Heckler forces Obama to say Pledge of Allegiance

A heckler sitting in the press section interrupted Barack Obama's opening remarks at a town hall meeting in Berea, Ohio, and forced the candidate to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience of several thousands groaned with the heckling, but Obama waved them back and said then led the groupin reciting the pledge.

Comments

[pdxatheist]

More bullshit chicanery to distract from the issues at hand. That's all the right's got, and that's why they are where they are.

[Ivanv]

If I get a chance to ask Obama or McCain something I want to know where they get their hair cut.

Anyone else with great ideas? Maybe we can form a KeyQuestionsforPresident group.

(sarcasm)

[MKSinSA]

"Forced" - Secret Service must have done a takedown for the gun in the room, eh?

[Richard Tretler]

The best way to counteract that kind of innuendo is to face it with the truth. Obama did the right thing. He may not always do the right thing, but getting something right once in a while is a damn sight better than what we've had for the last 8 years.
McCain would have launched an ad hominem counter-attack.

[peter]

This clown Obama DOESN'T care nor understands the traditions of modern society...he is a black liberationist, and screw the old, in with the new....he is a dangerous person!!

[peter]

one more thing....anyone who thinks his vote is for change, is going to be in for a shock...obama has NOTHING to offer AT ALL..his record in the political arena is dismal and uneventful....
chairman mao was popular once...and look what happened..

[Ivanv]

Many people write fearful or angry responses.

Another example of the dumbing down of our electorate.

[centrist]

I am from Chicago and have met Obama on a number of occasions and lies that get ciruclated under the radar screen are a joke! He is a nice centrist man. "Black liberationist" what laugh! I am white trader who makes more money than 99.9% of the people in the little towns that these papers circulate in. I would not vote for a communist type! Nor is he an elitist...he just paid off his student loans with the proceeds from his popular book. Cmon... Mccain is worth 100mil from his second wife. Wise up middle america....mccain means more wars of questionable origin. TIME FOR CHANGE!

[centrist]

PS. The only reason im even on this site is because of the accurate coverage of the wars offered by McClatchy. They wised up to the "wmd" and Saddam/911 link lies long before the big coastal paper like the NYT and Wapost!

[Tom]

Peter is an Idiot. McSame has never done anything administrative in his life. Obama is a leader and is what this country needs now. McCain graduated in the last 1% of his class at Annapolis and it shows. He was 894 of 899. What a jerk. Peter must have been 899. Elect Obama 2008

[PtchsM]

I hate the negativity of Politics! WHY must it turn into each dog trying to outdo the other dog? Either you like them or you don't, that is what our DEMOCRACY is about, and we vote for what reason? The Electoral College picks the President and the Congress and Senate RUN this Country......Democracy, I don't think so! I turn my news off, sick, sick, sick of hearing all the "spin" on words spoken by either Candidate and then the news media take it "out of context" and run their mouths on and on and on for days and weeks until they find another little "blurb" to pick on! THE ISSUES FACING AMERICA that BUSH created is what is important!!!! GET TO THE ISSUES AND STOP the School playground gossip and bullying of the Candidates.....Like it or not ONE of these men will lead this Country for the next 4 years, now that is FACT....something the news media fails to report or even see any longer.....WHEN did the News Media begin thinking we Americans want THEIR opinions? WE ARE ALL ADULTS, and we can make our OWN choice without THEIR opinions. I could care less!

[Ivanv]

PtchsM,

Your anger is well vented.

'Politics' is a reflection and a creation of our current society.

Judging by dwindling voting numbers, an increasing number of people are tired of politics.

That's why we have asinine conversations, presentations, accusations - and elected officials.

Consider that with PHilton's followers - I don't know the numbers, but aren't they large enough for her to be 'celebrated'? - she could make a difference in this election.

Having the famed '500 channels' with cable never meant that we'd have 500 quality viewing choices, only that we'd give voice to anyone willing to advertise their voice.

And the anonymity of the net has allowed us to call respected Senators such things as 'clowns' and 'dangerous.'

We keep demonstrating that humans are slow growing beings, presidential elections only brings out the best/worst in us.

[Vicki]

I saw this on television and I was so proud of Senator Obama for acting in such a back at you buddy way. One more lie the haters can't get away with throwing at Senator Obama. He will mow all the other lies down as well.

[Ivanv]

I too saw the town hall on TV.

Obama worked with the heckler in the best way possible. Something like, "Oh, yes, let's say it...Would you like to come up here and lead? [apparently the man didn't]"

So then Obama leads a standing crowd and pledges allegiance. It was great to see.