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Netlore Archive: Circulating via email, an alleged quote from Barack Obama explains why he doesn't wear a flag pin or salute the flag during the national anthem.

Description: Email hoax / Satire
Circulating since: March 2008
Status: False

Email example contributed by an AOL user, March 27, 2008:

FW: Obama Explains National Anthem Stance

From: "Brig Gen R. Clements USAF ret"

On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:48:04 -0400, "LTG Bill Ginn" USAF ret forwarded:

Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.

According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.

"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said. "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."

Comments: No, Barack Obama didn't say these ridiculous things. The words were put in his mouth by conservative satirist John Semmens (see his October 27, 2007 column, "Semi-News, on the Arizona Conservative website).

Semmens was poking fun at two of the candidate's actions during the presidential campaign that were widely perceived as insufficiently patriotic: his decision to stop wearing a U.S. flag pin, and his failure to place his hand over his heart during a rendition of the national anthem at a public event in 2007.

Of the first, his actual explanation went as follows:

You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, 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 testimony to my patriotism. (ABC News, Oct. 4, 2007)

As to the second point, the implication that Obama has taken an ideological position against following protocol during the national anthem is misleading. He was caught on film once singing along with the anthem instead of putting his hand over his heart, but on other occasions before and since, he was photographed doing the latter. An Obama aide offered this explanation:

Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't [put his hand on his heart]. In no way was he making any sort of statement, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous. (Inside Edition, October 23, 2007)

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Sources and further reading:

Obama Explains National Anthem Stance
Semi-News by John Semmens, 27 October 2007

Barack Obama Drops U.S. Flag Pin
ABC News, 4 October 2007

Barack Obama Refuses to Salute the Flag?
Urban Legends blog

National Anthem Controversy
MediaMatters.org, 24 October 2007

Last updated: april 18, 2008