Is There A Political Patriotism Gap?

CBS News' Kathy Frankovic: Barack Obama May Have A Patriotism Perception Problem

(CBS)  This column was written by CBS News director of surveys Kathy Frankovic.

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Flags will fly everywhere this July 4th weekend: According to a Fox News survey taken last year, 86 percent of Americans said they owned a flag, and two-thirds (68 percent) said they had flown one in the previous year. Americans also express their patriotism in surveys, where the vast majority consider themselves “very patriotic.”

When patriotism has entered the political arena as a campaign issue in recent years, it has typically been to the benefit of Republicans. Despite John Kerry’s decorated war service, more Americans told the Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll that the word “patriotic” applied more to Republican George W. Bush than to Democrat John Kerry. In 1988, more voters thought George H.W. Bush was very patriotic than thought his opponent, Democrat Michael Dukakis, was.

Last year, for the Forth of July, I wrote about “patriotism” - what people think it is and its effect on political campaigns. This campaign, the overall Republican advantage on patriotism seems smaller. A year ago, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll asked registered voters: “Do you think of one of the two major political parties as being more patriotic than the other party?” Nearly two-thirds said they did not. And while more voters who saw a difference considered the Republican Party more patriotic than the Democratic Party, the margin was very small - 19 percent to 11 percent. A Democracy Corps poll of likely voters, taken this March, found 32 percent saying they associated the Democratic Party more with the term “patriotic” when it came to national security, while 38 percent associated “patriotic” more with the Republican Party.

A result that close could have arisen because recent polls have shown fewer and fewer people being willing to identify themselves as Republicans. President Bush’s approval rating is at an all-time low. More people now than ever before think things in the U.S. are headed in the wrong direction. And there are widespread concerns about the economy.

But even though his party doesn’t fare all that badly in the “patriotism,” competition, Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama still faces problems. He has been weathered criticism for not wearing a flag pin, and he has been dogged by false rumors that question his patriotism (Does he really refuse to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance? Of course not.)

In late April, only 29 percent of registered voters in a CBS News/New York Times Poll said they would describe Obama as “very patriotic.” That percentage was dwarfed by the 70 percent who attributed that characteristic to John McCain. Adding those who said “somewhat patriotic” to the total still resulted in a large McCain lead. Nearly all registered voters (92 percent) described McCain as at least somewhat patriotic, while 74 percent said that about Obama.

The doubts about Obama weren’t just from Republicans. In late April, Obama and Clinton were still engaged in their primary battles, and more Democratic primary voters (61 percent) thought McCain was “very patriotic” than thought Obama was (39 percent).
Even groups that were very positive about Obama displayed a “patriotism gap.” Forty seven percent of people with more than a college education said Obama was very patriotic, 83 percent of them said McCain was. Thirty nine percent of young voters thought Obama was very patriotic, but 57 percent of them thought that about McCain. African-Americans, Obama’s strongest supporters, were just as likely to describe McCain as very patriotic as to say Obama was.

Differences among other groups were striking. Independents were more than twice as likely to view McCain as very patriotic as to say that about Obama. Women were two and a half times as likely; Southerners three times as likely.

Our CBS News/New York Times Polls have not been alone in noting this difference in perceptions of the candidates. A Pew Research Center Poll, conducted about the same time, had similar findings: 90 percent of adults said they thought of McCain as patriotic; just 61 percent thought of Obama that way. A CNN/Opinion Research Poll, conducted last week, showed the gap narrowing, but not closing. Ninety percent said McCain “is patriotic"; 73 percent said that about Obama.

Americans sometimes see patriotism in what people do, but also in how they display it. In the 1988 campaign George Bush made a point of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to highlight the differences between him and Michael Dukakis, who as Governor of Massachusetts had vetoed a bill to require schoolteachers to lead their class in the Pledge of Allegiance (Dukakis had been told by the State Supreme Court, in an advisory opinion, that the bill was unconstitutional). An April NBC News/Wall St. Journal Poll found that four in ten registered voters said they had some concerns about Obama being “not patriotic enough as shown by the fact that he does not wear an American flag pin on his lapel.” Seventeen percent had major concerns about it.

And very recently, the Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll discovered the issue hasn’t gone away for one in three voters, who said just a few weeks ago - in mid-June - they cared whether or not a candidate wears an American flag pin.

