Conservatives slam Obama over flag-less lapel

October 5, 2007

Yesterday, in response to a question from a reporter suspicious of why he wasn’t wearing an American flag pin on his lapel, Barack Obama explained his belief that for some, the pins became a substitute for “true patriotism.” The senator said he would instead “try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”

I didn’t expect leading conservative voices to understand, but I was a little surprised at the ferocity of the response. Jonah Goldberg described Obama’s perspective as “staggeringly stupid,” and “the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of him doing.” Another prominent far-right blogger responded this way:

Seriously, you want this for President of these great United States.This is how he catches the attention of a media aligned with the terror force? This useful tool won’t wear an American flag pin? Talk about pandering to the radical base, he ought to run against Ahmadinejad.

He is scoring points with Georgie Soros, won’t be waiting long for his on his Soros stipend, I’m sure. What’s Obama Hussein’s new campaign slogan, “America Sucks!” ?

Higher-profile conservative voices were only slightly less unhinged.

But talk radio and cable news quickly pounced on the issue. “It just shows you he’s not ready for the big time,” conservative Laura Ingram opined on Fox News. Said Sean Hannity: “Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!”

Hannity, a voice of reason in these trying times. Perhaps he believes lapel pins are some kind of protection against terrorist attacks? And if so, why doesn’t he wear one more often?

But for my money, James Joyner relied on a Seinfeld episode to offer the most clever, poignant take on the “controversy.”

ORGANIZER: But you have to wear an AIDS ribbon.

KRAMER: I have to?

ORGANIZER: Yes.

KRAMER: See, that’s why I don’t want to.

ORGANIZER: But everyone wears the ribbon. You must wear the ribbon!

KRAMER: You know what you are? You’re a ribbon bully.

ORGANIZER: Hey you! Come back here! Come back here and put this on!

New scene – Kramer in the AIDS walk. Some AIDS activists accost him for failing to wear the red ribbon.

WALKER #1: Hey, where’s your ribbon?

KRAMER: Oh, I don’t wear the ribbon.

WALKER #2: Oh, you don’t wear the ribbon? Aren’t you against AIDS?

KRAMER: Yeah, I’m against AIDS. I mean, I’m walking, aren’t I? I just don’t wear the ribbon.

WALKER #3: Who do you think you are?

WALKER #1: Put the ribbon on!

WALKER #2: Hey, Cedric! Bob! This guy won’t wear a ribbon!

BOB: Who? Who does not want to wear the ribbon?

New scene – Kramer surrounded by Cedric, Bob, and the other walkers.

BOB: So! What’s it going to be? Are you going to wear the ribbon?

KRAMER (nervously): No! Never.

BOB: But I am wearing the ribbon. He is wearing the ribbon. We are all wearing the ribbon! So why aren’t you going to wear the ribbon!?

KRAMER: This is America! I don’t have to wear anything I don’t want to wear!

CEDRIC: What are we gonna do with him?

BOB: I guess we are just going to have to teach him to wear the ribbon!

All I ever really needed to know, I learned watching Seinfeld.

October 5, 2007 at 10:08 am

Said Sean Hannity: “Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!”

Wow. That has to be one of the stupidest non-sequiturs I’ve ever seen. Considering how much right-wing drivel I read, that’s saying a lot. It even beats out Giuliani’s excuse for his wife calling him (9/11). The Republicans should hire Hannity to run all their PR:

“Why was I caught soliciting gay sex in the men’s room? Because our country is under attack!”

Run for your lives! “Because our country is under attack!” Our media is “aligned with the terror force.”

What a bunch of beb-wetting patsies.

Right wing comment: Talk about pandering to the radical base, he ought to run against Ahmadinejad.

Isn’t that exactly what Obama is trying to do? Run against the Bush administration and its Republican minions, who very closely resemble Ahmadinejad’s regime in Iran.

