It's time for Barack Obama to start all of his speeches with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Before John McCain begins doing it.
Because George Bush Senior did it, thereby proving that Michael Dukakis was a "card-carrying member of the ACLU" who vetoed a state law requiring the pledge in Massachusetts classrooms.
Because "Obama hates America" is the Republican's rallying cry. And you can't just deny that allegation and hope that, because it's stupid, it will go away.
But mainly I'd just like to see Obama beat this meme to a pulp so we can stop talking about it as soon as possible. The "America hater" accusation is too stupid to put in a campaign ad, but it's not too stupid for Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter to chat about every night until Nov. 2, 2016.
More importantly, Michelle Obama should say the pledge too. Because that America hater label has really stuck to her, and the Tubes are rife with accusations that she's anti American.
Obama can wait around to deal with this patriotic question until McCain starts accusing him daily of being anti-American and until media asks the question every hour, but I'd really prefer he kill these questions now.