GREAT MOMENTS IN GOP FAKE PATRIOTISM

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MSNBC - 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. Story continues
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'Blame America first crowd' "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.". . .

Obama already is the subject of a shadowy smear campaign based on the
Internet that falsely suggests he's a Muslim intent on destroying the
United States. Obama is a Christian and has been . . .

Last summer, Obama was photographed by Time magazine at an event in Iowa
standing with his hands folded during the national anthem. His primary
rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
appear beside him, with their hands on their hearts.

It has been repeatedly reported that the moment came during the Pledge
of Allegiance, but that's not the case.

In October, Obama told Iowa television station KCRG that he decided to
stop wearing a U.S. flag lapel pin during the run-up to the Iraq war
because it had become "a substitute for, I think, true patriotism.". . .


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23315711/

CNN - About not wearing an American flag lapel pin, Obama said
Republicans have no lock on patriotism.

"A party that presided over a war in which our troops did not get the
body armor they needed, or were sending troops over who were untrained
because of poor planning, or are not fulfilling the veterans' benefits
that these troops need when they come home, or are undermining our
Constitution with warrantless wiretaps that are unnecessary? "That is a
debate I am very happy to have. We'll see what the American people think
is the true definition of patriotism."

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