Obama Wears Flag Lapel Pin For Second Day In A Row

Chicago Tribune:

So what is that on Barack Obama's lapel as he speaks at a town meeting in conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh's hometown, Cape Girardeau, Mo.?

Why, it's a flag pin!

For the second day in a row, Obama has pinned the Stars and Stripes to his suit lapel. He also wore a flag pin yesterday at an appearance in Charleston, W.Va., in which he spoke about patriotism and veterans issues.

Obama does not typically wear a flag pin on his lapel, in contrast to many politicians who now campaign wearing the symbol. But Obama did wear flag lapel pin briefly last month in Pennsylvania, after he was given one by a disabled veteran.

Critics have targeted his habit of dressing without a flag pin to raise questions about his patriotism.

Read the whole story: Chicago Tribune

Comments

[egal]

Pin, no pin, why should it matter?

Once you've watched Active Duty soldiers, Injured Veterans, and soldiers coming home on leave be derided (and in one case, have half-eaten food thrown at them) because they don't wear a flag lapel pin and their service is scorned as insufficient because a flag lapel pin is the true mark of patriotism­...

Well, let's just say it's hard not to loathe every idiot who snidely puts too much meaning into a symbol reminiscent of McCarthyism.

But after seeing that, it's sadly easy to imagine some of the American people demeaning our nation and what it should stand for by being so narrow-minded and petulant that they would assume a person who loves this country enough to run for president should have his or her patriotism judged not by the service given to the United States, but by what is worn on their suits.

Flashy patriotism is just pride; real patriotsim is action.

[CyclingLeft]

It doesn't matter. It just demonstrates that he is a politician.

[NewRiver]

And a well-traveled one at that! Imagine, traveling to 57 states during the campaign..­.now that's racking up the frequent flyer miles!!!

[marco34la]

Real patriotism is ACTION... and that's the problem... Obama's has taken no action.
RUNNING for president doesn't make you a patriot... if he maybe served at least 1 term as a US Senator and did SOMETHING in the Senate... it would show that he not only loved his country, but SINCERE about wanting to bring change when he ran as a senator. He's just serving his ego not the public by jumping from job to job... with ZIP for experience or patriotism.

[TheNuff]

"Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress. Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005. Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate."

[gigi09]

Did you say the Clintons have served at least one term and that makes them real patriots? ha ha ha! This is a new day with new ideas...it is obvious that he is intellegent and he is a gentleman.­..and he is well qualified to do the job he is applying for.

[ResidentChimp]

Wright was proven right once again. Obama says and does things, not because he believes in them, but for political reasons. Obama believes patriotism is another emotion that bitter small town people believe in. He's too sophisticated for those small minded things.

[JiminNC]

Go play some golf for the troops chimpymcflightsuit.

[inthecolour]

He looks so impish in that photo. Adorable.

Anyway, he's already answered this a zillion times. Sometimes he wears the flag pin, some times he doesn't. The one he wears on and off lately is the one given to him by that veteran. It's not any old flag pin, it has a sentimental meaning behind it. He also wears the black bracelet on his right wrist which belonged to a young soldier who was killed in Iraq. The soldiers mother gave it to Obama to keep his memory alive. THAT Is patriotism. Not just throwing on some random sh*t to pander for votes.

[econdr]

lol. yeah, don't you just want to pinch his cheeks?

[marco34la]

THAT'S PANDERING! HE CARES AS MUCH ABOUT THAT SOLDIER AS HE DID ABOUT
SERVING THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HIM AS A US SENATOR. CLEARLY, HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN SERVING THEM... ONLY HIS EGO.

LIKE HIS OWN PASTOR SAYS: "OBAMA WILL SAY OR DO ANYTHING TO WIN"

[TheNuff]

Your bitter is showing.

"Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress. Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005. Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate."

That is very impressive but you DON'T CARE what the truth is.

[JiminNC]

Bitter ... party of one.

[Trinidad707]

Oh yeah pandering to the working class...ki­ssing up

[bigbingtheory]

Any smart politician would.

[KBAR]

Now that the primary season is winding down, he's looking past the Kook left to the center for the GE.

[marco34la]

yeah but Oblah blah... is not supposed to be a "politicia­n"..

