What's My Logo: Madeleine Albright Talks Signature Brooches And Barack Obama's Missing Lapel Pin (VIDEO)

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is one of the nation's foremost diplomats, but she has also become famous for her signature brooches. The woman who famously said, "If someone wants to know what kind of mood I'm in, read my pins!" sits down with GMA Now to discuss politics, brooches and what to make of Senator Obama's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin (in a nutshell: "Nothing"). Have a look:

Find out what advice Secretary Albright has for the next President.

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"What's My Logo?," a weekly Q&A on ABC's GMA Now and the Huffington Post's Living section, addresses the professional importance of personal style with prominent businesspeople, leaders and personalities.

Comments

[jewelbug]

Dr. Albright made her point with pins, Senator Obama makes his with sincere intentions. Brooches and pins serve as a meaningful statement only when the wearer wishes it. The donning of a flag pin for personal gain or votes is an empty gesture. There's a brand new book on the subject entitled, Brooches: Timeless Adornment by Lori Ettlinger Gross. The author talks about pins as signals that express personal sentiment, style, and taste. The images are incredibly beautiful.

[the964kid]

It's ridiculous for any so-called Democrats to be buying into this whole flag pin foolishness. This is a GOP stunt. Real patriotism is shown by actions, not by a pin. Like for example: voting against the Iraq War would have been a form of patriotic action. If you think wearing a flag pin is some sort of major statement then you're probably full of shit. Just like how so many people show up in church every sunday but then sin monday morning thru saturday night. Thats the same mentality. Symbols are fine, but it's foolish to let them define you, and to pretend wearing them is somehow a form of action.

Albright is just another Hillary Clinton-style Dem dinosaur (and I mean this because of her old-world thinking). When I see stories like this from old-hacks like Albright it just makes me realize WE NEED CHANGE DESPERATELY. We cannot afford to go one more day with these fools running things...

Obama 08.

[AdultFilmLegend]

"one of the nation's foremost diplomats"

What did Ms. Halfbright ever accomplish?

[whatsmyname]

PRECISELY: And, surely we all remember that "that memo" she carried for no-lips to read and delivered "it" to Saddam, that as much as said, '....yea, whatever. Go ahead and do your business in Kuwait.....' Oh, yes, shortly after that "that memo" was never heard of again, remember? I do remember because my publisher, being a loyal "R" that she was/is saw to it that the brooms were called out and the mops were all rinsed after "that" one. Thanks AdultFilm Legend......Saaaa-lute!

[mozartt]

I'm not an American, but I thought that wearing the American flag pin was not a sign of loyalty to one's country, but a show of support for the Vietnam War? I'm wondering if I am correct.
I don't believe Senator Obama "refused" to wear the pin, I believe he just doesn't wear one - there is a difference.

[sg096]

don't you all realize the American flag pin is made in CHINA!

[josephjsalas]

Is there such a thing as a lapel pin signifying Constitutionalism? We all know it's "not"
the little american flag so many guys flaunt.

[shrugged]

Very nice brooches. Maybe Obama or McCain could set a trend and start wearing big brooches?

[MinerSam]

Cute Idea!

[northcan]

Truthfully, I think if Americans had kept out of the middle east and supported all countries, not just Isreal, there would not have been a 9/11. We owe nothing to this country Isreal. Why are we doing this if not for oil. Think about it. Now they have questions about Obama, and trust Clinton? Absurd.

[MinerSam]

Seems to me that you may be fully and thoroughly brainwashed.

Bin Laden never liked or supported the Palestinians, because until the recent rise of Hamas they were secular. And only used it as a wedge issue later.

Anyone who believes that this administration has done anything but deeply harm Israel further ..aong with Lebanaon and so much more in the Middle East, is deeply and sadly uninformed.

But what else is new in a country whose information pipelines are deeply poisoned on every side.

[northcan]

Americans and their patriotic lapel pins, then they put 'under God we trust' on coins etc.. Would be nice to have president's believing in their heart to protect fellow Americans, instead of pins on lapels. Instead, kill each other at home or abroad.

