There’s a nasty email forward going around the Internet alleging that Obama is a Muslim and that he doesn’t say the pledge or sing the national anthem. It’s designed to play on latent racism and bigotry in some voters, and to cause “regular” folk to think less of him (”why won’t he say the pledge? What’s wrong with him?)

Well, like most things you get forwarded to you via chain letters, this accusation is false on all counts. Snopes does a good job of running down the rules, the video of the event in the photograph attached to the email forward, and other evidence that Obama is a pretty normal American when it comes to the pledge and the anthem.

For what it’s worth, I don’t always put my hand over my heart during the anthem at baseball games and I always skip the “under God” in the pledge (my explanation for why is here). The pledge didn’t contain that in the original version, and the original version is good enough for me.

Update: The other smear is to try and make something of the fact that he doesn’t wear a flag pin on his lapel. This one is true, but like much about Obama, he has a thoughtful reason why he doesn’t:

“You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin,” Obama said. “Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest.

“Instead,” he said, “I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”

Considering we were in the throes of “Freedom Fries” and the labeling of anyone that questioned the administration as being traitors or sympathizers of Saddam’s regime, not succumbing to the group think symbolism is a sign of his judgement. He was right about the war, and this along with his opposition to the war are testaments to his judgement and independence. Patriotism isn’t what you wear but how you act. He’s acted honorably and with sound judgement.