Tim Ryan, the 46-year-old congressman from Ohio and the only candidate at Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate who did not put their hand over their heart during the playing of the national anthem, issued a statement calling it a “moment of absentmindedness.”
In a Wednesday morning announcement, Ryan’s office said he was not trying to make any sort of statement by failing to cover his heart as the anthem played and the American flag was presented.
“Congressman Ryan wasn’t protesting and didn’t mean to make any statement last night in Detroit, it was a moment of absentmindedness while on a debate stage that won’t happen again,” the statement reads. “He was, in fact, singing along with the choir to honor the country.
“Congressman Ryan loves our country and will continue to honor the flag during the anthem in future events, as he has in countless events in the past,” it adds.
During the anthem, fellow candidate Marianne Williamson also did not cover her heart at first, but put her hand up about halfway through after glancing around at the others onstage.
According to the U.S. flag code, when the anthem is played, “all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.”
Ryan, a nine-term congressman, is polling far below the pack of more than 20 candidates for the Democratic nomination. A RealClearPolitics national average of polls has him at 0.5% support. Meanwhile, front-runner Joe Biden is leading the group with 32.2% support.
