by Walter Brasch

    Barack Obama spent the Fourth of July in Montana.  A Red State. A state that few think he can win. A state that gave huge margins to George Bush the past two elections.

    But here he was. On Independence Day. Marching in a parade. Hosting a picnic for hundreds. Trying to rally support for his Presidential run. Trying to show that he can appeal to voters of every political, social, and economic demographic. His web site tells us he "shook hands, kissed babies, signed autographs and posed for pictures." Patriotism just oozed out of his every pore.

    Barack Obama is now as patriotic as the electorate wants him to be. During most of the primaries, he didn't wear a flag pin on his lapel. He didn't think wearing pins makes one patriotic, or not wearing one makes someone unpatriotic. But, the right-wing lambasted him for that. Now he wears a flag pin.

    And every speech he makes, he is now flanked by several American flags. Just in case anyone thinks he isn't patriotic. Or is a foreigner. Or worse, a Muslim.

    Barack Obama has changed in other ways. Once he said he would pull the U.S. out of Iraq. End that war. Now, he's calling for a phased withdrawal.

    Once, he opposed innumerable pieces of legislation sent to the Senate by the Bush-Cheney Administration--and which a Republican Congress rubber stamped. Now, as the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, he voted a bill that granted immunity to telephone companies that violated both established federal law and the 4th Amendment to the Constitution when they voluntarily gave personal data about subscribers to the government.

    Once, he said he would accept government restrictions and decline the excessive private contributions that have muddied politics. Now, with a campaign war chest at least two or three times greater than John McCain's, he changed his mind and is taking whatever he can get--and doesn't have to report who gave what.

    Barack Obama isn't the only politician to forsake some of his principles for the greater principle--do whatever it takes to get elected. Hillary Clinton moved more to the center when she began to think she could be the next president, and even voted for the renewal of the unconstitutional PATRIOT Act. John McCain, by any standards a conservative, began playing even more to the right-wing when the evangelical Christians challenged some of his beliefs and voting record. Every politician, even the most maverick ones, say they need to get elected to do whatever it is they want to do. But, once in office they continue to do whatever is necessary to stay in office and get re-elected.

    Barack Obama, like every other politician, needs to reflect upon the principles of what the Founding Fathers wanted. And maybe every politician should decide that on this Independence Day weekend, it is time to declare that once and forever they will follow their convictions, their beliefs, and declare themselves to be independent, now and forever, not only of special interests, but also of pandering for votes.

    [Walter Brasch has covered politics and presidential campaigns more than 40 years. He is professor of journalism at Bloomsburg University, a syndicated columnist, and author of 17books. His latest book is Sinking the Ship of State: The Presidency of George W. Bush, available through amazon.com and other stores.]

(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama and Democratic PartyBuilder)

Is it just me, or is there something truly special about the Fourth of July holiday? I know, I know, it should be special to all of us because it's when we celebrate what our nation is about. I guess I'm just blessed that I'm able to see and experience this holiday in a special way.

It's fast becoming a tradition for me to march with my local Democratic Party in the world-famous Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade. And when I march with my fellow Democrats in the parade, I notice something amazing. I also noticed this afterwards, when I was working with local Barack Obama volunteers on voter registration.

You know what it is? I'll tell you after the flip...

I am sick to death of the forwarded ignorance of so many Americans!

       "I am sorry but after hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough. No where did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, French, or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation -- not even close. Sorry if this offends anyone but this is MY COUNTRY -

       IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY SPEAK UP ---- please pass this along~

   I am not against immigration -- just come through like everyone else. Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past -- and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

       PART OF THE PROBLEM
        Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-----YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!!

       Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????

       Think about it!

       IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

       It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass

       this along; if you don't agree -- delete it."

The first half of today's show was about patriotism, and it was juicy. The second was about Barack Obama's shift to the center and John McCain's Campaign Shake up.

A substantive discussion amongst the panelists about what patriotism means. Bob Scheer expounds on George Washington's farewell speech; Tony Blankley talks about how the theme plays out politically; Matt Miller shares thoughts by Peter Beinart of Time Magazine that the right says "America's great," the left says, "Here's what would make America great;" and Arianna Huffington mentions the USA Today poll that says 2/3 of Americans think that protesting is patriotic. Are Obama's moves toward swing voters going to win him votes or just the animosity of his base? And will John McCain's campaign recover its footing with new guy, Steve Schmidt, at the helm.

Today I volunteered for a political campaign for the first time in my life.  Just Wednesday, I decided on a whim to attend a voter registration training event with the Obama campaign and through that I had an opportunity to volunteer at Obama's speech on patriotism at the Truman Memorial Building in Independence, Missouri, today.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the speech.  Though it was open to the public, tickets to the event were gone in less than two hours.

While what I did at the event was not tremendously important in the grand scheme of things (I helped the to-dos of Kansas City and Jackson County politics find a seat), in attending this event I have renewed my commitment to turning Missouri blue this November and beyond.  I met some fantastic and inspiring people, made connections, and made commitments to attend other organizing and voter registration events in my communitiy.  I am truly impressed with Obama's ground game here in Missouri and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

One of the sillier memes floating around out there is that Michelle Obama is somehow unpatriotic and not proud of America (due to a quote a while back that was misconstrued).

So, guess what rabid, left-wing crackpot jumped to Michelle Obama's defense today?

That's right, First Lady Laura Bush:

Michelle Obama has a new defender from those who say she isn't patriotic enough -- First Lady Laura Bush. In an interview with ABC News, Bush said that Obama's February remark that she was proud of the United States "for the first time in my adult life" was misconstrued.

"I think she probably meant `I'm more proud.' That's what she really meant," Bush said from Afghanistan.

"You have to be really careful in what you say because everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued," she said.

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Today, Memorial Day, I honor the American heros who have laid their lives on the front lines for the love of our country.  I honor the soldiers -- past and present -- who have battled our enemies, and often paid a tragic price.  They have paid with their lives, their mental or physical health, the heartbreak of  loved ones.

I have never lost a loved one to war, and so I have immense respect and gratitude towards those who have personally suffered to keep our country free and peaceful.  For our soldiers, for the sacrifice they and their families have made -- I am eternally proud and thankful.

It is in this spirit that I salute "the enemy," John McCain, war hero and patriot.  An honored veteran, a man of great courage and dignity who endured unimaginable suffering on America's behalf.

In the heat of political battles, it's easy to forget Senator McCain's legacy. Thank you, John McCain, for your service and your sacrifice.

I salute you, and all the brave women and men who have served our country with honor.

Like Sen. Obama, I do not put my hand on my heart during the national anthem and I do not pledge allegiance to our flag.  However, if a President Obama is really going to change Washington, he needs to be able to explain why.

Much has been made of the unfairness of the Nash-McCabe question last Tuesday as to whether Sen. Obama believes in the American flag.  This question may have been loaded, but it was also a teaching moment.  A moment in which Sen. Obama had a chance to prove whether or not he has the capacity to change our country's dialogue.

It's a moment in which we begin talking about our extraordinary accomplishments as a civilization.  For, the contributions of the United States of America are unparalleled in human history.  When I hear the "Star Spangled Banner" or see the stars and stripes, I feel a rush of emotion the intensity of which I find somewhat embarrassing.  For me, ultimately, these emotions are driven in my pride in our national good works.