This has put Obama in much the same position as earlier Democratic candidates. His speech last Monday, asserting his patriotism, was meant to overcome the difficulties he has faced in convincing at least some voters about his love for America. Perhaps because he was aware of this, when he gave that speech, he didn’t talk about wearing flag pins - he wore one.

Happy Fourth!

[jack3213]

If McCain had spent one day in a Church where the sermon was hatred of the USA, he would not be a candidate.

Obama spendds 20 years in such a church and people don''t care or want to forget.

What a bunhch of zero-heads.

[johnmcsame]

Obama is a muslim. He cannot swear allegiance to anything other than the koran. So now you know.

[jack3213]

If McCain had spent one day in a Church where the sermon was hatred of the USA, he would not be a candidate.

Obama spends 20 YEARS in such a church and people don''t care or want to forget.

What a bunch of zero-heads.

[texanforlogi]

Hearing these poll results and reading the comments I have to conclude that a large number of Americans are morons. Patriotism is upholding and respecting the Constitution and the republicans are certainly not doing that.

[davidlar2]

Do we really want a narrow minded patriotic president who considers the American status quo to be perfect and beyond critique? We will never improve our country with we are not willing to be critical of it.

Beyond that, who cares how patriotic a president is? Shouldn''t we be talking about their position on different economic issues and what it means for the short and long term health of the US economy instead?

The US media writes story after story about nonsense with no serious discussion of anything that matters and then gives themselves Pulitzer Prizes for uncovering Obama''s lack of patriotism or James Carville''s deep insights into public policy (we''re right, they''re wrong). Then without ever seriously discussing the issues, we vote and get a government that starts a war in Iraq, generates huge deficits, ... while the other side wants to stop trading with the rest of the world. Great!

[guysdigdirt]

so why was it obama said he would not wear a flag pin and why are there pictures of him not saluting the flag when all around he were?

Is he saying what his handlers want him to say and doing what they want himi to do now so he can fool us all and get what he wants?

[guysdigdirt]

If McCain had spent one day in a Church where the sermon was hatred of the USA, he would not be a candidate.

Obama spends 20 YEARS in such a church and people don''''t care or want to forget.
Posted by jack3213

And dedicated a book to his "mentor" the hate filled preacher that obama followed for the last 20 years.

[tawpdawg11]

From the story: "Despite John Kerry%u2019s decorated war service, more Americans told the Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll that the word %u201Cpatriotic%u201D applied more to Republican George W. Bush than to Democrat John Kerry."
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In light of Bush blatant disregard for what Americans believe is good for our country (see 80% DISAPPROVAL rating), it goes to show ALL OF US that the patriotism thing is a RIDICULOUS reason to select someone to this powerful, revered, and important position.

Candidates for president are inherently patriotic.

Bush may have been patriotic, but has proven over and over and over and over and over and over again that he is the worst president this country has ever had. EVER. I hang my head.

We must find a better reason to cast our votes.

[jack3213]

When someone understands what side of the coin Obama is on- for any issue -can you tell him, yourself please, I''m too busy actually supporting someone who does know someone ( MCCAIN) and what he stands for.

[jack3213]

When someone understands what side of the coin Obama is on- for any issue -can you tell him, yourself please, ........I''m too busy actually supporting someone who does know ( MCCAIN) what he stands for.

[rgrxx175]

you people make me sick, you think driving a SUV and putting a support our troops yellow magnet on makes you a patriot, what a joke...

[Mccarthyaw]

When someone understands what side of the coin Obama is on- for any issue -can you tell him, yourself please, I''''m too busy actually supporting someone who does know someone ( MCCAIN) and what he stands for.


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Posted by jack3213 at 01:19 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Which McCain? The one this year or the one from eight years ago? Completely different people.

[obama8years]

Obama is Patriotic, Only Patriotic to the Wrong Countries, ie Cuba, Kenya, Iran, Hamas, etc.

Obama is a modern-day Marxist.


Castro and Obama share many of the same values and principles for the country''s economy:

1. Redistribute the country''s wealth - Marxism 101

2. Grow the size of the government - Create new departments dedicated to supporting Item 1

3. Blame greedy American corporations for the pains of the US and the rest of the world

4 Increase taxes on those already paying the largest percentage and total amount. The top 1% already pay 39% of all taxes.

