Barack Obama from July:

“It is worth considering the meaning of patriotism because the question of who is – or is not – a patriot all too often poisons our political debates, in ways that divide us rather than bring us together,”

Harry Reid from today:

“I’m really at a lack of words how to express my admiration/respect for the love of our country, the patriotism and the courage of three brave senators: Specter from Pennsylvania, Snowe and Collins from Maine.”