The manufactured outrage of a presidential salute

The manufactured political controversy du jour revolves around a presidential salute. Again.

Five years ago the usual suspects — in this case: the editor of Smithsonian Magazine — brayed that presidents shouldn’t salute at all after President Barack Obama had the gall to salute as a casket of a dead soldier was carried off a plane. It blew over.

As he jumped off Marine One in New York yesterday, Obama saluted his military escort. But he had a coffee cup in his hand at the time.

Photo: White House

The National Republican Congressional Committee tried to stir the pot on Twitter, calling it the “latte salute.”

Because we’ve never seen anything like it from a president before.

 In this June 25, 2001 file photo, President Bush does his best to salute while holding his dog Barney as they get off of Air Force One. Photo: Susan Walsh/Associated Press.