Jonah Glodberg is just tired of being called stupid himself. Democratic voters know that the pins are ust part of a conservative schtick, a ruse to get us all playing a sort of political musical chairs in which a person’s rep can get ruined not for their meaningful beliefs or actions, but for happening not to show up with a pin on once or twice. It’s just another chance to make themselves look good cheaply and to take meaningless shots at people who really do give a damn about the country.

Good for Obama- he’s doing what liberals expect.

I have to laugh every time I hear Jonah Goldberg call anyone “stupid.” Like he would know stupid if it stared out at him from his bathroom mirror every morning. What a putz.

That one was brilliant, CB. I can’t say anything to top that. I hope the Seinfeld reference becomes the locus of the counter-argument if the right-wing media start keep flogging ribbon deal.

I was shot at by the terrorists, but my lapel pin deflected the bullet.

True Story… honest

Hey Jonah, why don’t you show off all those purple hearts, silver stars and that CIB badge you earned in Iraq? No, no… green clovers, red horse shoes from Lucky Charms cereal don’t count either.

What? You mean, you have the same military record as myself? Nothing? Does it count if you were a Scout? Nope. Paintball? No. Laser tag? That’s even wussier than paintball.

I thought patriots showed their true colors by their actions and not by symbolically standing and wearing some chickenshit pin thousands of miles away while their betters (for the most part) fight and die for a shitty war that they had a tiny roll in shaping.

Thank you for proving Samuel Johnson’s “law” on scoundrels and patriotism.

Maybe Obama should go on the road with John Prine:

“…But your flag decal won’t get you
Into Heaven any more.
They’re already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don’t like killin’
No matter what the reason’s for,
And your flag decal won’t get you
Into Heaven any more…”

This becomes an excellent opportunity for Obama to display some backbone and smack down these morons. I hope he goes with some variant of “Question my patriotism? Come say it to my face, little man”.

Jonah thinks he’s “staggeringly stupid”? I think he ‘stumbled’ (perhaps even on purpose… he had to have given it some thought) on a great opening to define patriotism away from empty gestures… at least for everyone except the 28%, who he’s never got any chance with anyway.

So wearing the American flag as a pin is patriotic. Wearing the American flag as a t shirt or bathing suit is treasonous. Obama should just say he doesn’t wear his politics on his sleeve, he lives it.

Part of my comment here from last night:

Soon-to-be-translation of Obama’s comments: “So, he was for the flag before he was against it.”

It’s true that no one has to wear a flag to be patriotic and to feel a deep patriotism, but I have to think that for a presidential candidate, it would be far easier to explain what the flag means to him or her, what it stands for and how he or she plans to restore its luster, than it is to explain something that for a lot of people will look like – and be framed as – rejection of this symbol of America.

We know that Bush and his administration do not get to define what the flag means to anyone, much less to define it for the entire country. But not wearing it for the reasons Obama stated cedes that definition to Bush, doesn’t it? The problem is that most people will not see it as a rejection of Bush, but as a rejection of the flag..

It’s a story that could have written itself it was so predictable – and Obama should not only have known it was coming, but been better prepared to answer for it. He could have said, “Fashion statement? That’s a rather demeaning way to look at this country’s flag, don’t you think? I’m doing the most patriotic thing a person can do – run for elective office to represent and lead my country – there isn’t a flag pin or even a flag big enough to adequately represent the extent of my love for this country, so I decided to let my patriotism speak for itself.”

Better, I think, for him to wear the damn pin, and use it to speak about what it means to him – rather than allowing Bush to control the meaning.

My head-shaking knows no bound.

These conservative ass-clowns are PROVING OBAMA’S POINT with this reaction. Unfortunately in the United Soundbytes of America, the media will not point that out. Instead they’ll treat it like they do everything — in simple, quick, easily digestible nuggets that offer zero nutritional value. If something fits into the pre-established narratives, the meta-memes, then it is easier to “report.” The simpler, the better, now cut to commercial. The last thing on which the media wants to waste precious time is explaining something in even slight amounts of detail. They never peel back the outer layer. Onions to them are just balls of brown shiny paper.

