As patriotism becomes an issue, Obama gives a speech

Patriotism has become more of an issue in the last few weeks of the Presidential campaign. Wesley Clark took a shot at John McCain's service record, and it appears that Barack Obama at least indirectly addresses it in the following video.

The name of the speech was "The America We Love". The speech was given in Indepence, Missouri, as Obama cranks up the patriotism rhetoric just prior to the Fourth of July.

Obama seemed to address recent attacks on McCain's service record at one point in the speech.

"Beyond a loyalty to America's ideals, beyond a willingness to dissent on behalf of those ideals, I also believe that patriotism must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice - to give up something we value on behalf of a larger cause. For those who have fought under the flag of this nation - for the young veterans I meet when I visit Walter Reed; for those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country - no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary. And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides."

"We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform. Period. Indeed, one of the good things to emerge from the current conflict in Iraq has been the widespread recognition that whether you support this war or oppose it, the sacrifice of our troops is always worthy of honor.

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