McCain scolds Ryan for not covering over heart for anthem
Rep. Tim Ryan has issued a statement insisting that the presidential candidate wasn’t “protesting” as the national anthem played during Tuesday’s Democratic debate. But the Ohio lawmaker was the only candidate to not place his hand over his heart, choosing instead to keep his hands clasped in front of him — a move that was slammed by Meghan McCain and others.
Though many people commenting on McCain’s tweet criticizing Ryan insisted that only the Pledge of Allegiance requires citizens to place their hand over their heart, the U.S. Flag Code does stipulate the same gesture for the anthem.
Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer also dinged Ryan over the gaffe, tweeting, “I guess he’s appealing to the Kaepernick wing of the Democratic Party,” a reference to football player Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the anthem in protest of police brutality.