is a hero only in the sense that anyone who serves is a hero. There’s nothing exceptional in his military accomplishment aside from the suffering fate dealt him. Yet somehow, this gives him accomplishment with foreign affairs.

    All of this may sound heartless, but remember those purple band aids and the sleaze Stone is certain to peddle.

  • to JoeW (#4). I think Obama frames it correctly when he honors his service. That’s fair, and attacking him for not being a “real hero” won’t get us anywhere. He did survive an objectively terrible ordeal as a result of military service to his country and that speaks to personal courage.

    But it doesn’t make him commander-in-chief material, and there is plenty of objective evidence, from his reThuglican peers no less, that he lacks the temperament to fulfill that role. That he may lack the temperament due to his captivity is a personal tragedy for him that we do not need to inflict on the nation by electing him President.

  • Do the same people question why ‘W’ spent his Vietnam service in a margurita bar? Or that Dickless Cheney took all the deferments he could count on one hand? Bush has done more for Saudi Arabia than for America, and he’s still never held a real job in his life. Bush wears a flag on lapel and then trounces every liberty and constitutional right the citizens were guaranteed by the Founding Fathers, then claims the Founding fathers intended him to do so. Neocons are the exact things they blame others for being, it’s part of their fabric.

  • Combat vets of the that period didn’t (don’t) have a lot of respect for fancy-pants flyboys who call War dropping bombs on civilians from thirty thousand feet, all the moreso those incompetent enough to get their asses shot down. McCain is no Hero.

  • This post was interesting because my old man, easily seduced by right-wing slime, has forwarded an e-mail he received to everybody on his list that does exactly that…questions Obama’s patriotism.

    This particular e-mail focused on Michelle Obama’s comments and the minister of his church being a Farrakan (Nation of Islam) supporter. Their conclusion? If Obama chooses to have people like this in his life, then his views can’t be much different.

    And so it goes…

  • “After the most despicable political behavior I can recall by repubs at their 2004 convention – remember the purple band aids?”

    For some time now, I’ve thought that if McCain were the nominee, I’d use the scenes from the 2004 G.O.P. convention where the people with the purple band aids were chanting “Flip FLOP, Flip FLOP!” repeatedly in an attack ad against McCain. I wouldn’t want to question his patriotism, just use this particular scene to enrage conservatives.

  • I don’t normally forward such political e-mails, however, I do believe that we, as Americans, need to be aware of how our Senators are voting. And, we need to take note of those who want to run our Country.

    English *** IMPORTANT

    There is no way that this could be better said! AMEN! and on it goes! May the good Lord bless Col. Harry Riley!

    33 Senators Voted Against English as America ‘s Official Language June 6, 2007 (1 Republican, 1 Independent, 32 Democrats)

    On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:35:23 -0500, ‘Colonel Harry Riley USA wrote:

    Senators,
    Your vote against an amendment to the Immigration Bill 1348, to make English America’s offical language is astounding. On D-Day no less when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock character and principles of America . I can only surmise your vote reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens.
    I don’t much care where you come from, what your religion is, whether you’re black, white or some other color, male or female, democrat, republican or independent, but I do car e when you’re a United States Senator, representing citizens of America and vote against English as the official language of the United States
    Your vote reflects betrayal, political surrender, violates your pledge of allegiance, dishonors historical principle, rejects patriotism, borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator… impeachment, recall, or other appropriate action is warrented.
    Worse, 4 of you voting against English as Ameri ca ‘s official language are presidential candidates: Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd, and Senator Obama.
    Those 4 Senators vying to lead America but won’t or don’t have the courage to cast a vote in favor of English as America’s official language when 91% of American citizens want English officially designated as our language.
    This is the second time in the last several months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as political hacks… unworthy as Senators and certainly unqualifed to serve as President of the United States.
    If America is as angry as I am, you will realize a back-lash so stunning it will literally rock you out of your panties… and preferably, totally out of the United States Senate.
    The entire immigration bill is a farce… your action only confirms this really isn’t about America ; it’s about self-serving politics… despicable at best.

    ‘Never argue with an idiot; they’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.’ ~ anonymous
    The following senators voted against making English the official language of America :

    Akaka (D-HI)

    Bayh (D-IN)

    Biden (D-DE) Wants to be President?

    Bingaman (D-NM)

    Boxer (D-CA)

    Cantwell (D-WA)

    Clinton (D-NY) Wants to be President?

    Dayton (D-MN)

    Dodd (D-CT) Wants to be President?

    Domenici (R-NM) Coward, protecting his Senate seat…

    Durbin (D-IL)

    Feingold (D-WI) Not unusual for him

    Feinstein (D-CA)

    Harkin (D-IA)

    Inouye (D-HI)

    Jeffords (I-VT)

    Kennedy (D-MA)

    Kerry (D-MA) Wanted to be President

    Kohl (D-WI)

    Lautenberg (D-NJ)

    Leahy (D-VT)

    Levin (D-MI)

    Lieberman (D-CT) Disappointment here…..

