Poor Tim Russert. No longer the most simple-minded questioner on the block. Surprisingly surpassed by Stephanopoulos and Gibson with their hand fed questions from Sean Hannity.
What to do?
I know. Let's lie and accuse Barack Obama of not putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance! That would be both superficial and dishonest at the same time.
This whole hand over heart meme rests on what now appears to be a subtle distinction. We put our hands over our hearts during the Pledge of Allegiance but we do not during the National Anthem. Why? Who knows, but that is what we do.
For some reason Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, and Ruth Harkin have their hands over their hearts in this picture that was taken during the National Anthem. I'm thinking Hillary started it, but that's just my evaluation of the pander-meter. Obama, at the front, never got the word and stands at attention. (Otherwise, he looks just like the other three, right?)
Now everybody who follows these things, even Tim Russert, knows that the right wing has taken this photo, falsely claimed that it was taken during the Pledge of Allegiance, and has used it to allege that Obama is unpatriotic. All those same people know the charge is not only stupid, but untrue, because the picture was taken during the Star Spangled Banner.
So, why did Russet ask David Axelrod about the Pledge of Allegiance on Meet the Press on Sunday?
RUSSERT: Let me ask about two final issues. David Axelrod, based on the last couple of weeks, many Democrats fear Republicans in the fall will string together an ad which shows . . . Barack Obama with his hands clasped in front of him rather than holding his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Either Russert doesn't care or he doesn't know. In any event, he is not qualified to host this show every week.
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Personally, I think it's all just nitpicking. Everything is symbolic - the flag, the saluting, the pins, etc. They mean nothing if we don't believe in what they represent. They don't even have to be there to believe in what they represent. This is all just a smoke screen and a diversion to keep those who rarely think from doing so. It also shows that those who toss out the accusations and pretend that they are important issues really have nothing to offer.
I have a question for Russert, Gibson, Stepanopolous, Matthews and especially Blitzer (and all of the other media jerks)-
Would they buy a toilet bowl that had george bush's picture on the bottom of the bowl so that you can do your business right in the face of that piece of garbage?
They would probably be offended which shows how out of touch they are.
Gosh and to think russert was a "darling " of the obama camp when he has been attacking hillary thease many months---did you just figure out he is in the McCain camp-and always has been-he said McCain deserved to be President-POW and war hero-he deserves it, check out media matters to keep up with the Medias big pass to McCain
This shit is so damn stupid it's no longer funny. Prez Bush and all those other flag pin assholes can jamb them where the sun doesn't shine as far as I'm concerned. I was a MARINE and I am patriotic as the next guy, but when you start doing the questioning about it- unfairly.. your nothing but a jerk.
More over.. as an American I am not very proud of this country.. why?.. the fact is I know people.. who if something happened like medical emergency, car wreck, injured child or any of several family disasters would go under because they couldn't afford medical care. Hell this winter they had to skimp on heating fuel to make it. Old people.. barely getting by having to watch every penny.. yes I mean PENNIES.. Christ what has this country come to. A war that no one can win.. 4.00$ a gallons of gas.. housing foreclosures...
national security issues and immigration... global warming and rising unemployment and they wanna talk about fucking flag pins and hands over hearts... PLEASE GOD.. just kill me now and send me to hell.. cause it's can't be any worse than this.
I couldn't agree more. The press is still giving McBush a pass on everything & picking on the stupidist stuff like a lapel pin. This country has alot more problems than what one accessorise with.
It would seem that after the shameful "debate" this week that Russert would have had a more intelligent line of questioning. Thank God we have Keith & Dan over on MSNBC only 2 h ours a day of truthful news & insight. I have given up on the rest of the press though.
It's be hard enough running for president as an African-American without the stupidity of the press ever day. I used to think we had some smart reporters but that has been proven wrong. Watch BBC & D-W TV if you want unbiased reporting.