There are enough people out there who will see right through this because brain usage has not been completely eradicated as a great American past-time. But not thinking is quickly growing as a competing hobby. Plenty will read the headline “Obama Refuses to Wear American Flag Pin: Unpatriotic or Treasonous?” and internalize it like they do with every hollow cheese puff they ram down their gullet.

You know what. I’m being unfair. They’re not all ass-clowns; most of them are mouth-clowns, just a few are ass-clowns.

Here’s an answer simple enough to get through to any moron who thinks this is a real issue:

The ABC report also pointed out that John McCain doesn’t wear a flag pin.

Maybe he hates America too?

Why not wear an Iraqi flag? After all, our troops are fighting for the “cause of freedom” in Iraq according to Reich Wing Authoritarian bitch-boys like Joannah Goldturd.

Hillary’s campaign has been in large part about running against Bush.

More and more, it seems like Obama is intent on running against Pajamstan. I like that.

Obama seems to be trying to win my vote.

It is important to take this kind of heat for this. Obama’s message is “substance over symbolism”. They wrap themselves in the flag, we secure the ports.

The reason the right is so terrified by this is it threatens the only rhetorical weapon they have left, which is to hide behind the uniforms of the people they scorn. They honor the uniform, hate the soldier. We will look out for the guy who wears the medals.

He’s saying, I’m not your monkey. You can’t get me to jump every time you use empty rhetoric to silence criticism. Those soldiers need dragon skin vests, not pins. Yet you won’t give them the former. They need medical care to repair the damage when there is no vest or armored vehicles to protect them, but you want to play politics. We want to start making the tough decisions that have to be made about this war, and you want to prolong the damage to protect your reputations.

Body armor, not pins. Secure ports, not secured egos. We’d use our ammo on Bin Laden, not MoveOn.org. We honor those who serve the country, not your party.

Yeah, I don’t know why Anne is all upset. Memekiller is right on.

How is getting FoxNews and the conservative blogosphere all enraged a bad thing for Obama? This is the Democratic primary.

Methinks he benefits greatly from this.

I’ve been stewing about this ever since it first broke yesterday. It’s impossible for me to express how much it pisses me off that jingoist Republicans have appropriated the flag as their symbol, and feel like they can infer that anyone who doesn’t wear their pin isn’t as good a patriot as they are.

It was in my face again last night while fast-forwarding through commercials when Barbara Bush (the elder) was on my screen wearing an oversized flag pin.

I’m old enough that when I see a flag pin, I see Nixon wearing it.

I have a suggestion. Could progressives, Democrats, liberals, old hippies, anti-war types, whatever you want to call us, come up with our own design for a flag pin? Not just a plain flag, but something that sets us apart from those other clowns? I would be the first one to buy it. This would be a great fund-raiser for the Democratic Party, MoveOn, or a presidential campaign.

Said Sean Hannity: “Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!”

And to think of all the trillions of dollars the US and the Allies wasted building ships, tanks, airplanes, rifles, machine guns, nationalizing their economies towards supporting the war effort, not to mention drafting millions into the military during World War II…..

When all FDR had to do was slap on a tiny American flag to his lapel, and the Axis would have been brought to its knees.

I guess Democrats just don’t know how to run a war…..

Hey Former Dan, Jonah Goldberg is patriotic. He does a full Falluja-assault battle with his G.I. Joe toys on the floor of his office every morning. He ever has Francis Fukuyama and Paul Wolfowitz action figures to explain to them why we have to go to war before they go into battle. Yo Joe!

Toy flags for pretend patriotism. Toy soldiers for pretend war. Jonah Goldberg is ready to participate in our Democracy like the child he is.

In 1954 we put God in the Pledge to keep the commies away. I guess it stands to reason that after 9/11 we put flags on our lapels to keep the terrorists away.

I had hoped we’d gotten past this mindless nationalism. Apparently not.

In a perverse way, 9/11 did change everything, didn’t it?