5 Nationalize healthcare

[obama8years]

11. Dictate to Americans that they should be ashamed for using 25% of the world''s energy while only having 3% of the population and that A/C thermostats in should be set at higher than 72 degrees.

12. Give up America''s sovereignty for the "good of the world" and to save the planet from "global warming" by supporting new treaties on international boundaries, not drilling in ANWR or offshore, but standing by while Castro plans to drill off the Florida coast.

13. Campaigning on a message of "change", because it sounds good.


The list can go on and on, as Castro and Obama share many principles for the formula for a failed state, but one in which the party of the "new poor" remains in power through the growth of government. As this party provides more and more entitlements for its citizens and big government prevails, the country becomes less and less productive. Eventually, America''s economy is no better off than Cuba''s. Therefore, Fidel, go ahead and send Obama that box of Cohibas, for he is a Marxist just like you.

[obama8years]

6 Campaign on a principle based on appealing to the lower income 50% of the US to despise the rich and convince 45% of the other half that their life is miserable so that once convinced of their doom and gloom, they will support the doomsayer and will want bigger government

7. Convince the public, that America is perceived as evil, thus, hated by the rest of the world.

8. Abandon America''s principle of helping the world rid itself of dictatorships, thus, put our weapons down, throw our arms up, and retreat in shame from Iraq.

9. Support dictatorships throughout the world and elevate them to be recognized by the US as worthy leaders that need to be heard without preconditions - legitimize them

10. Grow the support base by expanding the lowest income class in the country by increasing and broadening entitlements; however, add to that the importation of poverty into the United States by giving Amnesty to well over 20 million illegal aliens in the country. Furthermore, promote this policy in order to attract even more illegal immigration prior to the granting of the amnesty in order to achieve the highest number of "new, uneducated, government-dependent poor class", I call the "new poor".

[obama8years]

Obama is a modern-day Marxist.


Castro and Obama share many of the same values and principles for the country''s economy:

1. Redistribute the country''s wealth - Marxism 101

2. Grow the size of the government - Create new departments dedicated to supporting Item 1

3. Blame greedy American corporations for the pains of the US and the rest of the world

4 Increase taxes on those already paying the largest percentage and total amount. The top 1% already pay 39% of all taxes.

5 Nationalize healthcare

6 Campaign on a principle based on appealing to the lower income 50% of the US to despise the rich and convince 45% of the other half that their life is miserable so that once convinced of their doom and gloom, they will support the doomsayer and will want bigger government

[getcentered]

obama8years = toe tapping republican propagandist tool

[getcentered]

Lets talk about what is real.....not some made up talking points about Obama spread by deceit loving GOP propagandists.

Like.....how well does McCains military service serve the best iterest of our national security?

McCain and Republicans were so wrong about so much.

McCain was wrong just on Iraq so many times......like:

"There%u2019s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, 4/23/03]

...............uh what?......or this precious one:

"I%u2019m confident we%u2019re on the right course." [ABC News, 3/7/04]

.................or how about the VETO proof GI bill that McCain is against?.......many Democrats and many Republicans support that bill. CAN''''T DENY THAT RIGHT?

........Why, when Congress finally comes together to agree on something, McCain wants to stand with the Neo-con Republican tragedians of our country to stop the bill? I don%u2019t get it...........

McCain has lost his way. He supports bringing the troops home, in body bags for a hundred years...............

He wasn%u2019t tortured in Viet Nam, according to his own republican standards; he received advanced interrogation techniques, of which he approves of nowadays.

Where are the REAL Republicans? Hello? Anybody out there?

[taxguydave]

If Obama is a modern day Marxist, then Bush and McCain are modern day fascists. Their governmental and economic policies are nearly identical to Mussolini''s.

Upward redistribution of wealth (taxing money earned by working at a far higher rate than money made by investing). Giving big business increased influence and plenty of government handouts. Increase the size of the government (which shrank under Clinton). Borrow money to pay for increased spending (which threw Italy into a depression, and is doing the same to us now).

If you look at actual history, you will find that taxes were increased greatly during the Reagan and Bush administrations, while government spending and the deficit went up. Under Clinton, taxes went down, the budget was balanced, and we were paying off our national debt. Not to mention the biggest economic expansion in this nations history.

