Barack Obama: this is my patriotism, these are my values

he's slowly taking it easy, whatever will be, will be

good

still in such high levels of stress, what a commitment

kudos

Powerful.

what an insperation. im 29 never voted in my life and this year will be the first year i vote.

Oh, I feel soooo guilty for being born white (even though I had no say in the matter), I must run out and support Obama to absolve me of my white guilt. Curse this white skin!

Give me a break. Last time I watch a Tom Hanks movie. Elitest jerk.

how can he not be patriotic.?
as the very young uppwardly mobile head of harvard law review and a jd in constitutional law
he had instant wealth gratification at his fingertips.
at harvard law and chose a longer, riskier route for him and to do for so many others.

we have a once in a lifetime opportunity here.
i hope we arent too fooled by one liners and smear tactics to take it.

or MR WW-III will make that real change-
one bomb at a time.

JohnA,

You care much more about your skin color than Obama cares about his. Which is your problem not his.

Thanks for the post. Great stuff. I don't think celebrity endorsements should mean much, but Hanks' was self deprecating and genuine. Good for him. It's clear that he doesn't think people should make up their minds based on his endorsement. That would be ridiculous...about as ridiculous as not going to see a Tom Hanks movie because you didn't like who he supports for president.

And Obama was right...Hansbrough was taking it easy on him. I guess he didn't want to be the kid who posterized the next president.

Translation: IOBAMA is truly patriotic. From the HEART.

He does not need not CHILDISH "lapel" pin to prove it. Hillary/McCain all of them FAKERS. Pathetic Lapel wearing SUCK UPS.

OBAMA IS A REAL MAN. GO.

I wouldn't believe this guy if you gave me a million bucks....

Calling his own grandmother a "Typical White Woman"?
And he didn't even know that it's bad manners and an insult?

It was never about the Lapel pin...some "Patriotism" when you don't know or care about saluting the flag or the National Anthem..something all of us learn in Kindergarten?

Or saying that in bad times folks in Pennsylvania look to their guns and religion...

Now, I don't know about guns, but I am a Catholic Christian and if this man doesn't realize that as a Christian you are called to be a Saint..you are called to
get closer to Christ...well I don't think that you can call yourself a Christian then.

No, I think there is something missing here, maybe something that some young folks in College can't see.

Besides which, having a degree doesn't grant you status as being smart...some folks are smart and they don't go to college and some do but never graduate.

Know what? Sounds to me as though folks who have advanced degrees think they know everything..well doesn't GWB have a MBA?

Ha. You guys keep throwing the kitchen sink at him (repeating all the old lies) and he just keeps on staying above it, being presidential and collecting endorsements and super delegates. You just can't seem to rattle the guy. I understand that it must be frustrating. I guess I'd be frustrated too.

Patrick - you Ripusoffican, give it a break - you are transparent and the facts don't support your accusations.

You must think us pretty naive - a projection of your own naivete I suspect.

It's you who are blindly following your "father" figure - in the face of all the facts and lies.

Oh, and I'm not a guy in college - and I've got lots of life experience and understanding to draw from.

Voyagerfilms,

I agree with you sometimes but I also think that in this case you might be just as taken with this guy as many others...

There's a reason it's called "Blue smoke and mirrors"!

And, it's possible I could be wrong but as a political activist, I can tell you straight out the man is just making too many, far too many stupid mistakes for someone who
should know better:)

I think everyone should be a bit more open minded in regards to attacks on any of the competitors. It sounds to me like some of you are afraid of change or something different according to some of the remarks.

Clear it up about what you think the guy lied about, what are you talking about?

How do you show how patriotic you are? I know you can't believe that something pinned to your jacket does it.

OBAMA was smart enough, man enough to VOCALLY OPPOSE the WAR at a time when the country was UBER-patriotic. OUR NEWS casters where wearing Fag...I mean Flag Lapel pins to prove their patriotism. A time when our government tried to get us all to say FREEDOM Fries instead of french fries because the french refused to fully support our Iraq efforts.

So if Obama chooses to NOT wear the FOX Lapel PIN I AGREE.

I will not put one of those YELLOW ribbon magnets on my car because the true symbolism like with the lapel pin has been corrupt. People read both as WAR supporter.

I am not 100% sold on him nor any other politician until I see him in action.
I think he is a great orator but that has not shown me that he is going to act for Universal Single Payer Health for one.

I like the guy a lot, but I'm never going to be 100% sold on any politician. I just think these particular attacks are weak or irrelevant. He's far from perfect, just miles better than the alternatives. In my humble opinion.

Some background, I started my post high school life by joining the military, partly out of a perceived patriotism, more so to get away from corn. Now I spent 6 years being a patriot, 6 very long years.
So what is patriotism? I definitely am not the ultimate source on this matter, but I have listed a credential that may make you care about my opinion.

Patriotism to me has boiled down to doing what is right to better myself and the lives of others, directly or indirectly. There is no reason to misconstrue patriotism with jingoism. You can get a college degree and help develop new innovations. Be an artist and enrich the neighborhood. Drop out of high school, get your GED, and become a skilled laborer. Be a good mother or father. I consider all of these things patriotic, and absolutely necessary to America.

I tell you after my time in the military I'm not overwhelmingly proud of my service (except that I made it through). I feel cheated and used, but I still have compassion for the constitution - I think it should be one of the modern world wonders.

