Pepe Le Pew, Campaign organizer

Not present, or at least not singing the National Anthem at the rally was Londonderry senior Zach Bencal. Bencal, who sings the anthem for a number of school events and is actively involved in local community theatre, had been contacted by the Obama campaign to sing the anthem. He agreed to do so, then was told later in the evening the anthem had been scratched from the program. Bencal said he was told by the campaign the decision was a simple programming change to make room for another speaker. [...] Sandra Abrevaya, communications director for the Obama campaign's Manchester office, confirmed the choice had simply been a last-minute scratch from the rally's program, which included the Pledge of Allegiance.
What was that about Berkeley, AI? Also from Pepeland! Time to cling to some guns, boys!