This whole Obama/american flag lapel thing.

[thrill]

I'm going to dig up Betsy Ross. Nobody's going to out-patriotism me.

Great idea. Then you can make a lapel pin out of her sewing finger or something.

[Cronos]

I've heard absolutely nothing about this situation. And I know it's pretty obvious that I lean toward the right side of the scale(though I'm pretty moderate, really), but a flag being there or not being there on a lapel is going to have nothing to do with what I think of a person or not. That's just silly.

[loubob3]

I couldn't agree with him more. He might have just won my vote.

excuse me, but is this not just as stupid as NOT voting for him based on this issue ?

[ghostrunner]

Okay - one reporter noted this originally, as far as I know. Then Obama seems to overexplain it in my mind. I don't quite get why he wore it in the first place, and having done so, why he would stop because of how others perceive it

As for the story, I imagine this is how it gets overblown:

- reporter takes notice and asks a question
- Obama gives overly long explanation. You really don't need one.
- A few of the more zealous conservatives who care about such things talk or write about it
- Media Matters or other liberal websites make it seem as if all republicans dwell on silly minutiae like this, and are on the verge of codifying patriotic flair into law
-conservative blogs respond and blow it up further
-Drudge takes notice, networks take notice. Voila, controversy.

[GatewaySnayke]

You guys haven't had enough until you've heard Lewis Black rant on it. Wow.

[clevername]

I couldn't agree with him more. He might have just won my vote.

excuse me, but is this not just as stupid as NOT voting for him based on this issue ?

I'm not saying I'd vote for him just because he's not wearing the pin. I'm saying I'd vote for him because he actually thinks for himself and isn't playing part of the political game. The not wearing the pin is just an example.

[planet planet]

George Washington wore two.

This whole story smacks of the Office Space flair storyline.

[Popeye_Card]

George Washington wore two.

This whole story smacks of the Office Space flair storyline.

It would be awesome if someone showed up at a debate wearing 36 pieces of flair.

--P--

[Socnorb11]

I couldn't agree with him more. He might have just won my vote.

excuse me, but is this not just as stupid as NOT voting for him based on this issue ?

I'm not saying I'd vote for him just because he's not wearing the pin. I'm saying I'd vote for him because he actually thinks for himself and isn't playing part of the political game. The not wearing the pin is just an example.

It sounds like he's actually trying to make a statement by NOT wearing the pin. How is that different than making a statement by wearing the pin?

I'm not sure why a person can't wear the pin, speak of patriotism, and act like a patriot. Just because you wear a patriotic pin doesn't mean that you can't act on your patriotism, as well.

[clevername]

no one's saying those who wear patriotic pins aren't patriotic.

What's being said is that there is a large portion of those who wear patriotic pins who are just doing it for show. There's no actual thought put into it. There are also those who may be wearing the pin who might have their own interests at heart instead of the interests of the country.

Making a statement by going against that grain, taking flak for it and still not wearing the stupid pin, is admirable, in my opinion.