Friday, October 12, 2007

lapel pin flap

bill rappleye

hey rappers…is obama less patriotic because he doesn’t wear a flg pin on his lapel?  the survey had three quaerters of you saying no…rap on!

Peace is not good
for the Arms trade
but conflict is!

American Lives are lost
but Haliburton Wins!
the flag pin helps to figure out
who to vote for.
Zuke

judge the politicians by their records and by proving that they are in office to SERVE THEIR PEOPLE and THEIR COUNTRY before serving themselves,
Claire T

SHOULDN’T THE AMERICAN PUBLIC - AND THE MIDIA AT LARGE - CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH WHERE A CANDIDATE STANDS ON THE REAL ISSUES THAT EFFECT OUR LIVES.  FRANKLY CHARLOTTE, I DON’T CARE WHAT PIN HE CHOOSES TO WEAR OR NOT WEAR!
Bill

Obama’s mistake was calling attention to it. If he had any sense he’s just go about without making any mention of it. But, by saying something, he’s given fodder for other pols to talk about.  Aren’t there more important things than wearing a pin?  Unfortunately, this is another sad example of today’s politics.
Bill, Cranston

I think the press is making too much of this!  Patriotism is measured by action, not whether or not you display a flag on your clothes.
Wake up America! There are real issues out there to be discussed; such as health care, social security monies that go overseas, and ending this senseless war in Iraq.
Mary G, Westerly

What matters most in a candidate is leadership.  Almost all the candidates out there now know nothing of leading the way.
They all ride the crest of public opinion and speak out of both sides of their mouths.  Courage and a sense of right and wrong are missing as well as common sense.
Even worse yet are the voters who fall for this stuff.  They usually elect or re-elect people with more personal problems than them.
Ed W, Norton, MA

If I were a candidate for President I would darn sure wear a flag pin in my lapel. In my opinion, not to do so shows a great lack of sensitivity for every man or woman in uniform,  every veteran (myself included) or families of veterans, and every American who takes great pride in the USA and the FLAG so many fought and died for.  I think “sensitivity” to the thoughts and feelings of his possible constituents should be an attribute he demonstrates instead of smugly considering the flag pin as “a substitute for true patriotism.“  I think it’s especially important for a presidential candidate who never served in the military!
As for any other political candidate running for office, I think wearing or not wearing a flag pin should be a non-issue.
Steve, Bristol

With all that’s going on in this country and the world, it’s a sad state for the “hot” political debate be about lapel pins. I don’t really care what the candidate is wearing. I care about what he or she is saying!
Nancy

Flag lapel pins should only be worn if they are accompanied by an elephant or jackass pin to denote the stupidity of the candidate. Why would we mandate the wearing of a lapel pin by political candidates? Do we require businessmen to wear a flag pin when they are conducting business in a foreign country to denote they are American? Pretty stupid..
Walter, Smithfield

I believe that the debates have sunk to new lows.  They seemed to have strayed from the issues and when they do they have no concrete answers as how to fix the problems.  I still can’t understand how one party says they have all the right solutions and the other all wrong.
Ken B, Gulfport, Florida

I refer you to the June 14, 1943 Supreme Court decision written by Associate Justice Robert L. Jackson. Jackson wrote that compelled forms of patriotism were “analogous to the Nazi salute”. This decision was written about the Pledge of Allegiance. NO ONE has the right to tell anyone else what is or is not a proper expression of patriotism. Any attempt to do so falls under the category of what Jefferson called “tyranny of the mind”.
                        Bill G.

I applaud Obama’s decision to forego wearing a flag pin.  Our country’s ills , which reside in the White House, won’t be cured by any amount of pins.  I am sure you’ll get a lot of negative feedback—mostly from flagwaving pseudo patriots who drive around in bloated SUVs plastered with flags and “Support our Troops” ribbons.  Like Obama, I’ve been asked why I don’t wear a flag pin.  As an overseas Army veteran of WW2, I don’t want any yahoo telling me what I should or should not wear, especially something as insignificant as a flag pin which was, most likely, made in China.
Tony D, Coventry, RI

It makes no difference if they wear a flag pin or not, politicians in America like around the world do what they do best. Line their pockets any way they can.
Silas

What’s Obamas deal? He has to come out and say he doesn’t want to wear a Flag pin. Why what is he trying to prove?
The men and women of the armed forces wear a flag on there uniforms because they represent the UNITED STAES.  Politicians also represent this country and they should WANT….WANT to wear an AMERICAN FLAG PIN.
Maybe we should just call him OSAMA.
ANAKIN

I’m having trouble understanding why some people are so worked up over haberdashery. I think Mr Obama is correct; some people want to substitute a hollow gesture (pin wearing) for active, positive patriotism. To say that only people who wear flag pins are true Americans leaves out all the women that often do not wear them because they do not go well with their blouse.
I wonder how many of those pins have ‘Made in China’ stamped in the back.

Bill, Portsmouth

I think this is not a big deal. The act of wearing a pin does not make one patriotic.
Lee L,  Woonsocket