The media spent plenty of time debating Obama’s decision not to wear a lapel pin, but in reality, it wasn’t that big of a deal. I get what Obama was saying—he believed that patriotism is about actions, not just symbols, and he didn’t want to rely on clichés to prove his love for the country. I respect that, even if I would have done both: wearing the pin and making it clear through actions.
But then, something else surfaced that’s hard to ignore. Thanks to Chicago Ray, I was reminded of another instance where Obama’s patriotism is questioned. This time, it’s about a simple gesture that even a first grader can manage: putting your hand over your heart during the National Anthem.
During the National Anthem at the 2007 Steak Fry event hosted by Sen. Tom Harkin in Iowa, a Time magazine photo showed Obama standing with Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson. Clinton and Richardson had their hands on their hearts, but Obama? Not so much.
The question is: Does Obama believe that, like the flag pin, putting your hand over your heart isn’t “true patriotism”? Is this another example of him rejecting American customs, or does he have another explanation?
This wasn’t widely covered in the mainstream media, but it’s a curious moment that seems to add to the growing narrative that Obama is out of sync with traditional American symbols and customs.
It makes you wonder what kind of conversation Obama might have if he ever sits down with Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez—perhaps discussing all the ways American traditions don’t resonate with him?
