 |
         
|
The remarkable thing about Obama's speech was the fact that he felt it was necessary. "He has faced such questions for months," remarked CBS' Dean Reynolds, referring to online whispers that he was somehow unAmerican. ABC's John Berman (embargoed link) spoke of "Internet rumors" from sites like ExposeObama.com about his failure to wear a flag on his jacket or his hand missing from his heart as he pledges allegiance. Berman noted that he made the speech in front of four flags with a fifth pinned to his lapel. His first General Election political ad, Berman added, was a $4m buy to profess his love of country.
The loftiness of Obama's speech was undercut by a soundbite from his surrogate Wesley Clark on CBS' Face the Nation. Clark, a Vietnam War veteran and retired USArmy general, cast this aspersion against John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and former USNavy pilot: "I do not think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President." ABC's David Wright called Clark's comment "especially provocative" given that McCain's experience as prisoner of war "shaped the core of his character." NBC's political director Chuck Todd--in the role that was routinely assigned to the late Tim Russert--offered analysis. Obama's address on patriotism was supposed to be "one of his big ones…he worked very long and hard on it" so surrogate Clark "ended up stepping on the speech and really causing some political pain for Obama."
You must be logged in to this website to leave a comment. Please click here to log in so you can participate in the discussion.
