The Washington Times sure is an old-school scandalmongering mood today! They've reached back in time to revive some old nonsense about President Barack Obama and flags and lapel pins and GAH MY GOD WHY.
What's the whole news peg, here? According to reporter Jennifer Harper, Obama has been appearing on stages! And on those stages: FLAGS. Here's what she thinks about all of this:
"They're on the dais in star-spangled glory. They're at the town-hall meeting and the news conference, in bold folds of red, white and blue. The White House has rediscovered - or possibly reinvented - the patriotic cachet of Old Glory as a perfect frame for the new president."
Yes. Welcome to America, Miss Jennifer Harper, newly arrived denizen of whatever desperate moon of Saturn you have crash-landed from on this merry day! Why, I'd have you know that the appearance of these sorts of flag displays are neither a new discovery or a reinvention, but a time-honored tradition of American politics. Don't believe me? Well, just take a look at this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this.
Harper continues: "That's the same president who once would not wear an American flag pin. Things have changed." Uhm, yeah. Obama's gone from a presidential candidate who occasionally wears flag lapel pins to a president who occasionally wears flag lapel pins. Big change, there, Jennifer.
Harper also gets celebrated nimrod Michael Savage to spit some inanities - truly an accomplishment for the ages:
"Neo-Marxists recognize the power of Old Glory as they steadfastly pursue their agenda," said talk-radio host Michael Savage. "As Castro taught them, 'hasta la victoria siempre,' always towards victory. As the street agitators themselves know, 'by all means necessary.' To them, our flag is just a rag."
There really wasn't anything else to write about today? Apparently not. This tripe got picked up by Politico, BECAUSE THEY MUST WIN THE AFTERNOON OR BE CAST INTO THE PIT OF MINOTAURS, and by The Note, which is apparently still being written!
Anyway, for kicks, here's Rachel Sklar's thorough taxonomy of flag lapel pin-wearers, for edification. Oh say, can you see? It's not that popular a display of patriotism! And there's no new news here! No new smears either! Kind of utterly pathetic, really!