The Alleged Obama "Crotch Salute"
Check Out Snopes Before You Pass These Things On!
The Crotch Salute Returns to Fort Hood: It Figures: At the Ft. Hood Memorial Service... The Crotch Salute Returns: I'm sorry folks, but is this the guy... you know- the one who is NOT saluting our dead soldiers and the sacrifice they made... the turkey that was elected President of our country? You know, the United States of America? I do believe that saluting the flag is expected out of respect to honor the servicemen who died, or is this man above that? Shower us all with flowery words learned and delivered to influence our opinions, dazzle us with studied B.S. from 'modeling' the words of popular past President Abraham Lincoln, and label people who don't like your disrespect as 'conspiracy theorists' (isn't that getting old?) But, actions speak louder than parroting the words Americans love so much. Our mothers and fathers taught us that- if you were raised an American. How many passes do we have to give this guy before we collectively realize he is not one of us and is working on his own agenda and is not good for America? He won't salute our flag. He won't pay respect to our troops. But he will bow with respect- to the Saudi Royal family representatives. Pass it on if you feel the same way.
As this Snopes page reports, this is a real photo (see Photo 1 above), but with an inaccurate description. This picture was snapped just as the president took the stage at a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in mid-2009, to the playing of "Hail to the Chief," and shows others properly showing deference to the president, who does not salute himself (contrary to some reports).
Later in the ceremony (as the Snopes link shows), President Obama can be seen with his hand over his heart showing his respect to our military personnel who have died in the line of duty. And as the four other pictures attached to this article show, President Obama does indeed salute and hold his hand over his heart during the National Anthem and as the colors pass, and in respect for our military.
If people don't like the president, fine. But instead of researching their claims and intelligently putting forth why they think he's wrong, they publish inflammatory, name-calling rhetoric. When things like this get passed through the internet, without people checking the facts, it shows that they'll go to any extent to demonize the President, even if what they're saying is out and out untrue.
Even I don't believe leftist rhetoric like "George Bush lied" to get us into Iraq, and told people who said so just that. I do believe that he took info from unreliable sources, probed for specific info that would support his actions, and that our security agencies took too lightly reports of muslims taking flying lessons with no interest in learning how to land.
This was not the first time I have received this email. Whenever I get these emails, I post the Snopes link in the email and return to the sender, as well as "cc" it to everyone else to whom they sent it. I urge everyone who gets emails like this to do the same.
Addendum:
Response to the comment that this piece is "more a testament to Obama's lack of patriotism, which is what the originator of the false allegation exploited." On the contrary, Obama's patriotism does not need to be defended and is not what was intended by this article. This article exposes those who would post lies or twist the truth. Also, his mention of another photo where he claims Obama struck his "fig leaf pose" also has a Snopes link here. And his insinuation that Snopes is a leftist site is laughable. It is the most neutral fact checking site on the web run by a wholly apolitical married couple, one of whom is a Canadian citizen and cannot register to vote in U.S. elections or donate to any U.S. campaign or candidate, the other an American citizen who is registered independent who has never donated to, or worked on behalf of, any political campaign or party. But, of course, the righties will dispute that as well. And the fact is, you cannot dispute the truth about the photo in question here.
Click here for opposing Point of View by Linda Rogacki
Published by Patricia Sicilia - Featured Contributor in Travel
A Domestic Travel Featured Contributor, Patricia Sicilia's wordsmithing began at age 9 when, after reading a book way too old for her, she told her mother "I'm retiring to my boudoir." Freelancing for over... View profile
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30 Comments
Post a Commentlet's see the FULL film, so we may observe the "real" salute. remember that snopes receives major support from george soros.!!! another friend of the USA.
JoeF
If they were saluting the president as they played "Hail to the chief," why does the fat man have his hand over his heart like? Is that guy pledging allegiance to the statist-in-chief?
I agree that there is much garbage floating around on the internet from all "camps". I also agree that people should do their research but why snopes.com?
I know that most people that read this will be up in arms but seriously. Is it really that credible? How do you know they're credible? Because they claim to be so?
Do you even know who is behind snopes and how it's run? I do and I'm not sure that 15 years of running and writing for a website qualifies the husband and wife team as "research professionals." They might be talented writers and they may be correct in most cases but they've been wrong too. You might be better off finding several sources of information, picking through the garbage and connecting the dots yourself.
Everyone throws around snopes like it's the be-all-end-all of information.
I'll bet that's how the media found out about Obama's birth certificate or lack thereof...SNOPES!
And, too bad nobody has thought to ask Snopes where Osama Bin Laden is located.
And Pat, could ya clarify what the addendum means? Have I missed something? What "comment" do you refer to specifically? Was the Addendum added later by going back into the article and adding it? I don't understand this madam, so would you clarify this for me? Thanks.
QUESTION!!!! Ahhh, what are ya up to Pat? Picture 1 in your series is at Arl. Cemetery. NONE of the other pictures are of the SAME EVENT! NONE! Look at the backgrounds of the photos. I DARE YOU! Every picture is of a different event, so where is the proof you allege. And, now PAY ATTENTION PAT, when an superior officer is saluted it is up to the officer to RETURN THE SALUTE - it's procedure and it's what's known as military courtesy. That means if Obama is saluted, he must return it, not do a crotch salute, no? This whole article of yours is based on fraud madam! Maybe I'll finally learn that "hyperlink" thing, as it's properly called, to write an article exposing you by linking to your work here Madam. You claim Snopes shows another photo. Where is it. Clearly it is not in your series of five pics, so where is your proof madam? Let's see it. Or do you routinely write articles trying to make others look bad and then tell us you've got proof, but the "proof" you offer is totally non-rel
I salute you. Yeah, I'll try to use snopes from now on before I just pass on something as a friendly email in future. Of course, it'll surely cut down on my forwarding anything to ya in the future....I mean I wouldn't want to send ya anymore inaccurate stuff, right? Sorry...I won't repeat the mistake...I promise!
How silly.
Wow what a great discussion, or should I say debate. I don't like these emails either but I remember what the press did to G W bush and it wasn't pretty either. Obama is not the first and will not be the last Pres. to get trashed. I do take offense to the comment that "the bigots will never let the truth get in the way of their rage and hatred. I hope Michael doesn't feel that way about anynone who disagrees with him. I am very disappointed in Obama after watching speeches where he trashes Republicans, he says they are "the enemy" isn't he supposed to be the President of everyone, not just democrats, and I watch a lot of news, more than one channel and he is upsetting a lot of people, even in his own party. And as for bigots and rage, what about Joy on the view I would say she is full of hatred. We should start a forum for this and have a debate. Or we could just have it right here. Very inspiring article Patricia. Can't wait for more posts.
This is a link from snopes about the picture
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp