A Comparison in Patriotism

Republican VP candidate, Sarah Palin knows how to connect with and fire up a crowd! One reporter wrote, "Here is the thing about governor Sarah Palin: She loves America. Really loves it. She loves the smell of cut grass and hay, as she told Ohio voters Sunday. She loves Navy bases, she said in Virginia Beach on Monday morning. She loves America's "most beautiful national anthem," she told a crowd here." The latest campaign controversy involves a statement made by Palin about the patriotic enthusiasm of small towns. She said there were "very pro-America." Of course Biden thought she meant that large towns and Democrats were therefore "anti-American". Below is a video from CNN about it.

Compare Palin's attitude of loving America's "most beautiful national anthem" to the video below and this snippet from an article in a New Hampshire paper, the Union Leader:

Not present, or at least not singing the National Anthem at the rally was Londonderry senior Zach Bencal.

Bencal, who sings the anthem for a number of school events and is actively involved in local community theatre, had been contacted by the Obama campaign to sing the anthem. He agreed to do so, then was told later in the evening the anthem had been scratched from the program. Bencal said he was told by the campaign the decision was a simple programming change to make room for another speaker.

"I guess it just wasn't meant to be," Bencal said.

Sandra Abrevaya, communications director for the Obama campaign's Manchester office, confirmed the choice had simply been a last-minute scratch from the rally's program, which included the Pledge of Allegiance.

"We regret the miscommunication with Zach about today's event but we are pleased that several other New Hampshire residents were able to speak at today's event, where thousands of voters in both parties gathered to hear Sen. Obama discuss his plan to bring the change we need to Washington."