Obama and the bracelet .. watch for yourself what he said in our interview

A red-state friend of mine told me last night that the father of a soldier killed in Iraq was upset with Sen. Barack Obama for exploiting his son's death by showing off the bracelet that Obama wears that bears the soldier's name.

Sure enough, there are quite a few news stories and blog posts that are taking Obama to task about why he unveiled the bracelet during last week's debate. If you didn't see the exchange, McCain was showing off his bracelet first and Obama followed that he too wore one.

The father's comments were actually made back in March on Wisconsin Public radio and weren't made -- as was implied -- after the debate. The father also isn't the one who gave Obama the bracelet, it was his ex-wife who did.

Having interviewed Obama during a campaign stop in New Philadelphia on Sept. 3rd, I asked him about the bracelet during our one-on-one interview. I had noticed its reflection during his remarks and I wondered what it was. Initially, I thought it was for a cause of some type .. or maybe for Lance Armstrong. I didn't know what, if anything, was written on it, but as a reporter I'm naturally curious.

Furthermore, I only brought it up after the formal interview. I had asked Sen. Obama about evening the benefits for the Guard and Reserve troops with their Active Duty counterparts and in doing so, I referenced that I was one of them having served in Iraqi Freedom with the Ohio National Guard.

After the interview, Obama surprised me by coming back to me to ask a few followup questions about my service. It's at the end of that exchange that's where this video picks up. Take a look:

Again, let it be clear .. I asked him about the bracelet. He wasn't flaunting or volunteering it.

A few days ago, the woman who gave Obama the bracelet came out to defend him against the criticism. You can read the story by clicking here.

I think the words of the Gold Star Mother are the ones that should ring true on this debate, and not what others interpret the ex-husband's comments from six months ago to mean.

Anyway, I would have asked the same question had it been McCain in town with something shiny on his wrist ... but I thought you might like to see what Obama said .. uncut .. when asked about the same bracelet here in Ohio.

Plusquellic endorses Clinton

A Democratic SNAFU today that included published reports that Mayor Plusquellic had endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President -- reports that were later pulled back as premature speculation -- grew into an actual endorsement just a few minutes ago.

In an email sent to the media via City Communications Director Mark Williamson, Mayor Plusquellic writes:

"It had been my intention to announce my position with regard to this year's Ohio Presidential Primary at an event in Akron on Friday. Due to scheduling problems, this event will not be held. Today, a list of supporters released by Ohioans for Hillary that mistakenly included my name has added to confusion over my position.

"Tonight, I am joining with Governor Ted Strickland, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and other state leaders in endorsing
the candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States. I believe that Senator Clinton is the best prepared candidate to lead our country."

Mayor Plusquellic had a press conference this morning yet didn't mention an endorsement ... so to see a story a few hours later claiming that he'd endorsed Clinton seemed a bit out of left field. Yet now .. rather than let any uncertainty fester, Plusquellic makes his intentions known.

The endorsement shouldn't be much of a surprise. Akron hosted several rallies for Bill Clinton during his Presidential run -- including the massive event at the Air Dock. President Clinton also visited Akron for the town hall meeting in the mid 1990's.

You can bet Plusquellic wasn't pleased to have his hand forced in this way by the confusion created by Ohioans For Hillary.