Does This Make George H.W. Bush Unpatriotic?

The Conservative blogosphere says that Barack Obama isn't patriotic enough to be President because he was photographed without his hand over his heart during the National Anthem.

Here's a photograph of George H.W. Bush at a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait. Have you seen other photos like this one? Send them our way.

The AP caption reads:

Former U.S. President George Bush, center, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, left, and retired General Norman Schwarzkopf, right, stand at attention during the playing of the National Anthem Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at the American Embassy in Kuwait at the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

Comments

[TishiJo]

By the way, have you ever seen Hillary Clinton wear a flag pin?

[MajorKong]

See kids! Right wing talking points are fun!

[tkondaks]

I think it's a silly issue to begin with. Whether Obama puts his hand to his heart or not says nothing about his or anyone's patriotism. However...
HuffPo is being disingenuous in using this photo as "evidence" that Bush Sr. didn't put his hand to his heart. Without an actual video of the event, all it could mean is that the three individuals in the photo didn't move their hands up to their heart in tandem. Perhaps Bush also put his hand to his heart one or two seconds later but the photo was taken BEFORE he did that.

[Steverino]

This website is INSANE. You do realize that, right?

This is exactly the kind of politics that Obama is fighting against, fighting fire with fire. The "unpatriotic" argument was silly--so just let it drop.

[rbrooks]

Well. This is pretty bad. But for a minute there, I thought he might not be wearing his FLAG PIN.

NO, STOP, he ISN'T wearing his flag pin! and here was me thinking he was only a war criminal - Bush One is a stinkin TRAITOR!!!!!!

I hope the Obama campaign has started a picture file.

[IngeniousGirl]

Frankly wearing pins, salutes and secret handshakes always trouble me, like the car loaded down with contradictory bumper stickers from the 1960's and I also believe that a traitor can easily attach a US Flag pin to his lapel without any trace of guilt.

[rbrooks]

As witness, the current occupant of the White House ...

[absentee]

Heh, silly liberals. He's former military, and he's standing at attention. Many former military personnel stand at attention rather than the civilian hand over the heart. It's not a rule, as obviously the two generals aren't doing so. Generals generally don't have to try very hard to remind people of their military service the way politicians often do.

[avvocato]

Dear absentee:
He's not in uniform so hand over heart is the proper way to pay respect. See Scwartzkopf and Powell.
I am a liberal who is USAF retired and sick and tired of conservative chickenhawks. U?
Silly my a$$!

[Zentomato]

The protocol taught us in the military is this. If you are in uniform you salute as the National Anthem is played. If you are in civilian cloths you hold your hand over your heart. It is a ridiculous to argue that because he was former military he decided to stand at attention. Former military are civilians. A stretch too far. Try again.

[Davwbaird]

that makes no sense to ass u me that military or former are auto patriot's. You dudes need to look into the concept. The whole discussion is insane, we should not be discussing this as there are more important life and death issues ahead, such how to deal with the real traitors to the constitution like Bush and Cheney and even Powell. Remember we killed Japanese as war criminals for doing less than Bush.

[Jess27]

Ok, boot, that is the new protocol. Back as far as a 3 or so years ago you only stood at attention when in civilian attire.

[VA2008]

Hey Absentee:

Can you get in touch with "Shrub Sr's." peeps (to find out where he pinned his American Flag lapel pin in this picture) and get back to us?

Many thanks!
VA2008

[NickOhio]

If Obama is unpatriotic for doing the same thing, when criticized by the neo-cons, then "daddy" Bush is in that same camp.

The hypocrisy which abounds in the GOP these days is unlike anything from the past. Even the RNC has stepped up to the plate with enough irony surrounding their financial issues, that the GOP is becoming a party of rusty, old buckets. Pretty sad for the party of Abraham Lincoln, a man whom everyone honors, no matter of political affiliation.

