Obama: Rough Time in the Campaign

Doubting Obama's Patriotism
1. Obama did not salute the flag.

This video was taken at an event in Indianola, Iowa where six Democratic presidential candidates appeared. It was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual "meat and greet". From left to right: Barack Obama, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Harkin's wife, Ruth, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator John Edwards, Senator Joe Biden.

2. Obama does not wear the American flag pin on his lapel.

3. Michelle, Obama's wife, said in a speech, that she was proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Relevant articles:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7h3tqXBVMkt-Ig_c0Dz025_-jJQD8V0M9VG0
http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/02/24/dont-tell-barack-obama-hes-not-patriotic/

Rumours about Obama
4. How about he Madrassa smear?
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/22/cnn-obama-debunk/

5. And now, Clinton staffers circulate a picture of Obama over the weekend, to fuel the rumours that Obama is still a Muslim.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802757_2.html

And the Clinton Campaign said, "We can't be sure that it didn't come from us. It is not the intent of the campaign to release this picture to tarnish Senator Obama in any way, but if someone in the campaign thinks the Obama camp gets treated differently by the media, well, they're right."

What is this supposed to mean? Does the end result justify the means? I think it is bad taste--probably the result of a desperate democratic race for President (the Texas and Ohio primaries just next week!). Shameful. It will probably backfire on Hillary. Her sympathy is favoured more than what, dirty tactics?

And a coincidental mistake?:
Where's Obama? Osama, you mean. CNN makes an error, putting "Obama" on a photograph of bin Laden. CNN has apologized since: http://rawstory.com/news/2006/CNN_comments_on_Obama_gaffe_in_0101.html