Framing Patriotism

One thing that WILL haunt Obama in the General Election is his supposed lack of patriotism. The Republicants will attempt to paint him the same light as Michael Dukakis....

The Republicants have Barack symbolically removing his lapel pin, which is equivalent in many people's eyes to burning the flag.

The Republicants have Barack not covering his heart during the national anthem.

And the Republicants have Michelle Obama admitting that she hasn't been proud of America during her entire life, until just recently.

Barack has addressed this issue of patriotism, saying that such trappings became a substitute for "true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security...." among other things.

Just as he did with the race issue in his recent speech, Barack needs to lift the dialog with respect to what Americans should consider "patriotic" and what we should not.

As a Constitutional lawyer, Barack needs to drive home the point that actions to protect the Constitution, rather than eviscerate it, should first and foremost make one patriotic.

Under this definition, Bush and Cheney are two of the most UNPATRIOTIC people in the country.

They have broken U.S. laws (e.g., FISA, Presidential Records Act, Hatch Act) and international treaties (e.g., Geneva Convention), the latter of which "made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land."

They have evaded Congressional oversight, (1) by extensively exploiting recess appointments rather than submit nominees to Congressional approval, (2) by claiming Executive Privilege more than any prior President in history, and (3) by even claiming that the Vice President's office was not part of the Executive Branch!

They have actively sought to politicize the Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and numerous other government organizations, in clear violation of the Hatch Act.

They have lied to the citizens of this nation concerns the reasons for war and they have been complicit in War Profiteering for key corporate and political interests.

The list of unpatriotic acts by the Bush & Cheney administration simply so vast, that I start to shake in anger at the complete "pussyfication" of the Democratic Party under Pelosi and Reid. ARGGGHH!!!

So getting back to the Diary, what can Obama do?

He can speak about the following issues:

COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY = PATRIOTISM

1. Putting the Best Qualified, rather than Party Loyalists, in Positions of Authority in the Government = Patriotism

COUNTRY BEFORE INDIVIDUAL = PATRIOTISM

1. Public Scrutiny of Political Earmarks  = Patriotism

2. End Tax Haven Abuse = Patriotism

COUNTRY BEFORE CORPORATIONS = PATRIOTISM

1. An Energy Policy that Removes our Addiction to Oil = Patriotism

2. A Healthy Health Care System that Protects Americans Rather than Excluding Them = Patriotism

3. An End to No-Bid Contracts (above $25,000) = Patriotism

There is a lot of stuff that Obama could use from his "Blueprint for Change" document.

Any other ideas?

•  Tip jar

  by TheOpinionGuy on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 08:34:35 PM PDT

•  Wright is also an issue

  in terms of the patriotism people seem to think Barack Lacks. I would love to see him take back the idea of what is patriotic from the rightwing nutcases who currently seem to control it. This would be key in defending against the attacks that focus on wright.

  by Liberal Youth on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 08:36:37 PM PDT

•  Yes, I totally agree

  Obama needs a speech on "true patriotism" that is ten times as profound and effective as the one he recently gave on the race issue.

  I think you make some good points, but the starting point can be that true patriotism means challenging America to live up to the best of its most cherished ideals -- justice, equality, freedom.

  He should mine the words of people like Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin for tidbits to support a progressive agenda. He should show how far we've come from those kinds of patriots when we have supposed patriots who think wearing a lapel pin is a substitute for putting the interests of the American people before the multinational corporations.

  by pragprogress on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 08:38:30 PM PDT

•  you have picked some tough

  issues.

  If he speaks to those issues (framed as patriotism), he will be seen in contrast to McCain.  Hard to compare to a war hero.

  Some thoughts

  Best qualified.  Always a good idea.  Rarely done because you need patronage for political support.

  Earmarks.  McCain has this one wrapped up.

  Tax haven abuse.  This will play well to the public, but a tough one in practice to make work.  Requires a lot of arm twisting.

  Energy policy. We can do a ton to conserve energy, but we shouldn't kid ourselves. Oil is a commodity and we aren't going to get away from the oil addiction until an economic alternative comes along.  This isn't going to happen.

  Health care.  A lot of room to work here.  But we have to make the public understand that health care WILL be rationed.  It has to.  Nobody has the extra trillions to pay for expanded Medicare.

  No bid contracts. This won't end as long as we have military involvement.  It is a functional necessity.  The only way to end it is to not need it, and that is a tough nut to crack.

  by Whiskey on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 08:47:40 PM PDT