[caliguy55]

These are John McCain''s own words spoken on msnbc.com:

%u201CI didn%u2019t really love America until I was deprived of her company.%u201D

See the video for yourself at:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/

Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.

[tbweb]

I know many Patriotic Americans, many who would die for our country, many who would serve for free if required but most them don''t go around wearing that Patriotism on their collars or sleeves looking for praise or attention, like most Americans. Actually its those who "over" flaunt their Patriotism that should be suspect, being an American Patriot should be just as transparent and natural as breathing air! Patriotism is hard to measure and gauge because like love its a matter of the Heart!

[aldon61]

Patriotism, defined by the on-line dictionary is: "The love of and devotion to one''s country". It certainly is not owned by either party, nor is it found by wearing a lapel pin or waving the flag. It is found inside each of us and may vary in it''s intensity; hence some people may be "more" patriotic than others, but we''ll never know. It''s subjective folks, it cannot be quantified. Demonstrated? Maybe. This is a foolish word for the adults on this site to be debating.

[aldon61]

Patriotism is hard to measure and gauge because like love its a matter of the Heart!



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Posted by tbweb at 02:39 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Truer words can not be spoken, my point precisely.

[aldon61]

I hang my head.

We must find a better reason to cast our votes.


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Posted by TawpDawg11 at 01:16 PM : Jul 02, 2008

He has shamed our country and hurt our reputation, but there is hope for us and it can begin in November. Obama 08!

[von_marko]

Hearing Obama, Sean Penn and Jane Fonda praise the patriotic service of others, is the same as hearing a rapist tell a rape victim that she''s really hot.

outrageous

[frootloop47]

He [BUSH] has shamed our country and hurt our reputation, but there is hope for us and it can begin in November. Obama 08!
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[von_marko]

%u201CYou think everyone over there is a college graduate? They%u2019re 19 and 20-year-old kids who couldn%u2019t get a job%u2026 You know, the soldiers are not scholars, they%u2019re not war experts%u2026 They%u2019re not the best people to ask about the war because they%u2019re gonna die any second.%u201D

Actor and Obama Supporter Richard Belzer, showing his %u201Csupport%u201D for our troops

[frootloop47]

Can McCain run Bush as his VP?
That would be perfect :-)

[joe1022joe]

Folks, Obama is a security risk. Half of his family are Moslem and live in Africa. No agency of the federal government would authorize such a person to have access to sensitive security and defense information. This is not just an opinion. Ask the people who vet potential federal employees for security clearances.

[frootloop47]

joe1022joe u a such a goof!

[zerato-2009]

Posted by von_marko

"It is not important when the troops come home." John Mccain showing his support for the troops

[zerato-2009]

outrageous
Posted by von_marko

Hearing taht conservatives have a think tank.....outrageous

[aldon61]

Posted by frootloop47 at 04:10 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Frooty, thanks for inserting the shrub''s name in my post.

[von_marko]

Profiles in Leadership:
Obama Vs. McCain Part 1:

The year is 2005
The situation is high troop loss in Iraq

Obama: PULL OUT TROOPS AND SURRENDER NOW!

McCain: SEND IN MORE TROOPS AND WIN!

McCain champions and wins support for General Petraeous''s "Surge"

Result?
2008, US troop losses in Iraq are lower than at any time since war began, even less than the small scale conflict in Afganistan.

If your girlfriend has an unwanted pregnancy, you can''''t sit around and complain that it never should have happened. You have to be a man and look to the future.

In the above analogy, Obama would be another absentee daddy !!!

nuff said

[medmom04]

joe1022joe:

Oh NO! Obama has relatives who practice religion according to their own beliefs??? This is an outrage! I''d better have a talk with my exclusive, judgmental Christian relatives, since targeting religious folks in the name of racism is so prevalent these days!

Who CARES!? That doesn''t make obama a security risk! rub some brain cells together. extremists do not practice the same religion as MOST folks in ANY religion! Hitler was a Christian, yes? Find something worthwhile to target Obama with, if you really need to behave this way. pleeez.

[frootloop47]

von marko, u should write fictional novels. Nobody would by them, but at least you wouldn''t be wasting space on the blog.