There is just something about human beings and symbolism, form without substance. I have always been struck by the way the Pledge of Allegiance begins: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag . . .” Oh really?

Anyone generating those reactions from those degenerates is saying the right things.

Now if only he’d show a bit more leadership in the Senate and do some more of the right things…

Bill Maher said it all years ago. Wearing a flag pin is the LEAST one can do for their country. Obama should wear a flag pin. A big flag pin. UPSIDE DOWN!

Flag Pin (sung to Hero from Spiderman)
I am so weak, I think I’m brave
I am so weak, I think I’m brave
Whoa, but bravery…no, courage escapes me

And they say
That a Flag pin could save us
I’m so gonna lie here and wait
I’ll munch on the wings of those chickens
Just watch as we wear those flag pins.

Someone told me
Bush would all save us
But, how can that be
Look what Bush gave us

A world full of killing
And blood spilling
Our Fantasies never came

And they say
That a Flag pin could save us
I’m so gonna lie here and wait
I’ll munch on the wings of those chickens
Just watch as we wear those flag pins.

Now that our fantasy is ending
It’s chicken shit symbols I’m sending to you
Cause I’m a flag pin wearing zero
And that’s why I know it will do

And they say
That a Flag pin could save us
I’m so gonna lie here and wait
I’ll munch on the wings of those chickens
Just watch as we wear those flag pins.

And they’re laughing at us
They’re laughing at us
’cause we wear pins today.

Those people… fuck them. Seriously. They don’t deserve to live in a country founded on the principles the flag represents.

I hope Obama sticks to his guns, and I hope that the press corps toadies get around to asking other prominent Republicans if they think wearing a pin equals patriotism, and not wearing it signifies its absence.

If flag pins were so important because we are under attack, you’d think Hannity could at least wear one on the cover of the book he wrote about how the US is under attack.

Nope!

You are really something sometimes CB. You post this insane dribble from some non-thinking small minded bigots (as if it should ever even be repeated) like it is supposed to have credibility knowing it would only serve to anger your readers. We get from not wearing a pin to being owned by Soros to media aligned with the terror force to Obama Hussein??? These hate filled idiots truly are embarrassing lynch mob fanatics who lack reasoning ability and you quote them to show us that low-life scum really exist and sometimes even get on the air. Now we know that assholes can also wear pins. What…no USA cuff links. These goobers must get all their info from hate radio

I hope he wears one again in a few months.

If asked why he’s wearing it, the response cxan be “I love America.” and refuse to elaborate.

He might also say, “I love America… and it matches the tie.”

Either would be cool.

I have a faded American flag decal on my rear windshield. I’d replace it, but part of me doesn’t like to be lumped in with the worthless pretenders that see flag display as the only requirement needed to be a loyal American.

I am forced to think of the Samuel Johnson quote: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” but times appear to have changed. It has become their first line of offense.

I, despite attempts by evil men to utterly destroy its meaning, love America and will show it through my words, actions, and votes. I shall embrace the flag once more in January 2009 when these scoundrels are ignominiously relegated to the offal-encrusted dustbin of history.

***Memekiller*** right on…exactly right…How about we get some mood flag pins that change colors when you lie. Bet Hannity would never say another word about flag pins again. Most politicians would refuse to wear them…under attack or not. So much for the flag pin having anything to do with patriotism.

My husband and I have been wearing our flag pins upside down for years now.

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He needs to make it into a soundbite, not a long explanation. How about:
“Which is more important? The flag, or what it stands for?”

The over/under on how long the media fixates on this clinically stupid issue is currently at 10 days.

And I’ll take the over.

Related story: I have a neighbor who’s vehicles are adorned with “W” and other assorted right-wing stickers. He’s put up yard signs — not during election season, either — about the horrors of a woman’s right to choose and how stem cell research is murderous cloning.

He and I even got in a … “discussion” during the ’06 election due to my McCaskill (D-MO) yard sign versus his Talent (R-ecalled) sign (he was drunk).