    Menendez (D-NJ)

    Mikulski (D-MD)

    Murray (D-WA)

    Obama (D-IL) Wants to be President?

    Reed (D-RI)

    Reid (D-NV) Senate Majority Leader

    Salazar (D-CO)

    Sarbanes (D-MD)

    Schumer (D-NY)

    Stabenow (D-M)

    ‘Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged.’

    ~ President Abraham Lincoln ‘ Amen ‘

    Please forward to as many people as you know. WE NEED THIS INFORMATION PASSED ON TO EVERY RED-BLOODED AMERICAN!!!!!!

    I was going to vote for you, BUT now I am not so sure. English MUST be the only language of this country

  • I disagree with ‘wvng’ in regards to addressing McCain’s war hero status….

    McCain was no war hero, period. As mentioned by Steve earlier, he was getting preferential treatment thanks to his father and grandfather being real admirals. He was a below average pilot and got shot down because of his own stupidity and refusing to follow standard procedure when a SAM is locking onto your plane. Getting automatic promotions due to being a POW doesn’t make you a deserving commander either. I’ll honor McCain for what he endured as a POW, but that’s where it stops.

    Comparing Senator Kerry’s service with McCain’s, Kerry certainly was a war hero, considering his purple hearts. Look at how the Republicans treated Kerry during the last Presidential election cycle. They even accused Kerry of using his Vietnam service as a launching pad into politics with the hopes of becoming president, because he kept diaries. Didn’t McCain ride his POW status all the way into the Senate himself? Running for president is pretty much the only thing he can do in order to ‘one-up’ his father and grand-father, who were true war heroes. Enough said.

  • Steve #3

    If that stuff is convincingly verifiable, it could make a big difference if the bogus charge against Obama starts to stick. Neither Obama, his staff or any democratic officials should touch it with a ten foot pole unless things get really difficult. Let others do it. Sincerely offering sympathy and admiration for McCain, saying that not many could survive such an ordeal unscathed, is the way to go. Let the people decide how unscathed he is.

    As to he and his wife’s ‘indiscretions, just briefly explain, trivialize, and dismiss.

    Portraying him as the flip-flopping heir apparent to a Bush regime that has, by incompetence and indifference, done incredible damage to OUR country should carry the day. How patriotic is that? What is more relevant, what happened 40 years or what is happening now?

  • English MUST be the only language of this country

    If English were the only language, it would be a tragedy. We don’t need an official language. We’ve been fine without one since 1776. If you want to limit yourself, go ahead. Don’t infringe on my rights to speak whatever language I want.

  • #12 Blakley said:

    ‘Never argue with an idiot; they’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.’

    There ends my response to your post.

  • The thugs are going to endlessly go after Obama and the Democratic party with every lame argument they have ever made to see if they can get traction. For most of it, laughter is the best response. Here’s a lame creation of mine. Obama should say, ‘It’s as if the Republicans heard that someone in town might be going to illegally copy a movie, so they ran around shouting fire in every theater.’

  • Blakley, thanks for the info. I’m glad to see that my Senator, as well as both Democratic presidential candidates voted with sanity on this issue.

    I’ll support English as the one true national language just as soon as you can get the Idiot in Chief to start speaking it himself…

  • I’ve gotta say I’ve always been pleased since hearing that Barack Obama doesn’t wear the tiny American Flag pins. I’ve always thought that was a pretty empty and shallow display of “patriotism” by our politicians and TV anchors and talk show hosts.

    Wearing a little flag on your lapel does not, in any way, make someone a patriot. I’m about as inclined to find someone’s lapel pin patriotic as I would be if they were wearing stars and stripes underwear.

    Patriotism is actions, not fashion accessories.

  • Wearing a little flag on your lapel does not, in any way, make someone a patriot.

    Agreed. It is, quite literally, the least one can do to demonstrate patriotism.

  • “An odd judge of Barack Obama’s patriotism” — CB

    If credentials mattered, there would be no conservative noise machine. Come to think of it, if judgement mattered, there’d be no conservatives.

    I’m about as inclined to find someone’s lapel pin patriotic as I would be if they were wearing stars and stripes underwear. — Will

    Yeah, but checking underwear at political meetin’s holds up the line.

  • There is already, and will be more as we get closer to the general election, some very ugly smear emails being exchanged about both Hillery and Obama. I would suggest that we have a website where we can forward these emails for posting for the world to see.

  • Funny how all the little “tests” of patriotism are simply wedges used to drive Americans apart rather than to unify the nation into a cohesive whole. I would think patriots are people who wish to defend and unite this nation and its inhabitants rather than working to ostracize, divide and weaken it.

