Obama Heckled, Leads Crowd In Pledge Of Allegiance

McClatchy reports on another interruption at a Barack Obama event:

A heckler sitting in the press section interrupted Barack Obama's opening remarks at a town hall meeting in Berea, Ohio, and forced the candidate to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience of several thousands groaned with the heckling, but Obama waved them back and said then led the group in reciting the pledge.

Ben Smith has more:

A slightly odd moment at the beginning of Barack Obama's event in Berea, OH, when a man on the press riser -- apparently a photographer -- began loudly demanding that the crowd recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The crowd began to chant, drowning the man out, but Obama -- perhaps sensing a moment of peril -- quickly shushed them, and led the crowd in the Pledge.

"We usually do an invocation and a pledge before we start," he said. "I don't know why we didn't, but this young man reminded us."

Obama was heckled last week for not focusing on African-American issues.

Comments

[NotPC]

All the man wanted was the PLEDGE ........we recite the pledge all of the time, sporting events, public meetings, etc. Why isn't the pledge part of the Obama events? I mean after all he has started wearing his lapel flag pin......why not start reciting the pledge at his events.
I watched this clip, and the part that disturbed me the most was the crowds reaction....they didn't seem to want to recite the pledge.....once again I ask myself what type of people is this man surrounding himself with. BO was very uncomfortable in this clip......if the cameras weren't running I think there would have been a much different outcome, for sure!

[FunkyP]

Because if Obama wears the flag pin and recites the pledge, only then will he truly be qualified to be President. He better have had his hand over his heart, or I'm voting for McSame!

[1differentdrummer]

Ok, laptop, what does the pledge mean and why should it ever be recited? It seems to me that there exist no paintings showing Washington, Jefferson, Adams, the Constitutional Convention, Abraham Lincoln and on and on, doing mass pledges. There are films and photos of Nazis in mass stiff armed salutes. The pledge is a way to mobilize people in nationalism and does not belong in a democratic republic, imo, especially since the addition of "under God," forcing all who recite it to state a religious choice. People who call themselves conservatives love it but their leaders tread on the constitution (see DOJ subpoena article). It's what we do that should matter, not what we say. That's conservative.

[gjoh]

I don't know what country you live in but the only places or events I have seen Americans recite the pledge of allegiance is at official patriotic government type events and sometimes at school.
At sports events we sing God bless America we don't recite the pledge of alleigence. At other civic events I've attended , I was more likely to be asked to bow my head for a silent prayer than be asked or required to say the pledge of allegiance.
So stop all of this flag waving, pin wearing, reciting the pledge false patriotism. In America, we wear our patriotisn in our hearts not on our lapel.
Your complaint smacks of distraction not substance.

[VideoHammer]

The real question here, is what legitimate press member/photographer would heckle anyone at an event that they were covering. This smells of a Fox/Repug setup. Even after an event, real media may shout questions, but a demand for the pledge, give me a break.

[morticia]

I can`t wait for McCain to come to town so I can share the glory of his stage too.I have a feeling however that I won`t see him here in this not so RED state. I would love to know about his trip to S.Dakota and
how Cindy looks topless.He`s really too old to be so perverted.

[Norge]

That is pathetic patriotism.

[Tommygun264]

Senator Obama summed it up best on another subject, but it still applies "it's like they take pride in being ignorant".

[zendem1]

There's going to be more "hecklers" popping up at Obama events. He handled that one very well.

[NotPC]

So someone who requests the "pledge" is a heckler?? Wow, I'll have to take a few minutes to digest that one!

[lisakaz2]

Another substantive issue, huh -- brought to you by the Gross Old Perverts.

[DallasMike]

I think the reason Obama asked the heckler to lead the pledge is because Obama didn't know the words.

[IraqiFreedomVeteran03]

f.u.c.k.i.n.g. mo.r.o.n.

[claudiam]

I second the above comment. DallasMike you are a F****** M****

[kamenwati]

No Dallas Mike, you don't think. Obama led the pledge loudly and proudly as the video shows. You failed your troll rehearsal. Go back under the bridge where you came from.

[anghiari]

Oh mikey...I think you've mistaken Senator Obama for President Bush....

[MaeScott]

Do you?

[LillianB]

The heckler asket Obama to lead in the pledge. Which he did. Knowing the words. He is able to read a sentence the right way, not switching the parts of it, unlike others......

[mhoiles]

Another staged event - two in one week. We see through.

[2bad]

you mean rethuglican plants, right?

[dreamseeker9837]

Uvymopkq - Go drink some kool-aid and for God's sake, stop being so IGNORANT! it's almost like you're proud of it. Got to FoxNews....pulease.
OBAMA 08/12.

[TheRealMacDaddy]

This could REALLY blow up on John McCain....why you ask? Because John McCain does not start his Town Hall Meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. He comes to the podium and thanks "My friends" for coming and launches into his thank you's for the local whoever's might be there and stright into his blurb speech before taking questions.

No Pledge!

[LucieLee]

Obama was right on the money with his response.....he even asked the so-called heckler to lead the "Pledge"....wtg!! Barack!!

[pesfb]

I believe Larry Nolan is his name.

[poco767b]

Wake up HuffPo.

[poco767b]

this they post.

[abby4ever]

Why do I keep getting this every time I post something?: "Have more to say than will fit in a comment? Sign up for HuffPost's OffTheBus project..."

For the last time: no, I don't have more to say than will fit in a comment! But thanks anyway.

Abby