Obama dumbs down patriotism.

Politics: Typical of him to use the term patriotism to mean supporting a trillion dollar pork bill.

Mr. Obama called Ms. Collins and Mr. Specter, as well as Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, another Republican expected to support the deal, to acknowledge they were acting against pressure from their party and, one official said, to thank them for their patriotism in helping advance the bill at a critical time.

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."