No Flag Pin For McCain

These topics are trivial in the long run. And Democrats would be hard pressed to make an issue out of this when they've been bemoaning the use of it against Barack Obama. But the McCain campaign made a small but significant tactical mistake tonight when they sent their candidate out to speak without adorning a flag pin.

The "he-doesn't-wear-a-flag-pin" charge works only in the context of a larger attack on that candidate's patriotism. And in this election, McCain will almost assuredly never be charged of not exhibiting a requisite amount of love for country (did someone say "country first"?). But those critics of Obama who have highlighted the absence of a pin on his lapel now have little to zero ammunition on this front.

Comments

[kristianidol]

He wasn't born in America, you know.

[CaptainVideo]

Does he qualify as being a natural born American when he was not born in the U.S.A.?

[JeffFinance]

GOP spin:

"Of course he's wearing a flag pin. But its attached to his heart!!! Country first!!!!!"

[eeVas]

Stephen Colbert had just stopped his running joke about the green screen - and look what McCain does.

[filo]

My first thought was: They are writing Colbert's show for him. Later it was switched to blue to make the parodies even easier.

[necer65]

OMG...He is not Patriotic. How dare he!! What comes around goes around...remember that McCain.

[Fenianheart]

Why does he hate America?

[filo]

I figured somebody beat me to that line.

[Marlyn]

Good. Let's forget about flag pins and talk about something important instead, like the number of jobs lost, or the number of suicides in the military.

[savannahdem]

Agreed - the whole idea of "having" to wear a flag pin is stupid, anyway. Although I remember Nixon wearing one when I was a teenager, the vast majority of Americans (and politicians) weren't wearing them before 9/11. I have always felt that wearing one is some kind of patriotism test, and since I served as an Army officer, I have deliberately NOT worn one - I feel that even if others don't know of my service, my service is enough of a statement of my patriotism that I don't need to wear one.

Now, as this campaign has dragged on, I've taken to wearing something that all my "patriotic" friends who wear flags don't have, are not entitled to have, and will never have - my miniature metallic Army Commendation Medal ribbon. I feel that it speaks more than any version of our flag ever would.

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

or letting the country and military be run by a man who collaborated with the enemy in the past.....another first is possible our first trait or president.....

[ICanHasDemocracy]

No mention of Afghanistan vets, and no mention of Alaska's NG problem.

The more we learn, the less we like. though I'm sure the grocery aisle crowd will still hold on to their pitbull leashes. the sad thing about pitbulls-it's not the dogs themselves but the owners that are the problem.

[djreedps]

McCain didn't wear a flag pin when he was introducing Palin as his VP running mate a week ago, either.

This article said in so many words that the flag pin is used to attack one's patriotism and since McCain is a veteran his patriotism will not be questioned.

So Democrats like Obama live by the rules Republicans set for them. Republicans, on the other hand, live by no rules. Democrats cannot attack McCain by saying he is unpatriotic because he is a war veteran. Yet Republicans aggressively attacked John Kerry in 2004 by saying he is unpatriotic even though he is a war veteran.

Democrats play by the rules and lose. Republicans play by no rules and win.

Are the Democrats ever going to learn?

[kadene]

The mainstream media should also realize that the Reps are providing them with a lot of distractions, so the real issues will be sidetracked. The Reps are cleverly manipulating the electorate through the media. The flagpin omission was deliberate. Watch out for other distractions and do not be hoodwinked.

[Swerinjer]

HERE'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD:

Will you express appreciation and admiration to John for him eschewing the pin, or will you legitimize the traitor-baiting tactic of the right by attacking John's patriotism?

[balthus]

Neither. I will call Stephanopolous on the pundit hotline, make him aware of this anti-American faux pas, and encourage that reporter to pursue the matter as ardently as he did when Obama went pin-less!

[Swerinjer]

Wow. No pin. I'm actually pretty impressed. And the green background too. Those aren't little things. Gotta give it up for John on that one. Speech sucked though.

[liberaldawg]

Colber(t) is gonna eat him alive

[Eurozone]

5th gift from Mcain in a row since vp choice... thank you !
I 'm beginning to wonder if he doesn't do the latest moves on purpose...
Mc Cain is chicken...he really don't want to lead this country....
He wants to go back to the Senat and retire...
That's probably his latest moves in advantaging the democrats...

[DogTown]

SORRY MCCAIN, YOU ARE NOT A REAL PATRIOT WITHOUT A FLAG.

[ehartsoe]

UH-OH He's un American

[skyreader7]

When you serve 5 years as a POW, you do not stop, you do not pass "Go," you ascend straight to the presidency. That's what McCain was trying to get across to you thick headed liberals.

[balthus]

In which case, since there are hundreds of Americans veterans who were POW, we can expect a very crowded White House.