Obama Reassures Voters He Loves America

After Questions About His Patriotism, Peppering Speeches With Statements On Love Of Country

(AP)  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.

At a recent town hall event in Pennsylvania, one voter said he was concerned that Republicans would dominate Democrats again on appearing patriotic. He urged Obama to give a speech on patriotism like the one he delivered on race after his pastor's comments became a political issue.

His campaign denies Obama has intentionally stepped up the patriotic language in his recent speeches. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said he has long included references to his love of America and additional mentions are probably a result of adjusting his speeches to different regions of the country or responding to questions.

Obama's speeches have always emphasized optimism about the country, particularly the idea that many different groups with separate interests can be brought together to improve America.

But Obama is smart to go even further now, said Rogers Smith, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

He called it crucial for Obama to attract more white, blue-collar voters if he is to narrow Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead in the state. A candidate with an unusual name, an exotic family history and a minister criticizing the country needs to reassure those voters, Smith said.

"Many are deeply patriotic and they are willing to vote Democrat, but they do want to know it's a Democrat like themselves, somebody with a strong sense of support for military service, for loyalty to the nation," Smith said.

Clinton also makes a point of reminding voters of her patriotism. "I'm offering myself as a fighter for America because I think America is worth fighting for," the New York senator said Sunday in Montana.

But election observers there and elsewhere aren't sure primary voters are weighing patriotism.

Nancy Woodruff, a member of the Whitefish, Mont., city council, joined about 4,000 other Montana Democrats at a rally Saturday where both Clinton and Obama spoke. Afterward, she detected no sign that people were dubious about Obama.

"I heard more people who were sort of over the top about Obama than Hillary," said Woodruff, who favors Clinton.

And in Indianapolis, the county's former Democratic chairman said the vast majority of primary voters understand Obama loves America.

"There may be some people who question his patriotism," said Ed Treacy, "but he's never going to get their vote anyway."

[paulmo43]

If you have to tell people you love America, then this means that some of the things you do must bring that into question. Actions speak louder than words. And since Obama has only words and very little action especially in creating plans to go along with his visions. If you don''t know where you are going, you will end up somewhere else.

[karl5773]

Obama is anti American and he hates whites. He didn''t attend Wright''s church for 20 years and name his book after one of Wright''s sermons because he doesn''t agree with him. CBS should do a poll - how low an IQ do you need to have to vote for Obama?

[mudrose-2009]

We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked for more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye. We have supported terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front years. American''s chickens are coming home to roost. The first Sunday after 9/11 - September 16, 2001. Jeremiah Wright.

That''s how the Rev. showed his deepest respect for the deaths of 3,000 Americans. What do you get from RamaLamaObama. He''s an old excentric family uncle. I can no more deny him than I can black people. If he didn''t leave the ministry I would have left the church. Ya know listening to this kind of ***** for 20 years really says that you are very much in agreement with what this vile man says. So please do go around saying you love your country - you can''t even put your hand on your heart when you hear the Anthem. You want to know where the end game is in Iraq, because you have more important things to do than defense of the nation. It oozes out of your pores RamaLamaObama. You don''t care about America. And you said so yourself.


"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you''ll join with me as we try to change it."



-- Barack Obama

[popstom1]

CBS NBC ABC CNN FOX are so worry about looking racist
this free ride is getting old

[gslinger3]

WWJWD "What would JeremiahWright do?"

NOBAMA08

[jockh]

Hillary will never win , the superdelegates will ultimately cement Obama''s nomination.. Currently Hillary leads among superdelegates, but almost all jumped on board a long time ago when it seemed her nomination was inevitable. Since Super Tuesday Obama has gained 69 superdelegates while Clinton has lost two.

The reason even more superdelegates haven''t declared for Obama is because Clinton is expected to win Pennsylvania. A superdelegate endorsement now risks having their endorsement seem worthless when Obama likely loses PA. So most are probably waiting until after PA votes, so they can endorse Obama in the lead up to North Carolina, a state he will win big, and thus have their endorsements look that much better.

The majority of remaining undecided superdelegates will either endorse after PA and prior to NC or in June after the last vote is cast, and expect virtually all to vote for Obama.

In the end, Clinton won''t even be left with the 251 superdelegates she has now. Many of those 251 are Clinton loyalists and won''t switch to Obama publicly, but they are politicians, who put their own career first and will get in line with everyone else.

Sure Clinton will hold on to 50-100 of her loyalists until the bitter end, but any fantasy that this thing will be a close finish is just that, a fantasy.

[jockh]

I am sick to death of Hillary using the voters of Fl and Mi for her own political purpose. When she thought her nomination was inevitable she didn''''t give a hoot about Fl and Mi voters. She put that in writing. Yes all you Hillary supporters should read that again. HILLARY SIGNED A PLEDGE THAT THE VOTES IN FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN WOULD NOT BE COUNTED.

When these states were voting, she is on record as saying that %u201CTHEIR VOTES ARENT GOING TO COUNT%u201D

Why didn%u2019t she shout, cry and go into hysterics then? Because she thought she was going to win anyway, thats why !!!!!!!


HILLARY AGREED to sanctions against Mi and Fl prior to their vote.
HILLARY AGREED with DNC that sanctions were appropriate.
HILLARY AGREED not to campaign in those states.
HILLARY SIGNED a pledge that their votes would not count.


But now, she has developed this sudden desire for their votes to count not because she cares for them but purely for selfish reasons. She is now scraping the bottom of the barrel for support and suddenly she cares sooo much for the voters in Mi and Fl.

[jockh]

HILLARY CLINTON - READY TO LIE ON DAY ONE !!!!

First she denies that she was pro NAFTA. White House schedules have now been released, showing she held several high profile meetings to endorse NAFTA.

Second she tells outright lies about her bullet dodging trip to Bosnia.

Hillarys problem is that voters know how easily the Clintons lie. Next she will say well, it depends on how you define "sniper fire" and "ran" and then %u201CI DID NOT HAVE MILITARY RELATIONS WITH THAT SNIPER%u201D

Misspeaking is one thing, repeating it over and over makes it a FLAT LIE !!
Clinton simply cannot help herself.
She tells a big lie when a small lie will do. And she tells a small lie when the truth will do.
Look at the trouble the country is in because of the lies of President Bush so God help America if this woman ever gets elected.


She cannot win the Democratic nomination without causing a civil war in the Democratic Party. While comparing herself to, and praising, McCain while undermining Obama, make it appear that she is willing to do just that -- split the party in two. Seriously, can you imagine McCain saying that that he had a lifetime of experience, Hillary had a lifetime of experience, but Romney didn''t? That would never happen. It''s unacceptable. And it has to stop.

I get that it sucks to lose. But, it happens. Hillary, drop out with your head up high. Unless of course you''re ducking sniper fire again

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by elizabethbj at 10:07 PM : Apr 08, 2008

He''s a crook that''s hacked up some story about the Clintons.

[demwatcher]

Why does he feel the need to reassure us?

GUILT!

Obama will say anything, and Dems will lap it up like a puppy drinking milk.

Follow Obama and you are truly Dumbocrats.

They same goes for followers of Hillary.