Tim Ryan was the only Democratic candidate who did not put his hand over his heart during the national anthem at the second round of primary debates. The American flag was being presented by a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
Fellow candidate Marianne Williamson at first did not have her hand on her heart, but she eventually placed it there halfway through the anthem after glancing at the others.
According to the U.S. flag code, when the national anthem is played, “all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.”
Barack Obama, then a U.S. senator for Illinois, was criticized for the same thing in Iowa in 2007 when he was photographed with his hands clasped below his waist beside Democratic primary rivals Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton, who had their right hands over their hearts.
Ryan, 46, has represented Ohio in the House since 2003. He is currently on 0.3% in the RealClearPolitics 2020 primary polling average and is not expected to qualify for the September debates.
The following day, Ryan’s campaign released a statement calling the misplaced hand a “moment of absentmindedness.”
“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.
