Obama made a mistake. In September, he went to a barbeque and was on stage when the National Anthem was sung. He stood and faced the flag, but kept his hands clasped in front of him, instead of putting his right hand over his heart. Of course, his adversaries are screaming “unpatriotic” and using this against him.
Obama’s response was that he had been taught to put his hand over his heart during the pledge but not during the singing of the National Anthem. O.K., no big deal. So he was taught wrong. Most people probably don’t know that in June of 1942, Congress made the "Flag Code" official. This code specifically states that you are to put your right hand over your heart during the singing of the National Anthem. They won’t arrest you if you don’t do it, but it is written out as the proper way of behaving.
I think what will be interesting now is whether or not Obama will make the same mistake again. The first time, he can plead ignorance, but not a second.
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I'm sorry but this was not a case of ignorance by any means. Barack Obama knows the law and is a upholder of the law, thus he knows what the laws and standards are. This was a case that dates back to him ceasing to wear his American Flag pin on his suits or clothing. The case here isn't the fact that it is horribly unpatriotic or bad. The case is that Obama is trying to set himself out from that pack by doing off the wall things like these and the fact of the matter is it is truly not helping him but hurting him.
My opinion is that if you're a politician then you should be abiding by the laws, mandates, and provisions set in line by America. If he thinks this is something that is appealing or if the case is he is just doing because he truly feels that way, either way it is just to get attention.(but not the kind that he wants) He is hurting his campaign with these petty and unnecessary things he's doing.
-Nathan Guest
I don't think he's winning any popularity contest by not putting his hand over his heart.. But at the same time, it's not a crime. It's a suggested code. I don't think the majority of Americans are going to back his decision to not put his hand over his heart or wear the flag pin. I feel like it's a personal decision whether he wants to do so or not. But as a front runner hopeful for the Democratic party, he'll have a problem getting his voters to agree with his personal beliefs on the matter when nationalism is so heightened because of the war, etc.
This is what is told as the right thing to do. Not a law that is broken if not done. But it is out of respect that this should be done. Maybe it just goes to show that he dosen't have the same respect for the country that we all share. Everyone has their different ways of doing things. We can't judge him for it just hope the next time he'll try to respect the country especially if he is wanting to run it.
I agree with Nathan. Seriously, how could a Presidential candidate "not know" that he should put his hand over his heart?! I think it makes him look bad, whether it was ignorance of the code, or just plain ignorance.
I think it was a mistake and a honest one at that, it may cost him a few votes in the long run but never the less a mistake. Who is to say that he have not done it properly in the past, and if he has then it only clarify that it was an oversight on his behalf.
Well, I personally don't see why this is such a big deal really. I know that might sound bad, and I know he's running for the position as the face of America, but I see it that if he can run the country right his personal way of doing a pledge or whatever shouldn't matter. I mean, what would you rather want? Someone that can do his job right, or someone just looking to keep up their image?
I was never taught that in school. I only knew we were to sing along and know all of the words. I dont believe there was any harm done--nobody died from him not putting his hand over his heart.
At the same time, I must agree with Nathan. He's a presidential candidate. There's no way he could not havee known about this law, no matter how petty it is.
In July 1942, this should have been resended.
Look, as the politicians say, this is a non issue. A code isn't a law, and this isn't pre WWII Germany when folks were saying Heil Hilter, whether they wanted to or not.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heil_Hitler
Yeah, I have to agree that this is mountain out of a molehill territory. The only time things like this really amount to anything is when it's a pattern of behavior or something. It'd be somewhat different if he let the flag hit the ground and tried to hide it maybe. All politicians make a faux pas at some time or another.
I don't think it's really going to affect his popularity at all. I think the people that were behind him are going to defend him, and the people that were never behind him are going to criticise him for it.
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