Obama: American Flag Empty Substitute for Patriotism
Just remember America, Obama is running for the office of President of the United States and Commander-In-Chief of the men and women who wear the flag everyday…
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa, Oct. 4 — Senator Barack Obama said Thursday that he stopped wearing an American flag pin on his lapel years ago, saying the symbol has become an empty substitute for true patriotism. “My attitude is that I’m less concerned about what you’re wearing on your lapel than what’s in your heart,” Mr. Obama told an audience here. “You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who served.”As he campaigned through stern Iowa, Mr. Obama paused for a moment to address a political dust-up that occurred after he told a television reporter one day earlier that he stopped wearing an American flag pin shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.
In an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, he said such symbols “became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism.” He added: “I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe, what will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”
Wow… aren’t we filled with ourselves! So it’s what YOU believe that will be a testimony to your patriotism. Maybe so, and that’s true for all of us but what if other Americans don’t agree with YOU and your definition of patriotism? The symbol is NOT about YOU or politics… it’s about all those who have gone before you that have given their blood for our freedoms. More importantly it’s about the pride of simply being an American. Scoring votes with the radical left wingers clearly appears be your true, and now, not so hidden agenda.
Campaign aides, concerned that the remarks might give an impression of the senator as unpatriotic, first sought to explain them in a short statement. But questions about the comments persisted, and when Mr. Obama arrived here Thursday, he addressed the matter directly to an audience of a few hundred supporters.
“Somebody noticed I wasn’t wearing a flag lapel pin and I told folks, well you know what? I haven’t probably worn that pin in a very long time. I wore it right after 9/11,” Mr. Obama said. “But after a while, you start noticing people wearing a lapel pin, but not acting very patriotic. Not voting to provide veterans with resources that they need. Not voting to make sure that disability payments were coming out on time.” — New York Times / Oct 4th
Contrast Obama to the Vietnam War Vet who earlier this week cut down a Mexican flag flying “OVER” a U.S. Flag and was charged for his action. Obama’s words seem like a VERY weak excuse for not wearing the symbol of America on the campaign trail for, of all offices, the President of the United States! So why would he make these statements to the press and imply he consciously does NOT wear the flag on his lapel? This coming from the would be Commander-in-Chief of men in women in uniform that wear the flag every day? The answer is simple. He doesn’t want to alienate his beloved radical left wing constituency that he is now pandering to who despise any and all symbols of patriotism.
At least Hillary Clinton and John Edwards have the decency to respect the flag as a symbol of America and do not refer to it as an EMPTY substitute for patriotism. We hope they nail him in the next debate. The statement he made, in our opinion, appears to infer that those who DO wear the flag pin (in particular Republicans we suspect) use it as an “empty substitute for patriotism.” (His words.) It really is interesting how he feels compelled to distance himself from a symbol of patriotism. He knows full well that in the far left circles wearing of the flag is a turn off… It’s crystal clear he is now really comfortable making his bed with the far left in a feeble attempt to win the nomination of his party and in particular the Iowa primary. Sad strategy. Too bad he doesn’t have the courage to rise above it. Maybe he really believes he can flip flop after he gets Iowa and possibly the nomination and will then, and only then, will he move to the middle to win over moderates. Fat chance my friend…. Moderate America does not forget !!
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on Friday - Oct 5th, 2007 at 12:22 pm scotty777 wrote:
“Maybe he really believes he can flip flop after he gets Iowa and possibly the nomination and will then, and only then, will he move to the middle to win over moderates. Fat chance my friend…. Moderate America does not forget !! ”
Yep… it’s seems to be his strategy. He does tend to put his foot in his mouth. Republicans are taking notes for future campaign ads… but if you ask me, I doubt he will win the nomination.
on Sunday - Oct 7th, 2007 at 1:45 pm Russell wrote:
This is in typical right-wing fashion to blast the patriotism of anyone who does not share their point of view. Let us completely dismiss his talking points in favor of a discussion about the way he talks about the issues. I concede your point that distaste for symbols of patriotism or nationalism is rampant among those on the left, because I, too, share such a distaste. Dare I say, this post is a perfect example of WHY I find such symbolism to be mostly empty in the hands of political figures. Any statement about an opposing party’s patriotism is merely a straw-man used by those who cannot justify their positions and who wish to bolster blind nationalistic support for their policies. Most of the left realizes this. “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” -Samuel Johnson
on Sunday - Oct 7th, 2007 at 7:09 pm zzb wrote:
Russell ….
Interesting…
“This is in typical right-wing fashion to blast the patriotism of anyone who does not share their point of view. Let us completely dismiss his talking points in favor of a discussion about the way he talks about the issues. “…
First…. This site tends to be more libertarian albeit with a slant toward the right. We have taken shots in the past at the present Administration and leaders on both sides of the political spectrum - in satire and in editorial. But we do not claim to be pure ideological centrists.
