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Here’s Obama’s explanation... We sent him an email and asked why he didn’t have his hand over his heart.

Dear Friend,
Thank you for inquiring about the false accusation that I have refused to sing the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance. I knew when I decided to run for President that I would not be immune from the “anything goes” form of attack politics that has been so prominent in our elections in recent years. And this outrageous charge is just another example of the kind of mean spirited, “shock” politics I will move beyond as President.

There is a photo of me taken during the singing of our National Anthem with a false caption stating that it was taken during the Pledge, and that I refused to put my hand over my heart. I am honored to lead a life of public service, and it is inconceivable that I would ever refuse to say the Pledge or sing the National Anthem. My grandfather served in World War II and helped raise me. He was a great patriot, and he taught me that you put your hand over your heart during the Pledge, and you sing during the Anthem. That’s what I did that day, as I have done countless times before.

In fact, as a U.S. senator, I am sometimes called upon to preside over the opening of the Senate in the morning, at which time I am proud to lead my colleagues in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, with my right hand over my heart. Anybody who doesn’t believe in the Pledge shouldn’t be running for President. To learn the facts and see video of me reciting the Pledge in the Senate, please click here: http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_is_a_patriot.php
Every time I have been elected or reelected to the Illinois Senate and the United States Senate, I have proudly raised my right hand, placed my left hand on the Bible and sworn to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” And I will be proud to take the Presidential Oath of office on January 20, 2009. Thank you again for contacting me.

Please share this message with anyone you know who has been misled by this baseless and particularly hurtful political attack.
Sincerely, Barack Obama
———————————Paid for by Obama for America

As Mr. Obama states;

you put your hand over your heart during the Pledge, and you sing during the Anthem

Yes, that has [the above, in bold] long been true for me, too, EXCEPT, I don't try to sing that song, and none have ever required that I do, since my leaving elementary school.

After seeing the video, I think folks should back off from this false accusation of claiming he dishonored the "pledge of allegiance".

He was a great patriot, and he taught me that you put your hand over your heart during the Pledge, and you sing during the Anthem. That’s what I did that day, as I have done countless times before.

Flag Etiquette

The Salute
To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.

The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem
The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.