Have a great right wing, repug day :-)

[frootloop47]

not sure, but I thinks joe1022joe slithered off somewhere else.
We probably should go find him so he doesn''t do too much damage .
:-)

[dmgenet]

Talking about patriotism, is like playing air guitar. Playing air guitar has nothing to do with music.

The true patriots are the ones who gave their life in defense of freedom.

[dmgenet]

Speaking of "beliefs"... belief systems do NOT make a religion. Ergo, atheism would be a religion.

[levicro]

it kind of does seem like there might be a gap.. for some reason McCain wants to destroy the United States... God only knows why.. but that is apparently his goal... you can tell by listening to his stated pollicies...

[PacificGatePost]

COMPARING MILITARY RECORDS?

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/03/john-mccain-concept-of-courage.html

[medmom04]

Speaking of "beliefs"... belief systems do NOT make a religion. Ergo, atheism would be a religion.

________________________________________
no one said this or implied this. but thanks for your correction!!! alot of people just might take their beliefs in hand, and find a religion that best suits their ideals. this is not an unknown. but you take it wherever you may.

anyways, mccain is playing up his military experience as a patriotic ploy. he said so himself: "obama didn''t find it necessary to serve his country in our military". I don''t give a ***** about military experience --- I find my civil rights and those of my children to be a bit more of a priority. Keeping us out of another war would be a big one, and clearly McCain is bomb-happy.

[seah5]

Patriotism is not something you can Just say you have.

It is not wearing a flag pin, because others demanded you do.

Patriotism is something you have, in your heart, your soul It is something you believe in. It shows itself naturally. It is a special Pride you posses and show spontaneous. It is a Passion.

Some one who runs around Telling everyone Look I am Patriotic has no clue what it even is.

I do not know How someone who runs around for 2 years talking people into Not liking bush, hate the government, hate the war, Can even think anyone would believe they are patriotic. Especially a Senator.

The President of the United States - Merits Respect - Especially from those who work for him. You can agree or not agree with him, but you do not get people to disrespect him as Mr Obama has.

The United States - The Country - The Government, Deems Respect. You do not go around getting people to disrespect it. as Mr Obama has done.

When the Country is at war, you can not agree with the reasons But you still support you country in the cause. You do not get people to not do that, as Mr Obama has done.

He has lead a campaign getting people to disrespect their President, turn against their government and join and anti war campaign. That is not Patriotic.
Not the proper behavior for a United States Senator.

[dnsallday]

McCain intends to continue what Bush started with destroying the United States. Is this a new form of patriotism?

[demwatcher]

"it kind of does seem like there might be a gap.. for some reason McCain wants to destroy the United States... God only knows why.. but that is apparently his goal... you can tell by listening to his stated pollicies...

Posted by LeviCro at 05:52 PM : Jul 02, 2008"

We can tell that you are a brainwashed, Liberal lemming.

[alanrobisch]

anyways, mccain is playing up his military experience as a patriotic ploy. he said so himself: "obama didn''''t find it necessary to serve his country in our military". I don''''t give a ***** about military experience --- I find my civil rights and those of my children to be a bit more of a priority. Keeping us out of another war would be a big one, and clearly McCain is bomb-happy.


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Posted by medmom04 at 08:11 PM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abuse
bull he did show his willingness to sacrifice his life for his country. He could have been killed He was brutalized for 6 yrs. Gee I think it is a reflection of his character that he stood up under this. You apparently aren''t voting for him and your point of view is skewed. Try a little objectivity. Mind you you don''t have to agree with him or even think he should be president but at least call a spade a spade.

I respect Barrack Obama but I don''t agree with him. I wish he was conservative. I would gladly vote for him.

[gunnerdd517]

obama is so stupid,he doesn`t deserve further comment

[sgtrds-e4]

Obama has nothing to prove when it comes to patriotism. He has not said and done anything that any reasonable person could ever say was in anyway unpatriotic. This is a non-issue.

[dumbocrat]

Hearing Obama, Sean Penn and Jane Fonda praise the military service of others, is like hearing a rapist tell a rap victim she''s hot.

Outrageous!

[dumbocrat]

Obama Military Service:
Marines? No
Airforce? No
National Guard? No
Rotc? No
Boy Scouts? No

Karl Marxx summer leadership conference? YES!


When will Obama release all his records from his military service???????????????