Yet he had an actual flag on his house that he left out in the dark without proper east/west lighting, out in all kinds of weather even though it’s cotton (only polyester and nylon flags are allowed in all weather) and let it fly tattered and torn for months.

So one evening, I went over there, took it down, went to his door, and asked him to take it to the VFW or the local Boy Scouts so they could dispose of it properly. He seemed stunned that a dirty f***ing hippie like me knew and cared more about the flag than he did.

Yet I’m sure he still thinks he’s so damn patriotic he poops red, white and blue while I’m some sort of traitor.

Doughy Pantload and others on the right are the exact same — claiming their patriotism superior to everyone else’s, even though they’ve done nothing but help rip our country to shreds.

FDR didn’t wear a flag lapel pin. Eisenhower didn’t. JFK didn’t. These guys did a thousand times more to defend their country under attack than the dime-store pseudo-patriots on talk radio and Fox.

And Goldberg is writing a book about how liberals are fascists.

Now he wants to be the flag lapel-pin enforcer.

Everybody take another look at Larry Craig’s mugshot after his Minneapolis bust. Of course, he’s wearing his flag lapel pin. Now can he have his Senate committee seniority back?

Memekiller, I know I am a bit late to the party on this thread, but #17 is one of the best posts I’ve read here and there have been thousands. I hope every Democratic officeholder or seeker sees that reply and memorizes it.

Christ almight, these far right pundits have their collective heads so far up the sphincter that the jaws of life could not save them from bowels of irrational thought.

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Good for him! Wearing the pin or having the yellow ribbon on you car reminds me of the quote “Summer soldiers and sunshine patriots”. The people who do that, are doing the least they can do to look good-the very least.

By wearing a flag pin you also show that you support China and the outsourcing of the US jobs…

Wasn’t Sean Hannity just paraphrasing that old quote from Nero?
“Why do I fiddle? Because Rome is burning!”

If there is such a thing as a Francis Fukuyama action figure, I want one. If there isn’t, someone needs to get on the ball and make one.

from the mouths of republikkkan christians who don’t care about poor sick children.but they have billions of dollars a month for their war. better yet, send these kids to your war and you will solve two problems,you beef-up your surge and get rid of alot of sick kids.and instead of american flags on their lapel they can have a real flag on their coffin.

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Proof that the End Times are here: The flag lapel pin has become the Mark of the Beast. Revelations says the Mark of the Beast appears on the AntiChrist’s adherents. Without the mark, people can’t engage in commerce, such as buying food. I guess you’ve gotta have a lapel pin to run for elective office.

Gonna get me a lapel flag pin, so I can be raptured up with all the Bush-worshipping yahoos and fundamentalist Christians!

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Most here are missing the point. The point is he made a _decision_ that given the choice to wear or not wear the flag he chose not wear the flag because what the flag stood for. For those of you that fail to see the problem with that in electing the President of the United States of America — ?? Think of any college coach who made a decision _not to wear_ the team’s colors during a game and expressed his decision in those terms of refusing? Think of any CEO that given the choice decided not to put his company’s logo on his business cards?
This was not a “I don’t need to” statement – it was a I will _not_ wear it statement.
Big difference. While wearing it indeed proves little – a decision to refuse to wear it means ALOT. Anyone but Obama in 2008.

Its funny how the republicans say that Sen Obama is not a patriot because he don’t wear a flag pin, or put his hand over his heart during the national anthem, well go to a baseball game and see how many peoples put their hand on their hearts, mostly no one, its the pledge is where you put your hand over your heart, the they wore the flag pin in 1970 and it had nothing to do with being a patriot, at the impeachment trails of Nixon his supporters worn lapel flag pins, that shows you that neocons are full of it, when they try to say the lapel flag pin is about patriotism, its just another repukers lie, to tell the true I think in the constitution it is agaisnt the law to put the flag on anything beside the unifroms of soldiers and the flag itself, I thought that I read that, I have to go back and check it again.

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