The Obama snow job regarding his patriotism

Yesterday I picked up on a story out of Seattle regarding a Democrat caucus, and their lack of patriotism when someone suggested saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Obama is now trying to tell people that he is patriotic:

Barack Obama wants to make something clear: He loves America.

After a series of incidents that prompted questions about his patriotism, the Democratic presidential candidate is peppering speeches with explicit statements on his love of country.

"I love this country not because it's perfect but because we've always been able to move it closer to perfection," he told an audience in North Dakota.

And in Montana: "It's a country where ... I've seen ordinary Americans find justice, where I've seen progress made for working families who need leaders who are willing to stand up and fight for them. That is the country I love."

Obama also stirs crowds into a frenzy of cheering and clapping when he talks about treating military veterans with respect, of giving them the best possible equipment, of providing top-notch health care for the wounded.

"They have earned our respect," the Illinois senator exclaims.

Such patriotic statements could be an effort to reassure voters wondering about whether he truly loves the country.

First came questions about why he doesn't wear a flag lapel pin. Obama said he thinks true patriotism is demonstrated by a person's actions, not his lapel.

Then came a wave of e-mails with a picture that supposedly showed him refusing to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. Obama said the picture was actually taken during the national anthem, and he was singing.

More recently, and more seriously for Obama, his wife was quoted as saying the country's response to his campaign had made her proud of America for the first time. And his pastor was seen criticizing the country in endlessly repeated video excerpts of sermons criticizing government racism.

"Not 'God Bless America' — God damn America!" said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who also called the country the "U.S. of KKK-A."

Polls haven't shown any major political damage to Obama from such comments, but critics have used them to suggest that Obama isn't patriotic — not an idea he wants in the minds of Pennsylvania and Indiana voters as critical primaries approach.

Here's the thing, folks. This nation has a great deal of people who consider themselves patriots. They fly the flag on days it's called for, or many fly a flag 24/7. They put their hands over their hearts during the national anthem, and have no problem saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Obama, on the other hand, doesn't do that. He claims he's expressing "true patriotism" by sharing his ideas with the nation.

It's true that the exercise of free speech could be considered patriotic, but is it really? Utilizing a God-given right isn't necessarily being patriotic. It's using something we already have. Patriotism is defined as love for or devotion to one's country. In our opinion, he hasn't shown that to people. By injecting patriotic statements in his stump speeches, he's hoping to assuage his supporters, and counter his critics.

Will it work? Well I doubt his supporters are going to walk away from him, and I don't think that he's going to sway any of his critics off the fence with this. We have bigger issues with him than his patriotism. Personally speaking, I wish the Democrats wouldn't always look to tax hikes as a solution for revenue. His position on issues is what concerns us, not his patriotism.

Publius II