As for Clinton running around with Bush, they are both being civil towards one another. It is not inappropriate to make friends with your opponents. While they may be on opposite sides of many issues, they can still grow to like one another. Sometimes, letting the past be the past is the best thing when going forward. Revenge may be sweet, but it can lead to more & more hatred and revenge. I only say this with regards to any future indictment of the Dubya clan. Justice is necessary, but in the spirit of justice, not revenge or hatred. All people need to assume their responsibility for their actions, but to use hatred and vengeance is wrong. Allow former Presidents to be buddies... or not. Carter has tried to be civil, but Babs and "HW" have snubbed and ignored him. Which goes to show you that the Bush clan is only willing to sidle-up to those who still have power and control.

[thepeoplechoose]

Whether or not Bush 41 or Bush 43 are patriotic? They are both traitors to the United States if that'll help clear things up a bit.

Both, during the course of their terms as president, have lied to the American people about very serious events which because of their lies, brought irreparable harm to the country. Bush 41 on Iran Contra and Bush 43 on so many counts there isn't enough space here to list them all. And in both cases their lies were predicated upon their prior illegal acts which then led to the lies in order to cover themselves. The Bush family have been career criminals going way back and have repeatedly committed crimes against this country and not one has ever been made to pay for their crimes. These people are meaner than a sack full of rattlers and far more deadly. And remarkably enough, most all of their legal misconduct is well documented. It is no coincidence that Bush 43 is still residing in the WH rather than a cell in Leavenworth where he truly and properly belongs. In another way though, you gotta respect what 43 has done. It takes some mighty big cojones to do what he has done and get away with it. As crimes go he is at or near the top of the heap and he's going to walk away with nobody laying a glove on him. Historians will have some 'splainin to do on this one.

[IngeniousGirl]

Hey, they learned all of this from Prescott and his pals who financed both the Nazis and the Russians at the same time. There is no patriotism in this family rather there is greed, banal behavior, secrecy and zero legacy.

[VivaZapata]

questioning his patriotism is all the neocons have to go with. ("patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings"---samuel johnson.) obama needs to combat all of that by quoting famous patriots, the real ones, and pointing out the wonderful things about the country (folk roots, natural wonder, etc.). he needs to stress that love of country is not about blind obedience to symbols, but caring for the ideals and institutions and the people of the country. he needs to point to british rallying cries of patriotism in the crown's effort to colonially expand, and how that ultimately hurt the average Englishman. Ditto with Napoleon, etc.

[init]

Let the people vote. O.K.? We know that the right-wing cannot find dirt on Obama; so they resort to whatever they can, fear again, and again, and again, his name, race, and if they mention muslim? well fear again. He has never been a muslim. My last name you'd find difficult to spell. They prefer Hillary because the Clintons are basically republicans. Research their policies. My opinion: Bill Clinton enabled the downfall of america because the republicans had him on his you know what sloppy habits. Second chance; there is none. Obama is a serious thorn in side of the spinless people of Capital Hill just mentioning "Change." IF you want a second chance, go to rehab.

[Leota2]

Of course it doesn't.
Millions of people were taught to stand at attention with their hands clasped behind their back or in the front. I was born the same year as Obama and stood at hundreds of sporting events, school functions, etc. like that--as did most everyone there.
I think Obama hit the nail on the head when he questioned this administrations patriotism in not protecting the troops they sent to Iraq willy nilly, warrant-less wiretapping and rendition. A flag on your chest or your hand on your heart doesn't make you any more of an American than those who choose not to do these two things. But an American who believes in the constitution and not false symbols of patriotism --and says so--is someone I think this country has been looking for.

[OldOne]

I had always thought, hand over your heart for pledge of allegiance, stand with your hands at your side for the national anthem. I always thought those who had their hand over their heart were well intentioned, but not well informed. Have I been wrong all these years? Simply, I thought both Barack and Bush Sr were correct to have stand straight with hands at sides.

[engineer68]

No you have not been wrong. Hand at your side is correct, hand over heart is for the pledge.

[kitebro]

Yup! I bet he's a muslim, too!

[ACunningham]

Is this all the pathetic BS that you can come up with?

.

[Zhonni]

Sarcasm buddy. That's what it looks like.

[Jess27]

Yep, I always knew that big Bush was unpatriotic. Gotcha!!

[Counterglow]

The man sired George Bush Junior. How much more of a traitor could he be? He might as well have built a nuclear bomb and turned it over to Osama.

[eddiestardust]

So what was his excuse?