| By Curt and Jamila Hayman (Chief Editors),
on Monday Jun, 30 2008 12:41:30 pm MST
|
 (CNN) -- Sen. [[Barack Obama]] defended his patriotism Monday,
telling a crowd in Independence, Missouri, that his "deep and abiding
love for this country" is the reason he is running for president.
"At certain times over the last 16 months, I have found, for the
first time, my patriotism challenged -- at times as a result of my own
carelessness, more often as a result of the desire by some to score
political points and raise fears and doubts about who I am and what I
stand for," he said in President Harry Truman's hometown, just days
before the Fourth of July. Obama vowed to never question the
patriotism of others in the campaign, adding "I will not stand idly by
when I hear others question mine." Obama
has been defending his patriotism ever since the beginning of the
primary season, when he was first criticized for not wearing a flag pin
-- which he now does much more frequently -- and when false rumors
began circulating that he did not say the Pledge of Allegiance.
A widely distributed photo also seemed to show him failing to place his
hand over his heart during a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Obama's wife, Michelle, also was criticized about her patriotism, after
telling an audience at a campaign event, "For the first time in my
adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country." Obama's
campaign said she was just excited about the campaign's grassroots
support, but her words still provided fodder for her husband's
opponents. [READ MORE]
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Last update: Monday Jun, 30 2008 12:41:30 pm MST
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