From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Patriotism and politics.

Do symbols of pride in America get in the way of real debate?

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren Allney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Barack Obama's patriotism is questioned because he doesn't wear an American flag pin.

His pastor's sermons are called on American.

Congressional votes on anti-flag-burning bills are considered tests of patriotism, even though the Supreme Court says flag-burning is constitutionally protected speech.

Do nationalism and patriotism illuminate or confuse political dialogue in America? Does the notion of American exceptionalism control our politics?

On reporter's notebook later on, a look at Hillary Clinton's

daily schedules when she was first lady. First, here's the news. Support for To the Point comes from

subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors

include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren, only back with To the Point from PRI.

The furor over Barack Obama's church has pushed his presidential campaign into the most dangerous possible political territory, questions about his patriotism.

Did the founding father's notion of American exceptionalism create an exceptionally patriotic

country?

Coming up, we'll talk about the defining role patriotism plays in American politics and what

role patriotism plays in the politics of other countries.

On reporter's notebook, what do just-released White House schedules tell us about

Hillary Clinton's experience as First Lady? First, this news update. Yesterday, President Bush

marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq with a speech that mentioned Osama bin Laden twice,

thereby offering a reminder that the man behind the attacks of 9-11 is still

...