  • But why, then, quote Roger Stone? — CB

    Because he’s a long-time expert on Slime, Sleaze and Intimidation? Because, in all likelihood, he’ll be at the forefront of baying Repub pack all the way till November (and, possibly, beyond)?

    It’s always good to know what to expect; you can prepare better for it.

  • Technically, it used to be the law that if you had a flag up a pole, you had to bring it down every night. That was too much trouble for residential patriots, so now no such requirement exists. Consequently, they hang out there for months, years? fading and shredding. Lets hear it for the patriots.

  • Republicans invent the claim that their Democratic opposition is unpatriotic and then work backwards from that point trying to find “evidence” to support their argument. They want to claim Obama is unpatriotic and this is simply the closest thing they can find to “evidence” to support their argument.

    Regarding McCain, it might be best not to question the claims that McCain is a war hero. I would simply question whether any of his heroic actions in the face of being captured during the Vietnam War really has any relevance as to making a good president.

  • Roger Stone has as much right to his opinion and to public exposure thereof as you pathetic lefties. Stone seems dedicated to victory for his side and is prepared to do whatever it takes.

    Funny how you liberals love FREE SPEECH as long as it is yours.

    I’ve seen Stone on MSNBC, FOX, CNN and NBC. He consistantly out-argues the wimpy liberals they pair him with everytime.

    As a veteran of senior staff postions on eight national GOP Presidential campaigns Stone is more credible than that creep Carville who they didnt even keep around for Clinton’s re-election.

    As for quoting Stone on Obama- since Stone will be one of the guys gutting him I’d like to know what he has to say.

    Between Obama’s sleazy Rezko/PLO connections and his ties to the cold blooded murdrers in the Weathermen Barack Obama cant be trusted to be President.

  • Why then, quote Stone?

    Because he tells it like it is and has more experience regarding cutting the balls off left wingers like Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama, the Muslim Candidate for President.

    Just because there are no patriots voting in the liberal orgy of the Democratic Primaries dont think the American people are gonna buy the act of this fast talking fraud and his black radical/ “never been proud of America” wife.

    John Kerry, the hapless dope who couldnt beat George W. Bush will look like a strong candidate when Stone and his boys get done.

  • Hey “Paul the Lawyer” — has it occurred to you and your ilk that perhaps a large part of why Obama has caught on so quickly, cutting across so many different demographics is that he’s the candidate talking about real, true American values? That he’s reclaiming patriotism for those of us who believe in justice, liberty, hard work, and sacrifice and who don’t believe in torture, lying to get into pre-emptive wars, campaigns funded by lobbyists, and untrammeled executive power?

    As regards being proud of our country. I always love my children, but there are in fact certain times when I’m *really proud* of them. Saying that I’m proud of them then doesn’t mean that I don’t love them all the time and it certainly doesn’t mean that if I’m not saying it, I’m somehow insulting them. There are many times in these last eight years that we have, as a nation, done things we can’t be proud of, in fact that we should be ashamed of doing. And I say that because I love this country.

  • The trolls have come up from under their bridges!
    And they are proud and happy to be covered in “Stone Sleaze.”
    And they call a true war hero, a senator who has served America well as a “hapless dope.”
    Read this, you pissy-pants cowards:
    You are small, slimey littte turds compared to John Kerry. And, I think that you know it, too.
    So put on a freh pair of diapers and crawl under your bed, suck your thumbs while you shit yourselves thinking about how those “terrists” your idiot hero Bush tells you to be scared of.
    We adults will take care of bringing back America from the damage you and your shit-for-brains comrades have done.

  • Well said BuzzMon.

    It’s actually funny when you read some of their comments… That Andrew Miller troll is actually proud that Stone is a sleaze ball and uses underhanded techniques.

    He’s actually right when saying that Fox and some of the other channels pair up their right wingers with wimpy liberals. They even prefer the ‘blue dogs’ and ‘used-to-be democrats’ and then claiming that they speak for the Democratic/liberal/progressives.

    How else are they going to get their propaganda across? Not by inviting an intellectual liberal/progressive, because they would want to talk about facts – without their microphone being turned off, or being screamed over.

    We all know that facts have a liberal bias. Republicans/conservatives have to make sure that any ‘guest’ pretending to be a liberal is vetted beforehand, and made to drink some of the kool-aid before appearing.

    Let the idiots spew all their venom… When November comes around they’ll realize that all those ‘whimpy liberals’ where right. Time to go hide under their beds and be very afraid of the terrorists, when the next Democratic congress and white house go to work.

    The longer they hide under their bed, the less damage they can do the the country. When they appear, we’ll be there showing them where they can join one of the military services to go fight those scary terrorists. After all once President Obama/Hillary (?) starts withdrawing the brave troops who served honorable, we need to be able to replace them with disposable ones: the republican trolls who are too scared to serve their country. What better way to give them a true education.

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