The debate on ABC last night really was a disgrace, or at least the first 40 minutes of it or so. Stephanpolis and Gibson spent the first half of the debate throwing right-wing talking points at Obama, which is not surprising considering that Stephanopolis got his questions from Sean Hannity.
Given this environment, I wasn't surprised to read this on Snopes:
Obama Explains Stance on National Anthem
Hot on the heels for why he no longer wears a flag pin, Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, during the rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present, except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd like to teach the world to sing.' If that were the anthem, then I might salute it.
We all know this shit is out there and we know that it's false.
I mean, there are people stupid enough to think a lot of things about Obama. Last I heard, he was a black militant Muslim with a radical Christian preacher who hates his white mother and grandparents and who leaves his shopping carts in parking places at the supermarket. Oh, and he smokes, too.
When Obama is the nominee, these attacks will become even worse when the 527s attack him for having had a lesbian affair with Bea Arthur.
That's why we need to get in the habit of refuting that BS now, no matter where it comes from, be it Aunt Millie, John McCain, or George Stephanopolis. It's OK to disagree with Obama on policy issues, and attack him about things that are true, but making up lies is just not acceptable.
We can and we must.