Patriotism a pitfall for Democratic candidates - Can't believe the people are so dumb

[EV_Ares]

I have never understood how people could believe this crap about patriotism or how and why the dems cannot counter it. Because in actuality when you look at it, it is the republicans that are less patriotic. Look at who really supports the troops. How can that be patriotic when you send them to an unnecessary war without the proper equipment which has caused so many to be maimed and crippled unnecessarily. Who is it that has gotten veteran benefits increased?

Of course I feel also it is media to blame for parroting this message and they refuse to look into the lies the republicans spread.
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Patriotism a pitfall for Democratic candidates

WASHINGTON - The political landscape is littered with Democrats whose campaigns have been hurt by questions about their patriotism. Barack Obama wants to avoid the same fate.

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Critics have questioned Obama's patriotism for months, whispering about why he didn't wear a flag pin on his lapel and contending he didn't put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. Republican rival John McCain has asserted that Obama has placed his political self-interest ahead of his country's.

"Behind all of these claims and positions by Sen. Obama lies the ambition to be president," McCain said this week during a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention.

From Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush, the Republican Party long has put a premium on patriotism. But it's a quality that is often ill-defined. There's the patriotism of military service and national security, and the patriotism of believing the U.S. can live up to its ideals and be a better place.

"The Republicans have taken that first type of patriotism, that muscular, military, 'rockets' red glare' type of patriotism, and driven that as a wedge against people they see — Democrats, liberals — as weak on national security issues," said Leonard Steinhorn, a professor of politics and media at American University in Washington.

Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential campaign often serves as a cautionary tale for Democrats. Republican George H.W. Bush turned the Pledge of Allegiance into a campaign issue, criticizing Dukakis for vetoing a bill, as Massachusetts governor, that would have required teachers to lead public school students in the pledge at the start of the school day. Dukakis said he supported the pledge but vetoed the bill because a state Supreme Court opinion said it was unconstitutional.

Another strategy has been to paint anti-war candidates as unpatriotic. Even decorated military veterans have fallen prey.

entire article @ link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080820/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_patriotism;_ylt=AqaXuq3FXydqiCcVXgJ.FXjZn414

[Blarch]

1. We live in a nation of fools.

Don't be so surprised.

[liberal N proud]

2. It is all about getting in front of your opponent with perception

They always project their own weakness on their opponent before it is pointed out that they are the weak ones. They do this systematically and continuously until it becomes public perception.

By then it is difficult for the opponent to hit back on that very point or even counter it in the publics eye.

[curious one]

3. Blame it on our education. People are dumb by design. Look at the third world countries.

Those countries' education lacks and government keep their people in the dark so they can rule them.

[zbdent]

4. Republicans support the war MACHINE ... not the cogs and gears

which make it work, the grunts ...

Once you're off the field, and your rifle has been stowed, what Republican gives a damn?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. there's 2 types of people in America

Type 1 is the blind patriot and type 2 can think for themselves.

the key thing is to get the thinking group registered to vote and get them to the polls. Bush managed to frightened many of this second group by 9/11 into voting for him. We can't let that happen again.