Obama Unfurls Old Glory on Lapel

I find Obama’s use of a flag pin as a substitute for real patriotism to be insulting. 

Barack Obama sported a flag lapel pin and talked up patriotism Monday as he campaigned in blue-collar West Virginia. He also shot a solid game of pool.

I almost bit my tongue with it shoved in my cheek like that. 

1. I wonder how long he’s been practicing pool before he unfurled his game for public consumption.  Surely he is now Joe Everyman.

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on May 12, 2008 at 2040 hrs




2. Well, that’s one day more in the last month that Obama has worn a flag pin than McCain has.

   Posted by folkbum on May 12, 2008 at 2137 hrs




3. Always nice when nonsense like this and Rev. Wright is substituted for real issues.; You know. The one that impact your life.

   Posted by on May 13, 2008 at 0033 hrs




4. Real issue: Is Obama really going to repeal NAFTA? Will that actually bring any jobs back? What about the people in other countries, they don’t deserve jobs?

   Posted by Matt on May 13, 2008 at 0807 hrs




5. Matt:

   It may or may not bring jobs back, but it could help keep more jobs from leaving.  And no one “deserves” a job, a job is something that is earned and has to be actively maintained, hence the word ‘work’ being associated with a job.

   Posted by on May 13, 2008 at 0827 hrs




6. so, since we started NAFTA, have there been more jobs created or more jobs lost in this country?

   Posted by Matt on May 13, 2008 at 0833 hrs




7. Which will be declared officially more “American,” pool or bowling? How will Obama’s proficiency, or lack thereof, at each affect his candidacy? I think his campaign should hire a bowling pro to hone his game, because of the negative connotations of “hanging out in pool halls.”

   I’m heartened by his decision to wear a flag lapel pin, though. It would be even better if he’d get a bus with flags painted all over the sides and big speakers on top playing The Star Spangled Banner 24/7. It should have a kitchen in it, so that a baker could be making apple pies to hand out at every stop. the back of a bus would hold lots of those magnetic support the troops stickers, too. In fact, maybe he could get all his clothing made out of red, white, and blue bunting. With that many visible symbols, why nobody would ever question his inner feelings again, would they?

   Yeah, right.

   Posted by on May 13, 2008 at 0911 hrs




8. Politicians wearing flags on their person is such a transparent handjob to our most jingoistic tendencies.  I mean, really--is there actual doubt about which country these people are loyal to that the display is meant to clarify?  Frankly, I’m glad to see any of them buck the “you must wear a flag” nonsense.  It’s about time for somebody to step up and be a grownup about it.

   Posted by scott on May 13, 2008 at 0918 hrs




9. I can’t remember Bush Jr. wearing a flag pin before 9/11. If you can say anything about them terrorists, at least they helped remind Jr. to be more patriotic.

   Posted by on May 13, 2008 at 1152 hrs




10. By labeling the wearing of a flag pin as “a substitute for real patriotism”, he is questioning the patriotism of those who wear flag pins.  I though you weren’t supposed to do that…

    Posted by on May 13, 2008 at 1651 hrs




11. apc, bowling isn’t cool - you know, sax-playing, intern-seducing, suave Bill Clinton cool; you know, the ‘sign of a misspent youth.’

    Didn’t you see the Obama pic of him doing a behind-the-back shot? He da man.

    And Scott, it isn’t about wearing or not wearing a flag pin. It’s the crap you spew about why you don’t, then turning around and doing it. That’s not grown up or childish; it’s manipulative.

    His “stated” reaction to 9/11, the proferred motive for the lack of pin, was pure zagging when everyone else zigged: “‘After 9/11, I didn’t wear a flag lapel pin because true patriotism consists of speaking out on the issues, not wearing a flag lapel pin?’”

    There were precious few people who eschewed the flag then, and they weren’t the ones on the side of the attacked.

    Posted by tee bee on May 13, 2008 at 1751 hrs




12. [I]t isn’t about wearing or not wearing a flag pin. It’s the crap you spew about why you don’t, then turning around and doing it. That’s not grown up or childish; it’s manipulative.

    Actually, tee bee, Obama has said repeatedly--even in the same oft-quoted interview where he, um, “spews” his “crap"--that when someone gives him a flag pin to wear he will do it.  He’s described firefighters and servicemen and women who have done so, and he wears those pins out of respect for those who’ve offered them.

    Hardly manipulative.

    Posted by folkbum on May 13, 2008 at 1818 hrs




13. Obama has said repeatedly--even in the same oft-quoted interview where he, um, “spews” his “crap"--that when someone gives him a flag pin to wear he will do it.

    Typical liberal.  He is waiting for someone to give him one instead of buying it himself. 

    

    Posted by Owen on May 13, 2008 at 1846 hrs




14. Typical conservative. Would rather go out and buy one rather than accept the heartfelt, compassionate gift of a fellow American.

    

    Posted by on May 14, 2008 at 1102 hrs




15. I realize that politics isn’t the rational, fact-driven, issues-oriented affair I would like it to be.  But flag pins?  Really? 

    I’m an optimistic person, generally speaking, but things like this make me extremely sad about American politics, the media, and human nature in general.  If anyone has data on the percentage of Americans who know about flag-pin-gate as compared to the number of Americans who could explain the difference between the candidate’s health care proposals, please don’t tell me about it.  I don’t think I could take it.

    Posted by scott on May 14, 2008 at 1125 hrs