It does not get any clearer than this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PXYKZj7P6o&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

If you can’t see the video, here’s the summary: over in IL-08 they had a debate between Rep. Melissa Bean and Joe Walsh, run by the League of Women Voters. Somebody in the audience interrupts the beginning to ask if they were going to start with the Pledge of Allegiance. The moderator – stupidly, stupidly, stupidly – says ‘no,’ starts lecturing the crowd on how that was never required in the past… and gets drowned out by the audience getting to its feet and reciting the Pledge over her spluttering. Extra points: perfect shot of Joe starting an anticipatory clap at the suggestion that the Pledge would be recited, looking startled that this wouldn’t be allowed – and getting out of his chair like a jackrabbit when the audience overrides the moderator (who later kept getting snotty about the whole thing).

Well, he is the Republican candidate. We just have better civic reflexes when it comes to this sort of thing.

(H/T: Instapundit)

Moe Lane (crosspost)

PS: Please argue this, oh ye Democrats. Please, please, please pound the table and shout about how it’s so unfair that this happened, and that it’s completely unreasonable to expect that the automatic answer to “Shall we recite the Pledge of Allegiance?” should be “Why, yes. Everybody who can stand up, please!” This is me begging you to do all of that.

Begging.