Then what does it take to be a patriot? Military service? Heck no, people can do much better things for the country than dying for it. Maybe, voting in accordance with public opinion on every matter? Nope, that is just plain foolish. If you don't think so please read JFK's "Profiles of Courage". How about running for a highest office in this country, after years of public service, letting everyone dig through your past, and blast you for every (in reality) simple mistake, while still purporting an idealistic outlook rooted in the firm belief that the people who are tearing you down still want a government for the people, by the people, because you can't help but think they are the greatest people?

well said johnny500.

GO OBAMA!! If that is all they can get on him, then that's wonderful. I wish somebody would expose the corruption that Sen. Clinton is involved in and I also heard that she violated election laws by holding illegal fundraisers. I saw that on YouTube. It had something to do with someone from Marvel Comics I think? That adds a little spice to it, eh?

GObama 08!

Hillary needs to drop out of this race and unite the party soon.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!

I'd really like to see Obama in the White House but I still can't get past him sitting in on Jeremiah Wright's sermons for so many years. If he's so patriotic and claims to disagree so strongly with Reverend Wright's philosophy on an “evil America” why did he stay there?

Reverend Wright once claimed that whites created the AIDS virus to commit mass murder (among many more outrageous claims). He is a man who preaches and spreads hate, Obama claims to be the very opposite, so I ask again, “Why sit through his sermons for so many years if you disagree so strongly?”

A man not willing to take action for what he believes in, is not a man I want in the highest office in the land.

I do however agree with most of Obama’s ideas and views. I truly do want to vote for him, but first he needs to tell me why he listened so intently for so many years to messages so full of hate.

If you want to see/hear more about Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s views and “ideals,” I’ve included the following link: http://americantruckersatwar.com/2008/05/02/glenn-beck-... yes I know it’s Glen Beck but watch it, the sermons are uncut like never before seen in the media.

johnny500, like your comment.

If he is willing to through a twenty year old friend and mentor under the political bus, what do you think he might do to you who he has never met?

Well let's see what we have left then, McCain has totally reversed his stance on torture, immigration, taxation and the war in general. Hillary has reversed herself on NAFTA and Columbia, oh and FLAT OUT LIED about Bosnia so should we choose Ralph Nader as the next president?

Trying,

What more of an explanation do you need? Obama first explained that he had never sat in on those sermons. Obama repudiated those specific sentiments, but at the same time, Wright had a long career in which he wasn't spewing hate. If you looked at his record as a whole, this would be a microcosm of what he stands for. I found it honorable that Obama didn't throw him 'under the bus' when all of this came out. The easy way out would have been to distance himself from Wright from the start, but instead he talked about how while this man may have said some controversial things, he was a long time family friend, and to dump him based on a clip that runs over and over and over again would be totally disingenuous. How about you add all of the other sermons he's preached in over 20 years to that link of yours. I'm sure you will find he hasn't been spreading hate all of these years.

Obama has said numerous times that Wright does not speak for him. What more does he need to say? The insinuation is that Obama hates America, so if you truly believe that, then by all means, vote for Hillary or McCain. Either way, it's time to move on.

Well said Neghie...if you think those clips are all there was to Pastor Wright, then by all means, think the worst. But if you can accept that he's like most people...some good some not so good...then I think it's time to stop holding Obama responsible for everything Wright has ever said. Of course that decision is up to you.

As for me...I believe Obama and I'm moving on.

Buses are going to be useful forms of mass transportation for the future, but when it comes to political buses I guess McCain has the biggest one. Yet we are talking about metaphorical political buses, so who's driving, who's pushing, and who's taking it where the rubber meets the road?
First it is unfortunate that today's politics deals largely with "vetting" the politician by digging up every detail of his or her past. Some of this is arguably necessary. Though to begin the Rev. Wright scandal (cue Fox news ultimate peril music), Obama acted accordingly. He did not smudge his pastor's name or deny that he was a member of the church, but explained explicitly that the views portrayed by these sermons are wrong and counter to his own beliefs. Not to mention the breath taking speech on race that in hindsight, after all are done tearing him down, will undoubtedly be akin to any of the modern world's most treasured speeches.
Now Rev. Wright took it upon himself to go on a mass media tour, expanding his already horrible image into something most wouldn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole. Who's throwing who under the bus here? So Obama initially gives the reverend the benefit of the doubt, because who in their right mind goes to church and believes that the entire universe was created in 7 days, God tests men by having them sacrifice their children, all homosexuals should be executed... (The Bible is full of hate.) Then the reverend upends the gracious acts, and flaunts himself. Hence, Obama's only choice is to say, "Yes, all this man stands for is against my views. Please do not affiliate this man with me."
How well do you know your preachers? Do you see them once a week at church for an hour? Most I'd say see their church once a month, and sleep through the sermon. Stand up, sit down, pray, pray, pray. We are a country served best by laws, and the separation of church and state.
Hilliary is driving, Wright is pushing, and Obama's taking a face full of concrete.

Here something someone can follow up on.......Feburary 27, John Hagee, founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas --who has made numerous controversial statements about, among other things, homosexuality, Islam, Catholicism, and women -- endorsed Sen. John McCain Also. He even went on to say "Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews." Along with saying, "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone" and later followed up with "Make plans to come and go home with a slave." ..... Yet the "major" networks can't exploit the replican party and McCain on this? Give me a break and by the way, I'm Catholic and I definitely don't appreciate these comments.

After reading the comments in response to my previous post (especially Neghie’s response, thx by the way ;) ) I decided to do some “in-depth” research (a.k.a. YouTube). I now realize that I was most defiantly misinformed in regards to the Reverend Wright/Obama incident. I can admit when I’m wrong and I was wrong.

If anyone else is looking for a little more information regarding this topic I’ve included the following linked videos (they helped me a lot):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPTl4s_xIDY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4EKY7rCF_c