I don' even want to watch the video...these shallow media people are making me sick. They don't care about the real journalism..they want to reduce these elections to the lowest commone denominator...sensationalistic tv intertainment...not real news...they are no better than Fox News...Oh, wait...George Stephanopolus is secretly working for Fox news!!!
I don' even want to watch the video...these shallow media people are making me sick. They don't care about the real journalism..they want to reduce these elections to the lowest commone denominator...sensationalistic tv intertainment......they are no better than Fox News...Oh, wait...George Stephanopolus is secretly working for Fox news!!!
Why is the American public so stupid, or so insecure, that it places so much importance on hollow public expressions of patriotism? That women who asked Obama if he "believed" in the flag. What an idiot. You "believe" in God: you "respect" the flag. Flag pins. Give me a break. Do you have to remind yourself or your neighbour that you are an American?. Wearing your patriotism on your sleeve (or lapel) is childish. And flying the flag on used car lots and the like is not respect in my book but degrading and pure exploitation.
I'll bet Nash McCabe has her flag flying 24 hours a day (without illumination). I'll bet she uses flag napkins every 4th of July and Memorial Day and wears her flag t-shirt.
How do grownups even engage in this discussion? Do you tell Timmeh to stop the smearing propaganda? We know from John Kerry that you don't just ignore it - they'll SwiftBoat you into oblivion.
You don't get down and dirty like they are because that puts people off. I guess this election will tell whether the media does really select the President of the United States. Right now, the media is going for John "100 years" McCain.
I have to admit - I really like what Bob Schieffer said about this subject on CBS this weekend:
"Finally, today, I watched the ABC debate the other night when that question came up again about why Senator Obama doesn"t wear a flag pin in his lapel.
"I think it"s a nice thing if people want to wear a flag on their lapel. But I believe it more important to keep the flag behind our lapel in our hearts. I feel the same way about wearing my religion on my sleeve. It just fits me better on the inside.
"Patriotism is no more about signs or pins than religion is about reminding others how pious we think we are. No, the proof in these puddings is not the signs that we wear, but how we act.
"Wouldn"t that also be a better way to judge our presidential candidates than by the jewelry they wear?"
I immediately wondered why David Axelrod did not correct Tim Russert's statement. I was thinking that his technique of not jumping at the false suggestions was to remain calm and cooly change the subject. I hope that there will be a strategy session once Barack Obama is our candidate. We need to heal the wounds being caused by the Clinton machine.
(a) Designation." The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing." During a rendition of the national anthem"
(1) when the flag is displayed"
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and
(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
Of course that means they all had turned their backs on the flag while the anthem was playing. Surely that signifies something....
How is he right?
"We put our hands over our hearts during the Pledge of Allegiance but we do not during the National Anthem. Why? Who knows, but that is what we do."
Your own post says he should have had his hand on his heart. Miss Manners be damned. Of course, you are right, they ALL should have faced the flag.
I don't know why I expect objectivity here.
Note to JBS;
BS. There is no law that says you have to put your hand over your heart during either.
The government hasn't become that intrusive, yet. Elect another Republican and it will.
Tim Russert will, of course, be named head honcho of the flag lapel pin inspectors.
No flag lapel pin and your citizenship is revoked.
You'll also have to sign a religion pledge and swear that you're a Christian.
Not a Christian?
Then it' s off to Gitmo with you. We can't be too careful about foreign influences.
Freedom of what?
.
There is no LAW that says you must put your hand over your heart during either one. I think it is the... FIRST AMENDMENT ... this is so stupid. Tim Russert is a very smart man, but apparently he was ill.. Stupididus I think.. he will get better.
In the photo of reference, the flag was behind them all. No one was facing the flag unless there was another that we can't see in the photo.
To be in compliance with the US Code Title 36, Chapter 10: When the national anthem is played you should stand at attention, face the flag and salute if you are in uniform, remove your hat if civilian and place it at your left shoulder with your right hand, or place your right hand over your heart. If there is no flag you should "face the music".
I was never taught to place my hand over my heart during the national anthem. But I was always taught it was bad etiquette to applaud afterward which most people do.
