So Sen. Barack Obama has pulled a Bill Moyers -- shunning U.S. flag lapel pins over political disagreements with the Bush administration -- and Time's Joe Klein applauds the move. After all, the Bush White House, according to Klein is an "administration that endorsed the troglyditic religious views of Christian fundamentalist mullahs," among other nasty un-liberal things.
Klein huffs to his conclusion about the "Phony Issue of the Day":
I adore this country and abhor those, especially those lucky enough to live here, who don't. But to the extent that wearing an American flag lapel pin could be misconstrued as support for the most disgraceful administration in my lifetime, perhaps in American history, I can certainly understand why Barack Obama had reservations about it.
Well, to be fair, Obama is following the lead of American journalistic enterprises and personalities that quickly tired of the show of patriotism post-9/11.
Here's Bill Moyers from Feb. 28, 2003, weeks before the first shot was fired in the Iraq War:
Bill Moyers sported flag lapel pin on Friday night's Now on PBS, not to proclaim his patriotism and/or pride in the U.S., but to "take" the flag "back" which has been "hijacked and turned into a logo -- the trademark of a monopoly on patriotism." Citing how President Bush and Vice President Cheney wear flag lapel pins, Moyers was reminded of communism: "When I see flags sprouting on official lapels, I think of the time in China when I saw Mao's little Red Book on every official's desk, omnipresent and unread."
While Moyers' decision was voluntary, other news agencies made the choice for journalists. Post-9/11, ABC banned anchors and reporters from wearing U.S. flag lapel pins, something that some patriotic liberal journalists like Cokie Roberts circumvented creatively:
Cokie Roberts gets around the ABC News ban on flag pins by wearing an eagle, she pointed out to David Letterman on Wednesday's Late Show on CBS. She also joked about how a terrorist may have targeted the "American Media" building because "the guy thought he had hit the jackpot. Everybody's right there, the whole American media."
Asked by Letterman about ABC's ban on flag pins being based on the argument doing so would inhibit objectivity, she defended the policy, but showed how she gets around it: "Since there is a debate about it ABC has decided that we shouldn't be wearing flags, so I wear an eagle."
Indeed, she was wearing and eagle-shaped ornament on her lapel. She suggested that for journalists, "the patriotic thing to do is ask questions."
Referring to the Anthrax cases at the building in Florida which houses the company which publishes The Star and National Enquirer, American Media, Roberts joked: "When I saw the first case, I was just watching it on TV and saw the building and the building has this big sign on it that says, ‘American Media.' So I thought, well of course. The guy thought he had hit the jackpot. Everybody's right there, the whole American media."
I'll let that joke stand on its own.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Baracks last ditch effort...
October 5, 2007 - 10:57 ET by Six String SpiffHey Barack, sit down, STFU, and put your country back on your suit, you piece of crap. That flag represents alot more than what you whiney, un-patriotic pacifists have twisted it into. People faught bloody hard for you to wear that pin. You should be ashamed of yourself.
The American Revolution Continued
Six String Spiff, Amen!
October 5, 2007 - 13:10 ET by Richard RomanoSix String Spiff,
Amen!
flag pin
October 5, 2007 - 11:07 ET by AgnosticI think Obama can be proud of this statement about the American Flag. Afterall it is just a symbol of the country and couldn't possibly mean more than just "phony" (a favorite word in the media lately) patriotism. Just taking that pin off must make Obama feel lighter as he is removing 200+ years of people fighting, dying, debating, rationalizing, compromising and agreeing just so he has the right to disregard the symbol of their struggles and triumphs. Maybe the weight of patriotism was too much.
Never would I question his desire for patriotism but I do question this clearly symbolic gesture. He wants to build a better tomorrow in America but is willing to discard a symbol of its history because he disagrees with the type of patriotism he believes it has come to represent.
I don't wear a flag pin and
October 5, 2007 - 11:13 ET by buddycI don't wear a flag pin and I don't say "God" when I recite the pledge of alliegence. I have no problem with those that do.
I am patriotic, I love this country and I am religious.
What is pathetic about Obama is he wore the pin for political resons and he removed it for political reasons. By removing the pin he is caving into the liberal types who think it is disgusting to wear an american flag pin because they really do dislike (I won't use hate) this country.
Why doesn't he quit using the american flag at his campaign events, web site and all his adds???? He has tooo small of a mind to lead this country. His only constitutiency is the far left.
"But to the extent that
October 5, 2007 - 11:13 ET by sublight68"But to the extent that wearing an American flag lapel pin could be misconstrued as support for the most disgraceful administration in my lifetime, perhaps in American history, I can certainly understand why Barack Obama had reservations about it."
Worse yet, what if someone misconstrued it as signalling a freedom-loving, patriotic American?
Why don't they all just pin a white flag on their lapels and be done with it?
