In Defense of Obama
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
November 19, 2009 4:59am CST
I was watching "The View" yesterday and Elisabeth Hasselbeck (a staunch Republican) gave an excellent defense of Obama and all the photos of his various salutes which
were taken shown to be completely out of context to the accusations against him.
She complained about receiving so much email which is untrue. Here is a recap of what she said:
Elisabeth Hasselbeck Set the Record Straight
This morning on The View Elisabeth Hasselbeck set the record straight about a photo that conservatives have been circulating. The photo is said to be of Obama at a Veteran's Day celebration where he, supposedly, did not put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem. Conservatives all over the country have sent this photo in email forwards and it has even been shown here at Gather.
According to Hasselbeck, the photo in question was not taken at the Veteran's Day event. She said it was taken at a Memorial Day event and that the reason Obama did not have his hand over his heart was that he had just arrived and the military shown saluting in the picture were saluting him, as the Commander-in-Chief.As Hasselbeck said, there are real issues about which we need to be upset, but this is not one of them. Yes, we know that Obama did not wear a flag lapel pin or put his hand over his heart during the Pledge when he was campaigning.
Obviously, he learned his lesson about this during the campaign. The real picture of him on Veteran's Day, shown on The View, shows him with his hand over his heart.
Case closed?
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977906783
[b]I definitely agree with her. Obama does enough to infuriate the American people without having to incite more bad publicity. What are your thoughts?
[/b]
3 people like this
7 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
19 Nov 09
I would think that whether Obama is a legal born American citizen and remained so or whether he is not, and the ones who got him to run for office knew it and kept that information from Americans is more important than how he salutes or whether he does not salute (he could have arthritis and does not want to tell anyhone or he cold have had a cramp in his arm). Because if he were not a true American born citizen, that would explain many of the laws he is signing and those who chose to be in his cabinet and why he is trying to change America from being almost the major country of the world into one that is third rate.
You are so right@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
20 Nov 09
Yes. There are more important things. It is just as silly as my husband saying I do not like Obama because he is part black and he keeps his ears closed when I tell him of Obama's policies on abortion, etc. It is as if he wants to give Obama more chances then any other president in history.
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Nov 09
I am surprised at your response to the person from Pakistan.
I think it is honorable that a Republican would defend a wrong done to the President. I would wish that more Democrats could do the same on behalf of the Republicans who are smeared and castigated by the press.
Is a salute, a bow or a pin on the lapel important in the whole scheme of things?
I believe it is.
Symbolism inspires, it identify the ideals of the person, symbols tell a story in a very small space or gesture. What ideals and what story is Obama telling us and the rest of the world? Is he cognizant of the need for ispiration? Of course he is...his campaign was about hope. HE knows his job as a leader is to inspire...but just what is he symbolizing by NOT saluting the flag or returning a salute to those he commands as commander in chief? I think we need to look a little closer as to what he is and is not symbolizing. After all a gesture can be very important in telling as to whether or not you agree or disagree with a person...and symbols have made history have they not?
2 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
23 Feb 11
Thank you for the best response. I am a little late in expressing my thanks as I have been offline for over a year. Thank you so much for the honor.
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
19 Nov 09
When Presidents are saluted, they have the option of returning the salute, or ignoring it, at that President's option, for each instance of being saluted. President Eisienhauer made of point of not saluting back to drive home the point that he was not a General any longer but a civilian. Most President's salute back when it is convienent. Often times the salutes are ignored because the President is busy.
In the photo mentioned, 0bama should be either rendering a military hand salute in return to the one offered to him or have his hand over his heart. He is not doing either is he? Then the excuse offered is just an excuse.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Nov 09
hi Whiteheather my thought is she is right and also I am a democrat so I do not agree with you okay, but that supposedly
is the great thing about mylot .we can all give our own opinions without being insulted, right? wrong. but I just want to say
that they make much too much of various things about OBama that
they never did with the dunce George Bush, guess its the
racial thing. but any way why not worry about the damned economy
and the fact that many people are out of work, forget the nitpicking about obama and try to help him and our government
'to undo the mess that George W Bush left. also let the poor new president get his feet under him before you castigate him for everything that goes wrong in this country. that is all I have to say. I am typing with one big back ache.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Nov 09
I quote from the response "'to undo the mess that George W Bush left. also let the poor new president get his feet under him before you castigate him for everything that goes wrong in this country. that is all I have to say"
This such a typical Bamaloony remarks that I will not even stoop to give a rational comment to such slavish adoration.
1 person likes this
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
20 Nov 09
Excuse me? but, the man has already scre*ed himself and he does not get any good thoughts/votes from me.
He started out wrong and will finish wrong and we, the US people will suffer for his actions.
Just as well cut off his hands to put over his heart---he doesn't have a heart anyways. Just an empty spot in his chest is my guess.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
20 Nov 09
I think we have enough to deal with, without people making crap up and circulating it around. There are very real issues that are very, very important and let's face it, a salute or a patriotic gesture just isn't important in the big picture right now. Most of us know what he is and what he's working toward by now and I don't think we should have to concentrate on relatively insignificant stuff like that.
Before someone jumps down my throat about "insignificant" patriotic gestures, I think women being eventually denied OB/GYN routine tests is more important. So is a Down syndrome baby that has trouble breathing and might be denied help. So is my 68 year old neighbor who does so much in her church but might need a pacemaker in the future. So let's pay attention to the big stuff and the little stuff can be left to the nitpickers.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
23 Feb 11
The future isn't real bright for those people right now. The health insurance regulation law was declared unconstitutional and yet they are still implementing it. There is going to be confusion, court battles, etc. In my sister in law's city the one ophthalmologist who did cataract surgery has left because of the new law and the restrictions it put on his medicare earnings which were already barely covering his costs. We still can't buy insurance over state lines, which would save us money and give us better coverage plans. The whole law is a joke meant to put the government in charge of the health of the nation.
It has already been bandied about that the elderly and disabled should have their care managed to more financially healthy levels. Elderly people who need hip replacements will get pain management, disabled people will get the barest of help unless they can be productive. The poor will not suffer much, I think, because of all the entitlement programs. The in-between working poor will stay the same.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
23 Feb 11
And now we will see won't we. Been a while dragon54u, and healthcare reform is up and running. What do you see in the future for the elderly, the disabled and the poor?
1 person likes this
