John McCain's questioning of Barack Obama's Patriotism

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Friday July 04, 2008 · 7:38 AM PDT

2008/07/04 · 07:38

Happy Fourth of July... wouldn't it be nice if we had two candidate who were respectful and recognize each other as Patriotic Americans? Unfortunately, we have one candidate who is honorable and secure enough to recognize his opponent's Patriotism, and conversely we have another candidite who is a petulant asshole... case in point.

John McCain is saying that Barack Obama is not patriotic. A few days ago, when asked if he questioned Obama's patriotism, McCain did not answer the question.

And now, in today's Parade magazine, McCain has an essay on patriotism:

Patriotism is deeper than its symbolic expressions, than sentiments about place and kinship that move us to hold our hands over our hearts during the national anthem. It is putting the country first, before party or personal ambition, before anything.

Context below the jump.

Jonathan Chait believes that the above statement is a double barreled shot at Obama.

A direct invocation at the Obama/National Anthem/Pledge Smear

A shot at Obama by defining Patriotism in opposition to what he believes Obama to value

In his time on the national stage, [Obama] has consistently put his party and his self-interest first. ... There has never been a time when Barack Obama has bucked the party line to lead on an issue of national importance. He has never been a part of a bipartisan group that came together to solve a controversial issue. He has never put his career on the line for a cause greater than himself.

The implication is clear. In John McCain's eyes, Barack Obama is not Patriotic, at least not in the way that John McCain views patriotism. This is an opening line of attack that could escalate. It could be an isolated incident... but if someone is paying attention and hears this weekend John McCain's definition of Patriotism, then in the next month hears McCain tear town Obama for putting self above country (Which is false) then McCain's mindless supporters will have been subconsciously indoctrinated to believe that Barack Obama is not Patriotic.

Here again is McCain's non-answer on Obama's patriotism when asked directly

Update: FYI, Obama has his own piece in Parade on Patriotism

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