Obama defends his patriotism

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Flanked by American flags, Barack Obama forcefully defended his patriotism yesterday against anyone who would challenge it, declaring that he wouldn't stand for persistent rumors questioning his loyalty and aimed at sinking his presidential campaign.

However, he was forced to interrupt the launch of a week of Fourth of July-related events - in Harry Truman's hometown - to respond to Republican rival John McCain's complaint that it was actually Obama and his campaign who were wrongly questioning the importance of McCain's military service.

McCain said that "that kind of thing is unnecessary," and the Obama camp agreed.

Obama praised McCain's service, and the Democratic candidate's spokesman rejected Sunday's remarks from a prominent supporter, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who said that McCain's years as a Vietnam War fighter pilot and prisoner of war did not necessarily qualify him to be commander in chief.

As for his own patriotism, Obama said that he chose yesterday's topic in part because of questions raised during the presidential race so far, even though he had always considered his love of country a given, in fact his inspiration for running for office.

Obama acknowledged occasional "carelessness" on the topic. But he said that most criticism has been the result "of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears about who I am and what I stand for."

"I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign, and I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine," he pledged to cheers from a crowd of a few hundred people at the Truman Memorial Building.

Obama, the son of a white mother and black father, now seeking to become the nation's first black president, has been the subject of several smear campaigns.

Some involve an allegation that he doesn't put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and the fact that - until recently - he has refused to wear an American flag lapel pin. His wife, Michelle, drew conservatives' ire as well for saying during the Democratic primaries that she was really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Earlier in the campaign, when critics questioned why he didn't wear the pin - as many male politicians do - he said that he had stopped after the 2001 terrorist attacks because he felt that it had replaced "true patriotism" for some public officials. Later, the pin on his lapel started showing up again. It was there yesterday.

As for the latest controversy involving McCain, Obama didn't explicitly mention Clark's weekend remarks, but he attempted to distance himself from them.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said that the candidate "rejects yesterday's statement." Shortly after, Obama repudiated them himself.

Patriotism "must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice," he said. "For those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country - no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary.

"Let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides," he said to loud applause.

McCain aides portrayed the comment as emblematic of what they say is an Obama campaign that talks about a new kind of politics while using the old kind.

"I think that that kind of thing is unnecessary," McCain told a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa.

"It doesn't reduce the price of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer. Doesn't make any American stay in their home who's at risk of losing it today.

"And it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges Americans have in keeping their jobs, homes and supporting their families," he said. *