I took note of that and emailed Tim regarding his stupidity. No reply back of course. I don't know if they expect that all American's are dumb and will believe everything that comes out of their mouths or what!
I used to have respect for some of these guys in the media, no longer. He isn't on my very short list of journalist that actually talk about real issues.
TIm knows it was the National Anthem not the Pledge. Why does Tim and others continue to do this, I wish I knew the answer. All we can do as viewers is protest by not watching their shows. Once their ratings go down, maybe they will get the point.
Obama's comments on why I wore the flag pin, why I didn't wear the flag pin, and why I recently put it on and took it off ....ring hollow. Sounds like any typical Pol.
How he has publically expressed his love of country will be a major campaign issue ... along with Michelle's comments and his relationship to an announced terrorist ... Ayers.
If you don't think so ... you are living in Never Never Land.
"clap your hands; don't let Tink die." ...
It's not a matter of what the Huffingtons & Obamites believe should be of importance.... it's what his opponents will use to cut deep in the coming election.
Everything will be on the Anal examination table ¦. or more precisely, on Internet or TV ¦ for both the Republican & Democrat candidates during the run up to the election. If you want to whine about Obama"s exposure ¦ do it now. It will only get tougher as the months go by.
OK, JG, aka Capt. Hook; so you're not a believer. Me thinks the ultra right dirty tricksters who "cut deep" with their barbs, and exploit the media and internet, will get those beer drinkin' gun totin' white men who don't think or read much, worked into a frenzy of fear and loathing, and may even get them to the polls...with lapel pins, flags and love it or leave it bumper stickers. You think Obama does not love his country? because why again? The lapel pin? The weather underground (whoaa)? Michelle's pride of country or lack thereof? I can see those TV ads now...the camera focuses in on Michelle Obama saying for the first time in her life she can be proud of her country...with the tag "can we afford to elect a president who thinks so little of his country?" That's deep. But you are right about one thing. Rectal exams always hurt..isn't that your point? What is the sound of one hand clapping?
Some of these talking heads. They have shows, because they have photos of network CEO's. Right?
Hey Tim! I challenge you to a slap fight. I'll wear a flag pin, and hold my ball cap over some area of my anatomy. Wait, wait, Tim. Let's throw potatoes at each other from 25 feet.
O.K. These are major, major issues. I know, because Big Tim called them "issues" more than once. This is so unfair. Give me his show. I can be more stupid and damaging than he. I know I can. Give me my big break. Give Big Tim a "timeout".
As Michael Kinsley said today on WNYC"s Brian Lehrer Show, the theme of the 2008 Democratic primary campaign is umbrage. The Obama failing that Tim Russert chose to take offense from was his not covering his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance (or National Anthem). Mr. Russert did not thereby lose his eligibility to host a network interview program. After all, news programs like his exist in symbiosis with the vicious primary candidate selection process.
That process doesn"t satisfy the real need of the Democratic Party: to nominate a candidate who can be most effective in November. Instead it and news programs like Meet the Press review the abilities of political hopefuls to pander to particular segments of the population, in this case those that already lean toward the Party"s policies. Mr. Russert"s taking umbrage at Mr. Obama"s standing with arms at his sides does a good job of offering a forum for pandering. That"s what he"s supposed to do.
It"s unreasonable to expect the media to correct the shortcomings of the Democratic nomination process. They are very effective in taking advantage of those shortcomings to generate viewership revenues. It is up to those of us who are concerned about how our country is governed (and that should be all of us) to insist that our system of selecting potential office holders reveals their real competencies and policy objectives rather than merely represent their appearances.
The latest spin is that the mettle of an interviewer is shown forth by the inanity of the questions asked. By this measure, John Melendez, as "Stuttering John" was the best in the business, and years ahead of his time. John's genius was not the inanity of the questions so much as getting his publicity-hungry interlocutors to blow their cool.
He asked the questions because there isn't enough news for multiple 24-hr/day news channels so they have to do what kids do in school when the teacher wants a 1500-word essay, they make stuff up.