Means nothing when your pesidents, present and past, the one's ripping off taxpayers Selling out your country for foreign policy issues. Getting millions, kickbacks, donations. Is this patriotic? Madeline Albright, Wellesley radical, needs not worry about America's patriotism. Young men and women die protecting Isreal, panders and benefits them in foreign policy and sacrificing young American lives.

People realize, President's have to 'charm the ass of this particular block of voter's, pander, stay in the middle east killing each other. I simply don't have an answer other than Power. My mother's country protected the citizens, not the flag pin. Not certain voting blocks. Not pandering for votes, but realizing when you have your nose in everyone's face, someone is going to punch back. Whether it's Timothy McVey or the Middle East. And look at the lineup to do it all over again with a third Clinton term.

So much lately about the Jewish population not wanting to vote for Obama, nervous about his middle name. Well, all I can say is Fascism is wanting to return to the WH. Hopefully, this couple of power hungry baby boomers will fade away as with Madeline Albright.

[JLee]

Nice, Madeleine! I liked how she came out so promptly with "nothing." Leave a non-issue in the dustbin of non-issues. End of story.

[magnitude]

So let me get this right. You place your your hand on your heart and pledge allegiance while you send our brave troops to fight for oil? How very patriotic! Your patriotism should be in the good things you do for this great nation, not just stupid "salutes". By the way saluting is for "comrades" , dear.

[gigi09]

This is Sooooooo petty! I have not seen a Flag lapel pin on Bill, Sillary or McCain. Why do you people try so hard to cast a shadow on Obama...the pettiness is so unbeleivable and so ignorant. Now if you had something on him like receiving OXXL SXX in the Oval Office then you would that you have a story...(Oh! I forgot!) that was NOT SEX! Give me a break...Obama 08!

[troykendal]

Madeleine is great.

[larmarch5]

Sec. Albright, what a treat. By the way, if a politician has you waving a flag with one hand while your other hand is on the Bible, it's just so he can more easily pick your pocket. Smarten up folks.

[SonofLiberty1]

It's NOT the flag pin..it is however the fact that he consistently CAN'T salute the flag!
Now he has never said why he can't others do place their right hand over their hearts when
the National Anthem is played or the Pledge is recited.

The above means a heck of a lot more that not wearing a flag pin.

[northcan]

Nonsense. Looking for an excuse. I think it means what the Bible says, since he is a true christian unlike so many others who have their own ideas, and that is no man shall put any idol before God. This includes the WH, symbol, other 'gods' such as WH.

This is a non-issue America. It is arrogant of you to suggest or judge him, while living in a glass house. I hope, white, working class America is smart enough to realize what 'white american leaders and such' start searching their own idiosychronic belief's.

Do not listen to the Clinton ka ka and vote smart. In the 90's they started the decline of National Security, 'trusting' your congress and leader', being above the law in every single corrupt thing they did. Even their campaign fraud trial was put off until after the Nov. nomination. Ridiculous, that a drug addict and his enabler can swoon all the lawmakers is unbelievable.

[Rose52]

"consistently CAN'T salute the flag!" Where do you get this stuff. You do know that he frequently leads the Pledge of Allegiance in the Senate right?

[Pema]

Salute? When in the heck did we ever have to 'salute" the flag? Where do you think we live comrade?

[vippy]

That is so hypocritical. We are forced to display our allegiance by following certain motions.
I refuse to do that. I don't have to do it just for show. It is in my heart as it should be.

[Osprey3]

You should try getting your fact straights before making absurd accusations. Try factcheck.org instead of using unvetted videos on U_Tube! It's voters like you that gave us the totally inept and corrupt Administration we've had to endure for the last 7 years. Wake up and start focusing on the issues that really matter: the inane Iraq war, a downward-spiraling economy, misguided energy policies, failed educational and health care systems, etc.!

[BlueOnBlue]

I know this probably won't matter to you, but you've bought into a lie.

