During the presidential debate on Friday Barack Obama anticipated and countered John McCain’s bracelet story with his own- except he had to look down and “uhhhh” read the bracelet (SGT Uhhhh) to remember the soldier’s name.
Ouch.
Here’s the video:
Now Michelle Malkin, Hot Air, and Newsbusters are all over a story started here by dehavelle.com.
Seems that Obama was asked many months ago to NOT WEAR THE BRACELET.
Tracey Jopek, the soldier’s mother and Obama supporter, asked Obama to not wear it. She didn’t want her son’s death to be politicized.
Looks like it’s too late for that.
Here’s a radio interview with Brian Jopek, father of the solider who was killed in action, Ryan Jopek. He says Obama was specifically asked in a letter to stop wearing the bracelet back in March of 2008. Obviously he has not.
This is the clip from the radio interview: Obama Bracelet
And here is the entire broadcast.
The Hot Air blog post says not so fast- perhaps Obama was given permission after she said not to wear the bracelet.
It’s possible that they have changed their minds again, and not unlikely, given the family’s support for Obama. Jopek is divorced from his wife and may not have been speaking for her. If Tracy Jopek wanted Obama to continue to use the bracelet to make this case, or changed her mind about him stopping, then Obama did nothing wrong. However, if the Jopeks did ask him to stop wearing the bracelet and stop talking about it on the campaign trail, it’s disrespectful for Obama to continue to do so. He should have honored their wishes and used a different example.
It will be interesting to see if this story makes it out and Obama is confronted with this issue.
Uh, check yer facts?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_BRACELET?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
This is pathetic obama is always crying me too! or i said that fist!! he steals everything and has no original thought, issue or stance ! he is a narcissitic, arrogant, sexist bigot! and a poor example of a politician!