Obama speaks on patriotism, remarks by surrogate

Speech encourages individualized acts, ideas of patriotism
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During an Independence Day-themed speech describing his take on patriotism, Presumptive nominee Barack Obama (D-IL), cleared up remarks made Sunday by surrogate and Obama military advisor, Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark. He questioned whether McCain's military experience qualified him to be commander-in-chief.

Indirectly but apparently addressing the issue, Sen. Obama said Monday, McCain needs no further proof of his patriotism due to his and other U.S. military member's service to the country--"period, full stop."
He was addressing a group in Independence, MO at the Truman Memorial Building.
Obama also wondered how this country would preserve values while still seeking liberties. He said challenging each other's patriotism is rooted in 40-year-old debates where questioning government ideology or attacking symbols of the country like the flag or war veterans led to charges of unpatriotic behavior.

He said even without the steady hand of a father to guide him or anchoring in any one community while growing up, he still demonstrated his ideology of patriotism.

Speaking from recent experiences, Obama said he has had his own patriotism called into question--an act he will not let stand.
"I'll never question the patriotism of others in this campaign and I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine," he told the audience.

He said attacking those ideas demonstrates the inability of some to truly understand America.
Quoting famous writer and Missouri native, Mark Twain, Obama said Americans should support their country all of the time and only government, when it deserves it.

In 1926, the Truman Memorial building was erected as a tribute to those who had lost their lives in World War I.