The New Patriotism

John Podhoretz notices a frankly appalling talking point that has become a new theme-of-sorts in President Obama's rhetoric:  "Country Before Party."  This line showed it's ugly head in the debt ceiling debate, and I am sure it will once again rear itself in the speech on Thursday.

I agree with Obama that country should always be above party, but this certainly isn't the effectual truth of his words.  He is really asking Republicans to compromise on their principles and join in whatever he and the Democrats are proposing (e.g., prior to the debt ceiling debate, Obama proposed a clean raise of the debt ceiling without any cuts whatsoever).  The implication of this motto is that whenever Republicans disagree and go against the president, they are not only being "obstructionist" but they are now un-patriotic and un-American.  Patriotism has now been redefined to how closely one adheres to the Democrat Party platform.

But for Barack Obama, patriotism used to mean something different entirely:

That is why, for me, patriotism is always more than just loyalty to a place on a map or a certain kind of people. Instead, it is also loyalty to America's ideals - ideals for which anyone can sacrifice, or defend, or give their last full measure of devotion.

In the same speech, Obama later approvingly cited Mark Twain who said, "But when our laws, our leaders or our government are out of alignment with our ideals, then the dissent of ordinary Americans may prove to be one of the truest expression of patriotism."

Hmmm.   Remember some years ago when dissent was the highest form of patriotism?  Where did those times go?