This sort of political theater is just plain irritating

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Barack Obama is wearing a wristband in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq, given to him by a mother who said she wants the Democratic presidential candidate to keep others from dying

Tracy Jopek of Merrill, Wis., gave Obama the bracelet at a rally Friday night in Green Bay, and Obama was still wearing it Saturday as he campaigned across the state before Tuesday’s primary

The bracelet has her son’s name, Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, and the date the 20-year-old was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb, Aug. 2, 2006. “All gave some — He gave all,” it says

“She gave me this wristband, which I’m very grateful for,” Obama told the Green Bay audience, halting and lowering his voice from his normally upbeat presentation. “I meet mothers and family members all over the country who are still mourning their children but are also thinking about the young men and women who are still over there and wondering when it will end.”

First, while I don’t know anything about Sgt. Jopek personally, it irks me that his name is being used for political purposes.  Did he oppose the war?  Would he want his mother using his name, military service and sacrifice as a campaign gimmick for Barack Obama?  We don’t know

Second, I hate it when our soldiers are portrayed as a bunch of confused children who somehow ended up in Iraq against their wishes.  Let’s remember that these are strong, intelligent men and women we’re talking about.  And that they volunteered for the service they’re performing in the middle east, most of them having made their commitments to service with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan having already started.  Meaning that they knew full well what they were getting themselves into, and joined up anyway

I’ll not pretend to speak for the troops.  I’m sure their political views on the war, and everything else under the sun, are as varied as the locations and backgrounds they come from.  Which means that Barack Obama shouldn’t presume to speak for them either, or cast them as confused and needy victims which they most assuredly are not

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