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!

[dnsallday]

Obama is asking us ALL to pay attention and get involved, he is asking us to listen to what he has to say, and to take some initiative to look up all of the specifics he has laid out in his "blueprint for America" (available on his website)for how he would like to implement change. In other words Obama is trying to help educate low information voters so they don''t have to keep repeating hate speech that they get from talk radio.

He is asking us to step up to the plate and take some responsibility for moving this country forward in a way that benefits us all (not just the top 1%, like McCain%u2019s plans would do).

Continuing his week-long focus on patriotism and national service, Sen. Barack Obama will lay out a plan Wednesday to create new volunteer and service opportunities to address some of the nation''s most pressing challenges.

"We will ask Americans to serve. We will create new opportunities for Americans to serve. And we will direct that service to our most pressing national challenges.

"When you choose to serve %u2014 whether it''s your nation, your community, or simply your neighbor, You are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans. That is why this is a great nation,"

[joyous88]

what a crock, listen mr republicon clinton is not running, you may be able to fool or scare conservatives into voting against their own self interest,

but democrats know who is running and who is not.

go back to your right wing noise machine computer banks and think about becoming an honest person

[joyous88]

what a crock, listen mr republicon clinton is not running, you may be able to fool or scare conservatives into voting against their own self interest,

but democrats know who is running and who is not.

go back to your right wing noise machine computer banks and think about becoming an honest person

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


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Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[jedi080808]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ERoosevelt08

I agree, it was soooo much fun watching that witch crash and burn for the last 8 months. Her and Bill were like a bad daytime soap.

I miss those shaddy people in a weird way.

I wonder who Bill is cheating on Hill with and who Hill is lying to right now.

CBS should do a monthly story on Clinton Dirt to keep the news interesting!!!!

[eroosevelt08]

Political news is just not interesting without Senator Clinton.

[cinnamonape-2009]

I seriously doubt that an individual running for office who doesn''t wrap themselves up in a flag (or skewer themselves with a flag-pin) would be the "unpatriot". A "Manchurian Candidate" would obviously know how to play the game of concealing their real intentions. As Jesus warned "beware the ones that make a false show of piety".

Those that attempt to divide Americans by deriding some of them for not being patriotic "enough", are the real dangers to our country. Love of country is in the heart and head...sometimes it means that one wants to make it an even better place...through the use of the First Amendment, voting, public service, working with non-governmental groups, etc.

[lordmi]

to Beastof70 : You are spreading dirt more and more.
Maybe it''s time for You to stop posting here and do Your job. And do it properly?
I guess so. There is still a question about Your OWN patriotism and also ...hmmmm sort of Gap in Your brains.
Thank You for consideration

[lordmi]

we better question patriotism of those people who question Obama. Sure they have that gap.That is why they are playing this game and play dirty.

[noprejudice]

Beastof70: 50% american? what the hell does that mean? it is a racial reference?

[medmom04]

alanrobisch2:

I could call your point of view skewed, but I''m not a jerk. My dad was a vietnam vet. My hat is ALWAYS off to a vet. all the same, toting military experience is not enough, and I think anyone with any sense knows this. I really liked McCain, until he flipped and put my civil rights at risk. I do not want my country getting into another war! and there is nothing wrong with that! if you can''t be nice, then shut up. if you can''t dialogue like an adult, then get yourself a caregiver who can decipher unkind language from adult dialogue! Point is, you don''t need to attack. it says alot about who you are......

[noprejudice]

beastof70 is a troller. let''s get back to something logical here.

[beastof70]

beastof70, you come off as just one more lying republicon propagandist,
We veterans know the difference between hiding and draft dodgeing your way thru the war in your very own airplane and being in a foxhole,
Bush and McBush both got to be pilots because their
very wealth daddies bought their way into flight school - to avoid combat duty -
It''s like your evangelical religion - if it was true -
you would not have to spend so much time trying to
sell it to the rest of us,
McBush is a phony you are a LIAR, typical spin repug
Posted by joyous88 at 10:04 AM : Jul 03, 2008
=============

Joyous, every time I''ve to date found someone wearing their service in the manner you do above, the only thing they were a veteran of was:

The mess hall.
The supply shack.
A Chaplins Assistant.
or in MCVet''s case
The Army of the USSR.

Which one are you a vet of??

[joyous88]

beastof70, you come off as just one more lying republicon propagandist,

We veterans know the difference between hiding and draft dodgeing your way thru the war in your very own airplane and being in a foxhole,

Bush and McBush both got to be pilots because their

very wealth daddies bought their way into flight school - to avoid combat duty -

It''s like your evangelical religion - if it was true -

you would not have to spend so much time trying to

sell it to the rest of us,

McBush is a phony you are a LIAR, typical spin repug

[beastof70]

First we saw the NRA pledge $40 million to "Swiftboat" Sen. Obama.

Then yesterday another $40 million from Newt Gingrich pledged to "Swiftboat" Sen. Obama.

Now today we hear how the nations leading evangelical leaders have all come out as a group to endorse John McCain. How the nations Catholics are split down the middle. And, we see John McCain has finally saddled up by making the the man Karl Rove calls the, "Bullet" to be his top campaign strategist.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, oh my.....The gap does appear to be on the grow!!