Questioning Obama, Neither ABC Moderators Nor Clinton Wore Flag Pin Either

Underlining the inanity of last night's Democratic debate, at the same time that Senator Barack Obama's patriotism was being questioned because of his decision not to wear an American flag pin on his lapel, neither of the two debate moderators were -- you guessed it -- wearing a flag pin of their own.

Indeed, as one reader of the Huffington Post pointed out, neither the well-dressed Charlie Gibson nor his sidekick George Stephanopoulos donned an American flag last night. In fact, Obama's opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, didn't have one either.

See the pictures here.

That, of course, didn't stop the ABC honchos from raising the issue strictly with Obama. Segueing off of a voter video and "conversations" that had come up "again and again," Gibson scolded Obama:

"It's something of a theme that Senators Clinton and McCain's advisers agree could give you a major vulnerability if you're the candidate in November. How do you convince Democrats that this would not be a vulnerability?"

Obama responded by restating, as he's done in the past, that he reveres the American flag as well as the country.

"What I've tried to do is to show my patriotism by how I treat veterans when I'm working in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee," he said, "by making sure that I'm speaking forcefully about how we need to bring this war in Iraq to a close, because I think it is not serving our national security well and it's not serving our military families and our troops well..."

Sensing that the moderators weren't swayed (this was, after all, the same group that had just asked Obama if his controversial former pastor "loves America as much as you do?"), the Senator went on.

"And let me just make one last point on this issue of the flag pin," he said. "As you've noted, I wore one yesterday when a veteran handed it to me, who himself was disabled and works on behalf of disabled veterans. I have never said that I don't wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins. This is the kind of manufactured issue that our politics has become obsessed with and, once again, distracts us from what should be my job."

There were no follow up questions as to whether Clinton didn't show the requisite amount of patriotism. Nor, for that matter, did Gibson and Stephanopoulos turn and accuse each other of sedition.

Comments

[Whycee54]

HUMMMM, ABC is owned by DISNEY and DISNEY has big investments in Petroleum companies...makes you go HUMMM??
DISTRACTIONS to control what you think. When are we going to wake up.

[StephenS]

Millions watching the debate had never heard of Obama's decision not to wear American flag pins, so the question about pins came out of left field, so to speak, and sounded ridiculous. And they wondered why Gibson remarked "Just to add to that, I noticed you put one on yesterday."

I thought that "controversy" came and went last fall. Now, after a quick search, I found an LA Times blog from Tuesday announce "Breaking News: Obama caves! Flag pin returns to his coat lapel". Sheesh.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamaflagpinlap.html

Also, for those carefully following flag pins, Obama's answer included the sentence "I have never said that I don't wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins." Unfortunately, last October Obama said "I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest." Sigh.

From Oct 4, 2007:

"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," he said in the interview. "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 testament to my patriotism."
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S2K3UO0&show_article=1

[jwsub28]

A bigger question regarding the campaign is what is going on with the Clinton's presidential library ?

Check this link out

http://www.judicialwatch.org

Why are we not questioning that, I totally blame the media. They care about freaking flag pins?? The money that has been given to the Clinton Foundation needs to be addressed NOW.

[jwsub28]

Yes , I did notice that and since it was such an important issue for them , why not wear a flag pin Charlie and George and let us not forget Hillary ? She never wears one, but Obama gets asked this question over and over again.

He didn't hold his hand on his heart during the National Anthem people, I don't do that either. He does however, put his hand on his chest for the Pledge of Allegiance.

ABC thinks that they can manipulate the election. The right wing gave George his questions, and he asked them! These two idiots should be looking for jobs today. I just called ABC to see if all their employees are wearing Flag pins, the guy said NO! I am SHOCKED ABC!! How dare you not wear a FLAG PIN. That is the most important issue in this debate, I simply can not watch ABC knowing that you don't wear FLAG PINS. Jerks!!!

[Repub4Obama]

Hillary doesn't get criticized for not EVER wearing a flag lapel pin because most of her pants-suits don't have lapels. And Red/White/Blue would clash with those gawdawful yellow suits she wears that make her look like a pissed-off bumblebee.

Ever see a bumblebee with a flag lapel pin? I didn't think so.

[Whycee54]

I have not laughed so hard in a long time. But its true. Who ever picks her clothes out needs a class in Style and Fashion 101. She does look like a fat butt bumble bee. WITHOUT a pin.

[northeast73]

NEITHER moderater EVER made a controverisal comment about not wearing the pin.....OBAMA HAS.

He creates HIS OWN PROBLEMS with his mouth, and y'all just defend defend deny deny spin spin.

[BobHanssen]

Hey wait--Larry Craig was wearing a flag pin when he was arrested at the airport. Google his mugshot and LOL--a true patriot!

[JadedAggie]

That's nothing! You should try going through campaign photos and debate footage for the length of the campaign. None of the three remaining candidates are seen wearing a lapel pin often. It seems that McCain is likely protected by his veteran status and Hillary is not challenged without a legitimate plausible explanation.

[jean22]

I'm glad you're pointing that out. It's silly and juvenile to discuss wearing a "flagpin" at ALL but to decide to make it a point during a major presidential debate is insulting to many intelligent viewers. The ABC network and their puny small minded tool George S and goofy sidekick Gibson clearly have an incredibly low regard for the intelligence of their viewers. In their zeal to bring down Obama they have turned off many many more viewers than I think they truly realize. I made a point to donate to the campaign AGAIN after viewing that insanity.

[Thatcher]

Obama puts distractions "on notice" on The Colbert Report. All the clips and analysis of The Colbert Report show from tonight at http://thedeadguy.com/2008/colbert-bumps-clinton-edwards-and-obama

[kenjisan]

Move On dot Org has a petition going against ABC

http://pol.moveon.org/enoughdistractions/?rc=homepage

pass it on.

[Safire]

Seen this? I cannot wait for this to blow up!

See part 2 as well....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw

This woman is scary. Caveat emptor!

Obama 08

[AndrewInToronto]

I guess Gibson and Stephanopolous will never be president then...nor Hillary.

[Grannysue]

Oh my now I guess were going to have to have another debate with these two morons about why they didn't wear their flag pins? I'm shocked I tell you Billary wasn't wearing her's either and to think she took all those bullets over Bosnia!

[lincat]

This dumbass line of questioning is Bush patriotism.

[Tinkeraw]

Hillary didn't wear a pin, no one questioned her patriotism. But, boy, did she have some diamond earrings on ... no elitism there.