Why should the inane gotcha questioning by media airheads such as George Stuphitupyerpopolous, Russert potatohead and Charley Gibson surprise anyone? These intellectual dwarfs think that a debate consists of throwing out such doo doo droppings as "How many times a day do you beat your wife?" or "why don't you ever where a flag pin in your lapel? Are you unpatriotic?"
Who cares about such trivia, in their eyes, as the nosediving economy, the failed health system, the wars in the Middle-east, the collapsing infrastructure, ski-rocketing food and gas prices, etc., etc, etc.
I caught that as well. As much scrutiny and declarations affirming the fact that the photo in
question was one reflecting the National Anthem, Russert the Bloviator, the Confectioner
of the Concise, the Sorcerer of Veracity, conspicuously, conveniently and maliciously
represented a widely known Falsehood to be the Truth. I immediately change the channel, but was quickly reminded, that all of the news outlets function without an HONEST BROKER and are accountable to no one.
All of these so called reporters are nothing more than REPEATERS.....Reporting and FACT
checking seems to be too much effort.
Chris Matthews keeps bringing up the white male east coast ethnic Catholic male voter (he's one of them). He acts like these are the "real" Americans, these are the people whose votes "really" matter. I guess that means women and all the minorities should just defer to the white men. But he's been alarmed at suggestions that these white men no longer control everything. And he has been celebrating the polls that show Catholics going for Hillary.
And Matthews always makes a point that he and Tim Russert are both the old the Catholic east coast guys.
I think "Catholic" in this context is just code for racism. Hillary is appealing to this bloc not because of her policies, but because she's not black. And Russert and Matthews are confronted with that old dilemma of whether to side the boys from their hood, or whether to admit that 40 years on their own views may be a bit more sophisticated.
Let's put it this way: if the Catholic church came out against the war in Iraq (they have), in favor of massive tax increases for rich people and affirmative action to guarantee equal opportunity for women and minorities, I don't think these "Catholic" voters that Matthews is talking about would be going along. So it's not really a religious issue, it's just the old race card.
It is absolutely mind boggling how in our in the process of choosing a president we tend to "ignore a forest for the tree."
Four decades ago a prospective presidential candidate's hopes were shattered when he claimed in all honesty to have been "brainwashed" by our warrior generals during the disastrous Viet Nam War. In 1988 another great public servant and prospective presidential candidate, who in my opinion would have made a great president, lost the opportunity to serve the nation due to extramarital affair. Then we had the 2004 a "scream" of joy that cost us yet another possible great president.
It is incredible that all our prospective or actual candidates have to do is to manage to get elected to the highest administrative office in the land because then anything goes. It (he/she) can do anything it wants. It can brainwash an entire nation by starting another disastrous war at the cost of thousands of lives, monumental financial cost, and enormous loss opportunities. It can ignore the wishes of the majority of not only our own people but the rest of humanity in the process. It can undermine the most cherished ideals of our society and our legitimate liberties and ignore the power of the Congress of the United States by making the Executive Branch of our Government, the supreme branch for all practical purposes.
There has to be a better and more logical way of choosing a president we can all be proud of.
Note to Abraham;
There is, it's in the Constitution, but no one pays attention to it..
The main stream media has reduced our election process to a grammar school playground name-calling pissing contest. "Gotcha" journalism has replaced real journalism the same way "reality " shows have replaced damn near everything else. There's now even a competitive dog groomers reality show. What next, the BM express marathon? Thanks, but there'a already enough BM on what used to be the news.
Gramma Rose
Abe, I'm also very frustrated by the "dumbing-down" of our society, it's like a nightmare from Invasion of the Body(mind) Snatchers. U.S. citizens, prodded by corporate media, argue over the meaning of "bitterness" & "clinging", while a White House memo is released (Friday-p.m.) detailing torture methods for p.o.w.s'. Is there no hope for America????
Posted April 21, 2008 | 12:59 AM (EST)