Obama and “The Patriotism Thing”
- 02.25.2008 - 3:33 PMYesterday, the Wall Street Journal quoted Barack Obama saying:
There is always some nonsense going on in general elections. If it wasn’t this, it would be something else… First it was my name that was the problem, and then there was the Muslim email thing, and that … hasn’t worked out so well, and now it’s the patriotism thing.
Is “the patriotism thing” merely fantastic propaganda, like the nasty, fictional email campaign, or is there more there? When Obama was questioned about why he chose to stop wearing an American flag lapel pin after 9/11, he said:
I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism.
People do make too much of symbols, it’s true. But in defending his choice to discard the pin, Obama implies that the country is not at the present time “great”; instead it is in need of his corrective wisdom. So, let’s listen to the patriot testify. During last Thursday’s debate Barack Obama said of George Bush’s diplomatic approach:
If we think that meeting with the president is a privilege that has to be earned, I think that reinforces the sense that we stand above the rest of the world at this point in time.
And . . .we don’t?
It’s impossible not to infer that Obama suffers from genuine queasiness about even benign nationalism. The evidence is in, and it looks very bad. He has an aversion to displaying the flag; he doesn’t always put his hand to his heart during the National Anthem; his wife wasn’t proud of America until rapturous citizens formed a chanting army behind her husband; and he rejects America’s superiority among nations.
What’s most frightening is that if Hillary pointed this out it may do her more harm than good among Democratic voters. This past July, a poll showed that 76 percent of Republicans described themselves as very patriotic compared to 53 percent of Democrats. Given the margin of error, it’s conceivable that less than half of the Democratic voters consider themselves very patriotic. Also pertinent to this race: patriotism increases with age.
The Journal finds Obama countering charges with a remark that demonstrates his increasing knack for the self-incriminating defense. In typical Obama fashion, his statement has something for patriots and anti-Americans alike: “The way I will respond to [criticisms] is with the truth,” he said. “That I owe everything I am to this country.” People say the same thing about their mistakes, do they not?
| »Back to Contentions | »Back to Commentary |
February 25th, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Spengler has a very interesting and scary essay on Obama and America:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JB26Aa01.html
February 25th, 2008 at 4:38 PM
It’s possible that Obama has a bit of Ivy League oikophobia. Nothing that can’t be cured with some bunting at the coronation.
Greenwald’s implication that patriotism requires one to believe that one’s country is better than others is mistaken. One can and should love one’s family even if they are a hopeless bunch of neurotics. One can and should love one’s country even if one finds it too materialistic, too enamored of mass democracy, too hegemonist, etc. Few were harder on the flaws of the American people than H.L.Mencken. He also wrote a wonderful book about the American language, which he couldn’t have done unless he loved the same country he loved to excoriate.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:19 PM
That’s it. Keep BO talking.
The more he talks, the more he exposes himself and thereby diminishes his chances of being elected president.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:46 PM
75% of people at ball games don’t put their hand over their heart during the National Anthem. Are they all unpatriotic as well or is it that there are no rules for this kind of thing and standing at respectful attention is considered just as good?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Teresa, 75% of people at ball games aren’t vying to be leader of their country, nor concerned what message their actions might send to the world.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:54 PM
You want to know what McCain Derangement Syndrome is? Over at NRO John O’Sullivan wrote: “I think Obama’s rhetoric of American unity is probably a better guide to his potential presidency than his liberal voting record.”
Obama’s rhetoric is increasingly the same as his liberal voting record. But don’t tell the Hispanic-bashers at NRO about it. They’re to busy loathing McCain to notice.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Grumpy,
Don’t assume you’ve got a lock on the true meaning of patriotism. Many people, myself included, believe the US is the best country in the world, and absolutely believe that such a belief is a big part of being patriotic. I’m not going to argue with you over whether your version–which is thin gruel to me–is right or wrong, but the fact, is that many would agree with Greenwald and disagree with you. What do you think all of that Reagon rhetoric about a “shining city on a hill” meant, after all? I would argue that this belief is a real part of American patriotism. Some other countries have similar beliefs about themselves, as well.
So, while you are entitled to your opinion, I think you should use a bit more caution in saying that Greenwald is “mistaken,” as if the matter were suspectible to logical proof, and you’ve got the goods on him. If anything, it is the other way around.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Ben
I think Grumpy (Grumpy - correct me if I’m wrong) was suggesting that true patriotism is not merely the belief in one’s own state, but also the capacity to speak about the flaws of one’s state with a desire to improve it further.
Certain conceptualisations of patriotism preclude critical self-enquiry, improvement and development which is negative. A state and people are far stronger when they can say - look, this is wrong, we need to change course to improve things rather than - we are the greatest, change is a sign of weakness. Would you agree?
February 25th, 2008 at 8:44 PM
YbA:
I agree you need to be able to change course to improve things, and not solely rely on the assumption that we are the greatest. But I don’t believe the 2 are mutually exclusive: we can believe that we are the greatest country, but still maintain appropriate self-criticism. I would say that is the most healthy balance. I do not believe all countries are equally good. Do you? And if they are not equally good, aren’t some by definition better than others? And if that is so, where does the US fall in the rankings? In my book, all things considered, we are the best. That is my opinion, and I think it is fairly objective, but I freely admit that it is also based on patriotic sentiment. And yet I am keenly aware of our shortcomings and how we can be better.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Ben
I don’t think they are mutually exclusive either - in fact, I suggest that the better patriot has the capacity for self-examination and improvement. There are unfortunately, some understandings of patriotism which cannot achieve this - these understandings are less good than the former. I think we share common ground on this.
At a theoretical level, all nation states are equal. This comes from the idea that all men are created equal and that principle extends with their person to their representative nation state. i.e. no one state is greater than another merely by virtue of its people alone - eg. no one race is greater than another etc.
However, this does not mean in reality that a nation state is good because many of these states oppress their citizenry or others. In that regard the “goodness” of a nation can be judged by the behaviour and policies of its government and its citizenry (does the government or people oppress themselves or others, are people afforded equality in the law etc?) and its “greatness” is measured by its contribution to humanity. (This contribution is meant to be understood in terms of positive impact i.e. has it helped one’s fellow man improve his lot etc).
An understanding of the goodness or greatness of the nation should be understood in this way in terms of patriotism, for without it, lies the way of tyranny and oppression - the US’s strength and greatness is derived from its governance and principles and their application which are, and can be, judged better than other nation states’ own.