Last year during the Christmas Season I posted this video:

If you clicked on what appears to be an advertisement at the base of the video you have discovered that the original members of “Straight No Chaser” have now signed a recording contract and released their first CD.

While the Christmas CD looks terrific I especially enjoyed the recording session in which the fellows turned out an amazing rendition of our National Anthem:

Commander in Chief. President of the United States of America. Leader of the Free World. These are titles to which Barck Obama aspires.

What a shame that this man and his campaign could not find the time at one of their rallies to honor America with a rendition of the National Anthem. HT:Wizbang

Not present, or at least not singing the National Anthem at the rally was Londonderry senior Zach Bencal.

Bencal, who sings the anthem for a number of school events and is actively involved in local community theatre, had been contacted by the Obama campaign to sing the anthem. He agreed to do so, then was told later in the evening the anthem had been scratched from the program. Bencal said he was told by the campaign the decision was a simple programming change to make room for another speaker.

“I guess it just wasn’t meant to be,” Bencal said.

Sandra Abrevaya, communications director for the Obama campaign’s Manchester office, confirmed the choice had simply been a last-minute scratch from the rally’s program, which included the Pledge of Allegiance.

“We regret the miscommunication with Zach about today’s event but we are pleased that several other New Hampshire residents were able to speak at today’s event, where thousands of voters in both parties gathered to hear Sen. Obama discuss his plan to bring the change we need to Washington.”

[emphasis-mine]

One more speech of praise and admiration. One more promise of change.

None of this change and hope is worth a whit if it does not include this:

There, now I feel better!