There was no “blasting of patriotism”, there was however BLASTING of his integrity, because as sure as the sun comes up in the east every morning, he will DROP this leftist rhetoric and you will see him back pedaling rushing back to the middle while standing next to the stars and stripes if he should be so lucky as to win his party’s nomination. He will try to shed himself of the far left stigmata that he has now created for himself, and shed it so fast that everyone’s head will spin . Hillary, God bless her (can I say that?) socialist soul is much too intelligent to set a trap for herself the way this guys has.
Right now this far left rhetoric of his serves his political agenda. (He’s an opportunist). The thrust of the article goes to character and courage. By his statements alone (and also his lack of statements) he has shown to this writer anyway that he is deficient in both. He should have had both the courage and character to denounced the MoveOn.Org ad as over the top. ( MoveOn and George Soros are really running your party did you know that??) But heavens forbid, that denunciation would have alienated him with the far left wing voters he needs so dearly. So one must deduce he must have agreed with MoveOn. If he didn’t, why didn’t he speak out against it? In a word, fear. Fear of loosing support of the radical left. How can he even consider holding the office of Commander in Chief if he holds “that pin”, the flag, in such low regard publically? Frankly it’s a stupid thing to say even if he does believe his own convoluted logic. So — perhaps the article should have also spoken to his naivety and lack of political intellect for thinking such a leftist position is sustainable or even palatable with the vast majority of American people in a national election!
Also… No one is dismissing his talking points - it’s just you need to remember, not everyone agrees with them. Just like folks on the left don’t agree with talking points of the right. However most on the radical far left seem to believe that to disagree with any point of view that is embraced by the left is tantamount to religious sacrilege punishable by waterboarding in the Senate. Guess what. The right will NOT be silenced of it’s perspectives regardless of how hard the leftist media tries to do so. Regardless of how many initiatives George Soros funds to silence or discredit outlets like Fox or Rush, or Hannity, O’Reilly, and many others. Moderate Americans as well, perhaps the most Silent of all Majorities and most powerful of all voting blocks, also will not be silenced nor deceived by either political extreme.
Thanks for the discussion… Multiple points of view are welcomed as long as the rhetoric is civilized. In my opinion Obama is making a political mistake moving that far to the left to the point where he may come to regret it. But honestly… it will be a moot point. Hillary is out smarting him at every turn.
ZZ
on Sunday - Oct 7th, 2007 at 9:20 pm Russell wrote:
Why is this idea so “leftist“. You’re clearly trying to draw a connection where one is not. Let me map out the connections that you, and others to the right, wish for all others to make: left = unpatriotic = anti-American. Did I get that right? I do believe so.
What does the display of such a pin say about one’s feelings, beliefs, or attitudes towards one’s country? Many would argue that it says absolutely nothing. How many reprobate public servants have worn such a display of undying affection for their country, all the while disgracing its very existence? I don’t believe a formal count has ever been performed, but I’d guess a great many. Why, I’d bet my savings account that Nixon wore one the entire time he was surveilling his political foes. I’m sure Tom Delay sported one while on one of his many illegally-funded vacations, and–not to leave out a democrat–I’m sure Clinton wore one while being fellated in the oval office. So, the better question–the one the Senator was raising–is: what does such a pin say about the integrity of the wearer?
Furthermore, his statements do not even speak to his opinion of the flag itself, and nothing suggests he holds it “in such low regard publically.” That is yet another connection that you’d love a reader to infer from his position. What part of that is not meant to call into question his patriotism?
on Sunday - Oct 7th, 2007 at 11:44 pm zzb wrote:
What does the display of such a pin say about one’s feelings, beliefs, or attitudes towards one’s country? Many would argue that it says absolutely nothing.
And many would argue that it speaks volumes…
The fact that he chooses (note conciously chooses) not to wear it is very different that simply going out for a cup of coffee and not wearing it. He clearly indicated he was making a statement.
Again… HIS WORDS…. “I decided I won’t wear THAT pin on my chest. Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe, what will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”
If he is not comfortable wearing “that” pin, a symbol of America, what pin is he comfortable wearing? The pin of the donkey?? My friend you can try to defend his statement till the cows come home. I’m not buying it. Why can’t you admit that he made a bad decision in choosing his words? Why can’t you admit that he is pandering to the far left of his party when he makes statements such as that. Why can’t you admit that if a poll was taken in the military, the vast majority of our troops would have been insulted by his “embarrasement” (my words clearly that’s the impression he gives) of wearing the flag in public.
Personally, he should just wear it at his next speech and address the issue as another campaign trail gaff.
on Monday - Oct 8th, 2007 at 10:06 pm skyhawk8 wrote:
“I decided I won’t wear THAT pin on my chest. Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe, what will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”
He has put his foot in his mouth. So just what did he mean by “THAT pin”?? I agree with ZZ he will never make it in a general election. Hillary would be better served to have John Edwards as a running mate. At least neither of these two have made the mistake of distancing themselves from the American flag. Wierd comment and not very politically estute.