July 3, 2008 3:18PM 

# State-Worship, McCain Style 

By [Justin Logan](https://www.cato.org/people/justin-logan) 

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Here’s a snip from [John McCain’s *Parade* magazine essay on patriotism](http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade/patriotism/mccain):

> Patriotism is deeper than its symbolic expressions, than sentiments about place and kinship that move us to hold our hands over our hearts during the national anthem. It is putting the country first, before party or personal ambition, **before anything**. (emphasis mine)

Before anything? I always thought [the Buckley clan had some insights on prioritization of duties](http://books.google.com/books?id=z7XG_NFSzuUC&pg=PA51&dq=%22god,+family,+country%22&sig=ACfU3U0TKGLGzALkYr4APmSLNUxQyTv7og#PPA51,M1).

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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