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Obama: Wearing Flag Pin Is Substitute For "True Patriotism"
During an interview with an ABC News reporter in Iowa, the reporter asked Barack Obama why he wasn't wearing an American flag pin. Obama's response: He has deliberately chosen not to wear one, deeming it an inferior substitute for "true patriotism."
"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest."
"Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
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I've got to say that I am not particularly a fan of Senator Obama, but that said, he hit the nail right on the head!
Too often—and those gas guzzling SUV drivers sporting 'Support the Troops' ribbons and bumper stickers on their vehicles come to mind—individuals seek to portray public symbols of their support for one cause or another, while demeaning the message and calling into question their actual dedication to it.
Good for Senator Obama, who clearly recognizes this behavior and does not choose to participate by engaging in it, yet still finds a positive way to state his case and frame the issue.
October 4, 2007 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes!!!
October 4, 2007 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the case of Bush, I don't think the lapel pin is sufficient. He really should have an arm band.
October 4, 2007 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect response by Senator Obama. (I am still uncommitted on who I'll be giving my money to in the primary contests). Wearing a flag pin is precisely the kind of cheap/phony patriotism that makes excuses for "minor details" like torture.
October 4, 2007 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
HILLARY & BILL CLINTON & WALL-MART & CHINA WHATS UP / DID THEY SELL AMERICA OUT FOR THERE PERSONAL INTEREST???
WALL-MARTS HOME OFFICE IN THE CLINTON'S HOME TOWN.....
WALL-MART IS CLOSING DOWN ALL THE MOM & POP STORES IN AMERICA....
WALL-MART IS CHINA'S BIGEST IMPORTA & RESALE STORE IN AMERICA WHY IS THAT BILL & HILLARY.....
AMERICA WAS ONCE THE STRONGEST & RICHEST NATION IN THE WORLD UNTILL BILL CLINTON SIGN THE FREE TRADE POLICY WITH CHINA HE DESTROYED AMERICA & ALL THE OTHER NATIONS IN THE WORLD....
October 4, 2007 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently RC thinks we need to buy more flag pins, as long as we don't buy them at Wal-Mart.
October 4, 2007 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's have more exposure of all the phony, fascist symbols utilized by the far right. It's like bowing down to idols. It's a form of ritualistic conformity.
October 4, 2007 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good for him. For years, I thought it odd that the president of the united states (or any US government official) felt the need to wear a US flag pin -- as if to let everybody know that, yes, as the president of the United States, it turns out I support the United States.
I have nothing again folks wearing a pin with our flag -- it just seems silly that elected govenment people think they need to wear it to show their support (patriotism, etc) for our nation. I would think service would be enough...
October 4, 2007 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dumb gotcha local news question. Ask a real question, like how are we getting out of Iraq, not about a flag lapel pin.
October 4, 2007 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The fun part is that if this gets picked up in the media, everyone else is going to start wearing EXTRA-LARGE flag pins.
I call it the "ipldgallegncetothflag ofth'NitdStsMrk 'ntothrpublcferwichistanz onenashn -- UNDER GOD!!! -- withlibrtynjustisferall" phenomenon.
October 4, 2007 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should take a lesson from the Kang and Kodos election handbook and adopt as his campaign slogan:
"Abortions for some, tiny American flags for others!"
October 4, 2007 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is what the O-Bomb-A campaign is reduced to... talking about flag pins. Bye-bye Barry. So glad to see you go.
October 5, 2007 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rock on, Barack, we need a straight talker who doesn't have a 1/2 share
in an Abrams tank or something...you
don't have any um, Halliburton shares,
DO you? Hmmm...
October 5, 2007 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is what I love about Obama: his "BOOM-SHAKALAKA!" moments.
October 5, 2007 6:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Once again, for better or for worse, Obama honestly articulates how many of us feel about this.
Now if he had a nasty streak like some of the posters I see on this board or in the mirror, he might have answered thusly:
"I saw how it looked on you when you wore one once."
October 5, 2007 8:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sometime after 9/11, the company I worked for gave out American flag lapel pins. Then an employee complained because he turned it over and it said Made in China. Go Obama! Let's talk about Iraq, not laughs and lapel pins.
October 5, 2007 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink