Comments on: Obama Defies Sgt. Jopek’s FamilyIn Wearing “Whats-His-Name’s” Bracelet

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:51:47 +0000

Spoken like a true partisan. RAW RAW RAW old man McCain!

And getting misty eyed when watching Reagan starred movies? Sheesh… some of you screwballs have the audacity to say that the left worships Obama.

By: American Elephant

American Elephant — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:53:52 +0000

But lets not forget, Sheehan is running against Pelosi, so….GO SHEEHAN!!!! (perhaps I should add her to the endorsements on my blog)

By: Vince P

Vince P — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:28:52 +0000

#15: All we know is that the only known sentiment of the family’s at the time that Barack did his “me too” act was the mother did not want her son publicized or politicized.

He did it anyway.

Now she says she’s thrilled, but for all we know. they “convinced” her to enjoy it.

By: SoCalRobert

SoCalRobert — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:21:42 +0000

#12: AE… point taken.

Re: Cindy Sheehan… that poor woman is off the deep end. I think she’s nuts but I can’t help but feel sorry for her. It’s obvious that the death of her son, Casey, unhinged her and her way of dealing with it is to lash out a the country she believe responsible.

As far as the left is concerned, she’s a “useful idiot” – already discarded as they’ve moved on (.org’d).

By: ILoveCapitalism

ILoveCapitalism — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:07:59 +0000

This confirms a few interesting things:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/bracelet-flap-lingers-post-debate/

- That the mom approves of what Obama is doing.
- That the father, quoted back in March, did/does not. (So I stand by my comment #4)
- The human capacity for self-deception. The mom says she was ecstatic that Obama knew her son’s name. Apparently she has no idea that Obama didn’t know her son’s name and, during the debate, had to stop and read the name off his bracelet.

By: DoorHold

DoorHold — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:07:50 +0000

Obama can’t fool anyone but fools. He should’ve had a Cabala bracelet on, that’d impress his fan base more than a bracelet from uh, some guy.

By: benj

benj — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:25:11 +0000

For me the biggest insult of all, not knowing the name of the person Obama is supposedly ‘honoring.’ He uses that bracelet as a prop with no emotional attachment to it other than to impress some people and maybe get a vote here and there. I agree, “he makes me sick.”

By: American Elephant

American Elephant — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:08:57 +0000

I was just about to agree with you SoCal, but then I realised, these people gave the bracelet to McCain because they believe in the war effort, they believe in the mission, as did their son. They gave it to McCain because they want him to convince others to support the war their son died for, and they wanted to help him do so.

I suspect they gave it to him so he could do precisely the sort of thing he did. And so no, I have no problem with McCains use of the bracelet.

Obama on the other hand, disrespecting the families wishes is a different story altogether, as is using Cindy Sheehan who is contradicting the wishes of her own son.

By: heliotrope

heliotrope — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:56:29 +0000

Braceletgate has begun. I expect to see Geraldo do a special on what the mom says and what the dad says. Perhaps Dr. Phil can convene a panel to bring meaning to our lives.

Meanwhile, Obama can play the trump card which is an arm full of 57 bracelets. One for each state.

By: LesbianNeoCon

LesbianNeoCon — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:36:43 +0000

What do you mean “how dare” he wear the bracelet? OF COURSE he wore it!! He will do/say whatever it takes to give the illusion he cares. Anyone who knows anything, knows he hates this country and our militaty. A political stunt like that is par for the course for this charlatan.

By: left leaning lesbian friend

left leaning lesbian friend — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:07:08 +0000

what’s the orange or red bracelet that he’s wearing at the end of the video? the one on his wrist during hte video is black…

By: heather

heather — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:08:20 +0000

what is going on with Palin? I am getting the impression that the McCain folk are afraid to let her be Palin. If so, they are idiots. Palin is a great politician. Are they hiding her? Why put her on national TV with proven Liberal/Elitists who will try every way possible to diminish her? Why not onto talk radio, and regional outlets, where they are not as likely to spend the entire time sneering at her.

Also, I am terribly depressed about the sinking McCain ship. Damn.

By: BillDemo

BillDemo — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:05:56 +0000

Here’s a video with Jopek’s father talking about Obama using his son’s bracelet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCO5S20L-pM

By: SoCalRobert

SoCalRobert — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:50:03 +0000

Vince – if a candidate chooses to wear a bracelet honoring a soldier – that’s fine. And if someone asks “who’s bracelet is that?” then there’s no problem answering the question – proud of being given the honor of wearing it. (If you’re Obama – uuuhhhh – it helps to know what the name is in the first place.)

I just don’t think it should be a prop.

And once you’re wearing one guy’s name, what do you tell the next [some number] of people whose sons/daughters/spouses/partners have died in the service of their country (state/county/town) who offer a bracelet or medal?

The candidates should honor the fallen by doing what’s right for this country – and the basics shouldn’t be all that hard to figure out.

By: Vince P

Vince P — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:34:46 +0000

HOW DARE JOHN MCCAIN HONOR A SOLDIER KILLED IN BATTLE

HOW DARE AGREE WITH THE DEAD MAN’S FAMILY THAT HE WILL HONOR THEIR SON

WHAT A SCUMBAG!!!!!!

By: SoCalRobert

SoCalRobert — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:55:19 +0000

I’d be more comfortable if candidates would refrain entirely from scoring points by pointing out that they’re wearing/carrying some guy’s bracelet/dog tags/badge/etc.

If they want to wear a bracelet – fine. Just don’t use it as some sort of advertisement.

I was a bothered by McCain’s mention that he wears a bracelet with Matthew Stanley’s name on it and a bit offended when Obama came back with his “well, yeah, I’ve got a dead guy’s name – uuhhhh – Ryan Jopek on my bracelet”. In other words, I’ll see your dead guy.

Ugh.

If the media/blogosphere wants to take Obama to task for this – fine. But if I were John McCain, I’d stay light years away from it.

By: Jeremayakovka

Jeremayakovka — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:44:54 +0000

Ok people, turn that bracelet on his wrist into an albatross around his neck.

By: ILoveCapitalism

ILoveCapitalism — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:21:07 +0000

Obama is a scuzball. McCain, despite his own flaws, honestly tries to put the country first. Will the mass of Americans wake up in time?

the fact that one of the parents wants Obama to stop is distinctly different from saying that both his parents do

So it’s OK to violate one parent’s wishes in the matter, if the other says it’s OK? I disagree.

By: Clint

Clint — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:13:48 +0000

That’s probably right.

But, again, this was six months ago. I’d like to see a more recent source.

NOTE: the quoted interview took place back in March.

Heck, the LA Times is today reporting, based on accounts of a conversation more than ten years ago, that Governor Palin believes that dinosaurs and humans shared the Earth as recently as six thousand years ago.

Let’s not play the same game.

Someone needs to ask Brian Jopek what he thinks today. Poor guy.

By: MichaelnotMike

MichaelnotMike — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:52:37 +0000

If only one of the soldier’s parents doesn’t want him to wear it, he shouldn’t. A presidential candidate should be sensitive enough to stay out of family disagreements and find another bracelet to wear.