GOP Congressman: Right questions Obama's patriotism 'to drive the left crazy' 
Once Barack Obama became the Democratic front-runner, the right began gearing up to question his loyalty to the nation. MSNBC's Dan Abrams invited one Republican member of Congress onto his program to discuss this strategy, but he was unable to get Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) to admit that it amounts to anything more than good-natured fun.
"It is starting," Abrams began. "The right-wing smear machine on its way to shaping the attack on Senator Obama. ... If Obama succeeds in nailing down the nomination, be prepared for an assault on his patriotism."
Abrams noted the use of a repeated refrain of "Barack Hussein Obama" at a recent McCain rally together with photographs of Obama in traditional Somali tribal attire while on a visit to Africa. He also pointed to a widely-reproduced photograph of Obama not putting his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem, which led Rep. Kingston to charge last week that "the guy would not say the Pledge of Allegiance."
(There are various guidelines available for flag etiquette which give conflicting advice. USFlag.org states, "When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note." However, Answers.com advises more casually, "Some people choose to put their hand on their heart but in etiquette this is only required for the Pledge of Allegiance.")
"Isn't this pure sleaze?" Abrams asked Kingston.
"Those are just questions that the American people want to know about," Kingston insisted. "When you listen to why he doesn't wear an American flag button, it's a very convoluted answer. ... Everybody wears them ... and it's curious that suddenly there's a guy that doesn't want to do it. ... You're running to be the number one cheerleader in the country, so I think these questions aren't off limits."
"You're not wearing a lapel pin, are you?" Abrams observed.
"I will wear one," Kingston answered brightly. "But Barack Obama says he won't wear one. That's a completely different thing."
Kingston went on from there to reveal that his real motivation -- which he apparently learned from the Ann Coulter school of political discourse -- is simply to annoy the left.
"I don't really think they're attacks," he said cheerfully. "I think it's just a little banter back and forth. I think that the left has had their hyper-sensitivity buttons on. But it works! Apparently, it's like scratching fingernails across a blackboard when you say 'Barack Hussein Obama.'"
"I think that the far right is not going to focus on [substantive] issues," Abrams complained. "Instead, they're going to focus on this nonsense like whether he wears a lapel pin."
"It's the left that wants to continue talking about it," Kingston insisted. "And that's why the right's going to do it. ... It seems to drive the left crazy, and we're having a good time watching it."
This video is from MSNBC's Dan Abrams Live, broadcast February 27, 2008.
Transcript via closed captions
:: it is starting. the right wing smear machine on its way toward shaping the attack on senator obama. it's not just the radio show hosts using his name. barack hussein obama. barack hussein obama.
:: if obama succeeds in nailing the nomination, beprepared for photos like this one in an effort to use this photo of obama in singing the national anthem. this is jack kingston on bill mars program.
:: he would not say the pledge of allegiance and won't put an american flag lapel on his coat.
:: joining me now is that man, jack kingston, thank you for taking the time.
:: thank you for having me.
:: isn't this pure sleaze, attack obama because he's not patriotic because his hands are down when the pledge of allegiance is being played.
:: when you listen to why he doesn't wear an american flag button, it's a convoluted answer. i've been in politics and you have been around them for a long time, everybody wears them. it's curious that suddenly, there's a guy who doesn't want to do it. put that with the wife's comment, the first time in her adult life she's proud of america. i think these questions aren't off limits.
:: you're not wear ing ing a lapel pin, are you?
:: i will wear one and i have worn one.
:: i have no idea you were going to show up without a lapel pin, but it seems absurd you are saying his patriotism should be questioned because he's not wearing one, then you come on not wearing one.
:: i will be glad to wear one. barack obama says he won't wear one. you're probably not wearing one now, but you would you?
:: would i wear one at some time, i have worn one once.
:: you know why these, you call them attacks, it's not, it's a banner back and forth. they have their hyper sensitivity buttons on. it's like scratching fingernails on the black board when you say barack hussein obama.
:: including his middle name is intentional, right?
:: absolutely. the real issues are, he wants to spend $800 billion in social problems.
:: i don't think the far right, i'm not associating you with the far rikt, but it's not going to focus on those issues, instead on the nonsense about whether he wears a lapel pin and a photo of him. you made the point on bill marr. this is a guy without a hand on his heart during the national anthem. then we have pictures of john mccain not wearing win.
:: it strikes a nerve on the left, so the right is going to continue doing it.
:: because it's innuendo.
:: on the bill marr show, i brought up the fact he was interested in bombing in pakistan.
:: it's not true. he never said that either.
:: he had a statement about that. this is true, his health care plan is a $65 billion price tag on top of other programs that are big spending. that's relevant, but a lot of the time the guys on the left only want to talk about the ma knew shah.
:: this isn't that? again, that to you, is not manutia?
:: it's the left that wants to continue talking about it. that's why the right does it. it seems to drive the left crazy. we're having a good time watching it. listen, dan. you have to remember, hillary clinton had not been able to attack obama. she has to be very, very careful.
:: i have to wrap it up. get your lapel pin back on before the next time you come on the show. make sure you are wearing it.
:: i'll bring you one.
 
| 