[hbw3]

The person who gave Senator Obama the pin is a Vietnam-era disabled veteran named Philip Fiumara, Jr. I believe Senator Obama wears this when he talks to veterans as a mark of respect. He was in Washington, PA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYwp3b66yhk

Everyone seems to have made up their minds one way or another about this so this post is rather meaningless but,

*** Quick poll - who has one? ***

[egal]

Minds? Apparently not too many. Pins? No, I prefer to serve my country by serving my country, not stoke my ego by showing off how much I support my buffoon of a president by wearing a stupid pin.

It's too bad more people don't recognize the long-overd­ue-from-ou­r-governme­nt respect Obama consistently shows for our soldiers and our Veterans while the current administration is too busy playing the "support our troops by agreeing with me" card and branding dissenters as terrorists to do anything that is actually productive on behalf of the troops.

[nellie]

"But Obama did wear flag lapel pin briefly last month in Pennsylvania, after he was given one by a disabled veteran."

Wow.

[kipmartin]

which is more than John McCain or Hillary did last month. You can't find many pictures of McCain wearing a pin. He rarely, if ever, does.

[egal]

Of course, the key isn't the pin but that Obama honored this Veteran's service to our nation so much that he proudly wore what was given him because, while the pin itself may be meaningless, the gesture was as worthy of respect as any Veteran or soldier ought to be.

On top of many larger actions, this just adds another reason to believe that Obama will address the needs of the troops to the furthest extent his position and our nation's needs allow, whatever role he's in; and that is both necessary and admirable.

[ann1]

Sen Obama should just put a big (washable) flag tatoo across his forehead. That should keep em quiet.

[bigbingtheory]

Of course, that would be pandering.
;^}

[Bluejay00234]

OMG with all the trouble in America and the hundred of thousands who have lost their lives recently, this is what's important? A flag pin daiily tracker? Geezus

[disgustedbyitall]

did abc buy huffpo? cause it sounds like stephanopolous and gibson are deciding what articles to post...

[doonie]

When handed a flag pin from a veteran, it is honorable to attach to one's lapel and wear it...it means something.­...unlike strapping one on "just for the sake of it". If a veteran gave me one, I'd wear it too rather than purchase one "made in china".

[bigbingtheory]

Well f'ing said Doonie.

[moda31]

are we seriously going to be tracking flag pins from here on out?

[doonie]

your right...it is ridiculous.

[Sandmann]

Yep, If you have nothing substantial to use, go for distractions and innuendo.

[nellie]

Gotta give him a little credit, though. He waited until it didn't have any effect on the primary to wear it.

[Gma11]

Pin or no pin, that is one handsome dude!!

How great it's going to be to see a president with a smile like Obama's instead of Bush's smirk!!

[dagnew]

He is quite handsome, isn't he, and quite presidential, pin or no pin.

[inthecolour]

I agree. He's got a brilliant smile. And he's just gorgeous in general.

[Sandmann]

Here's a simple question for everyone..­..Do you personally wear a flag pin?

99% of "We the People" don't...

So does than mean:

1 - We all hate America

2 - It's a non-issue

Verdict?

[pupbayer]

It means 99.9999999­9999999999­9999999999­9999999999­9999999999­9999999999­9999% of us are not running for President.

[Sandmann]

So that's a defining factor for you in a presidential candidate.­..jewelry.­..shiny objects.

Answer the question: Do you personally wear a flag pin? Yes or No

[cls105]

tuning out... obama 08

[atienne]

The only flag I have is from a soldier that gave it to me when visiting a radio station where I worked. He was being deployed to Iraq. Not long after, that soldier was killed as he threw himself over a grenade to save his friends. He was 19 years old, that's all. Obama wore the pin a vet gave him because that meant something. But who really cares? Am I anti-American because that's the only flag or American 'symbol' I have? Hillary could have worn one with all of her suits (hiding her sausage legs-big distraction) but she chose not to. Why is HER patriotism not being questioned?

BTW, Methinks the voters of W.Va. have lost it! Check out the map on MSNBC and see all the votes 'other' got! Now why vote for someone who isn't even running? I am trying to stay above the fray but man, it's hard!

[harriscrl3]

Huckabee won and Romney came in second McCain got like single digits clearly this is not a state thats informed about changes in events LOL.

Carol

[Sandmann]

I noticed that tidbit of info too, they didn't get the memo.

The ultra-religious candidates won the day for the Repubs.

I personally can't wait for the day religion takes a back seat to facts.