The famous shot of Obama supposedly not putting his hand over his heart was not during the Pledge of Allegiance, but during the playing of the National Anthem. His posture was correct for that event. The others shown in the same photo incorrectly put their hands over their hearts during the Anthem. That is not appropriate in such a setting.

By the way: have you ever been to a baseball game?

And have you ever Samuel Johnson's famous saying that "False patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels?"

[EngineerBill]

Since when has Senator Obama refused or had been unable to salute the flag? If you have any proof that he hasn't put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, please provide it. I have never put my hand over my heart while singing the national anthem, have you? It is not required of the national anthem.

[AdobePhsyko]

I always thought that if Bob Dole had replaced the pen in his frozen hand with a flag , He would have been elected President

[Wanjiru]

...ROFLMMFAO...

...stop please!...

.

[gnorrfa]

pat paulsen the late comic who was a regular on the smothers brothers show in the 60's satirized this ridiculous obsession with patriotism by wearing an american flag stuck in his pocket. this was 40 YEARS AGO. anybody hear?

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Continual expressions of patriotism are akin to continual public expressions of faith. They always strike me as self-aggrandizing. Actions speak much louder than lapel pins or pontificating.

[mikekev58]

But ya know...those self-aggrandizing politicians with the flag lapel pins have a pretty good track record when it come to winning elections.

Your comment is very evocative of "bittergate".

The Republicans are going to have a field day.

[larmarch5]

In these days of political correctness, bigots can't just say they won't vote for a black man or a woman, so they have to find other little "justifications." A bigot by any other name is still a stinko.

[hannitizer]

NFW!

[StephenCardinale]

...and writing about her brooches is important because? Gawd, what a waste of time. Please tell us you have something more substantial to write about in future blogs! Thank you.

[mystic]

In 1996, she made highly controversial remarks in an interview with Lesley Stahl on CBS's 60 Minutes. When asked by Stahl anout the effect of sanctions against Iraq: "We have heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?" Albright said: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price " we think the price is worth it"

She is supposed to have been a diplomat, and that is the most heartless undiplomatic cruel outrageous statements she has ever made and she lost all my respect for it. She retracted it when criticised, but the damage was done. Her pro-Israeli stance and outrageous lack of concern for the Palestinians and the barbaric way they are treated in the genocidal acts by Israel is also a legacy this stupid woman has left.

[mikekev58]

Genocidal acts by Israel?

I'm no Zionist and I agree that the occupation is illegal, immoral and just plain stupid.

But genocide?

The reality of genocide is far too unique to have the term used wily-nilly.

Brutal, yes. Genocidal, no.

[conservativeoriginalist]

When the hell did a shallow exhibition be a prerequisite for being patriotic? When did actions stop being the defining factor and made-in-China-by-child-slave-labor dollar store pins become the criterion for patriotism?

I refuse to wear lapel pins, or partake in most other inane "patriotic" gestures, and I've served this country more in the past decade than most will do in their entire lifetimes. I don't like most of Obama's policies, but I will defend him against all the idiots that say he hates America because he doesn't wear a fingernail-sized piece of painted brass.

What a shallow and materialistic country we live in. I've taken to calling the drooling masses "the dumbocracy".

[bennofs]

"the dumbocracy" ... A wonderful term. May I use it?

[mikekev58]

Sure use it...and ignore the history of how the Republicans have successfully exploited Democrats' disdain for things that middle America holds dear.

The dumbocracy...now that's unifying!

[ObserverinVancouver]

I just post my comment when I noticed the blurb for Google ads below. LOL. Talk about cognitive dissonance.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Everyone should check out Sen. Obama's web site for his position on caring for veterans (barackobama/com/issues/veterans). Anyone who can read that and still have questions about his patriotism is willfully blind. Also, think about that great patriot, hero of his country, John McCain and his opposition to the new GI bill that provides veterans with substantial help for education expenses. I don't know how he can live with himself, except that $l00+ million, provides a lot of coccooning.