Can you just imagine the
October 5, 2007 - 11:36 ET by EvilRoyCan you just imagine the fury of his Hollywood base if he had NOT worn one of those Red Ribbon signaling his solidarity with the AIDS struggle a few years back?? Why they would have lync....err...well, they would have been pretty mad I call tell ya.
What's Hussein gonna wear at the Olympics ?
October 5, 2007 - 11:19 ET by JayTeeOsamabama, you Idiot...you're running for President of USA, and we just happen to have a symbol of the Country...one is flying in front of the White house, There's about 30 or so around the Washington Monument, you used to wear one....
Make a Guess..What is it ?
You're too dumb to be President.....I thought you might give Hillary a run...but now I think you're too dumb to be Vice President.
You're listening to the lunatic Fringe....and their votes...and that's about all the votes you willl get..you must be running for the Millions of leftover Campaign $$$'s that you get to keep after you retire.
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
The Village Idiot
October 5, 2007 - 11:27 ET by Sergeant ROCKHillary's Village now has it's idiot.
Indoctrinate-U
Our Education. Their Politics.
(Sorry Leon)
Hillary's Village now has
October 5, 2007 - 12:31 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsHillary's Village now has it's idiot.
And not a savant in sight.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Flag of Oppression
October 5, 2007 - 11:20 ET by Sergeant ROCKIt was just suggested to me that maybe this stunt was to appease his Nation of Islam base?
That flag represents those that are murdering our Muslim brothers in Iraq and elsewhere.
Indoctrinate-U
Our Education. Their Politics.
Bambi
October 5, 2007 - 11:25 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsActually, I have it from pretty solid anonymous sources within the Obama campaign that Obama doesn't wear the flag on his lapel because he is un-American.
Or was that anti-American?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Lost my vote
October 5, 2007 - 11:30 ET by philhoeyIt does not make any difference if you hate the President or not. Wearing the flag indicates you care about your country. By taking the flag off kind of makes you wonder what he does care about. It is abvious to me that what he wrote in his book, which I read, means nothing. Good ol' liberal situation ethics.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
"...the Bush whitehouse,
October 5, 2007 - 11:30 ET by MikeB"...the Bush whitehouse, according to Klein is an 'administration that endorsed the troglyditic [sic] religious views of Christian fundamentalist mullahs'..." Yes, I've noticed how Bush has endorsed the views expressed by the Phelps clan. And, how can we forget the bill Bush introduced to Congress to amend the first amendment to the Constitution to where only Christians have freedom of religion and outlawing Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and all the rest?
And wearing a flag lapel pin could be construed as support of the "most disgraceful administration of my lifetime..." Wow! I am amazed! Mr. Klein is only six years old (almost seven). If I remember recent history, the administration before this one had a President that was only the second in the history of this country to be impeached, the only administration where the President was disbarred from practicing law because he committed perjury during his term of office in a lawsuit filed against him. And, the administration before Bush's was the administration with the record number of personel indicted and convicted of felonies.
Either Mr. Klein is very young, or he is advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and can't remember a d*** thing. What an a**.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
link to a list of indictments and convictions
October 5, 2007 - 11:39 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsAnd, the administration before Bush's was the administration with the
record number of personel indicted and convicted of felonies.
Does anyone have a link to a list of indictments and convictions for each administration? I am pretty sure I once saw one and would like to keep a link handy.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Dftt, this should get you
October 5, 2007 - 11:55 ET by MikeBDftt, this should get you started.
If you need more, just search Clinton administration felony convictions.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Thanks, that's a start
October 5, 2007 - 12:29 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsThanks, that's a start.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Obama is a phony
October 5, 2007 - 11:36 ET by Pasco ConservativeB. Hussein Obama: Refusal To Wearing American Flag Lapel Pin Is Patriotic?
Obama exudes abominable stupidity. Much like the other Democrat Party candidates.
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any
man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
-Unknown
I, for one, have no problem with Obama's decision.
October 5, 2007 - 12:01 ET by c5thenIn fact I applaud it! Why? Because while he was wearing it, he appeared to people as if he was a patriot and cared about the country in whole, not just getting elected to a particular office. Without it he is much less hypocritical and does not portray the false image of patriotism that wearing a flag pin can.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
Obama and the Dreaded American Flag
October 5, 2007 - 15:07 ET by Emma GrumpObama suffers from a common malady today, namely "Bush Derangement Syndrome", causing otherwise normal folks to lose all sense of reason and pride of country, even to the point that the flag so many have died defending now singularly represents what they view as bad in the current administration. CNN, MSNBC, and all the rest of the MSM seem bent on relentless attacks against President Bush, using any tactics they deem acceptable, and the American people are noticing, you can be sure of that. Why do you think Fox's viewership is growing at such a phenomenal rate, while the aforementioned networks are losing viewers by the droves?
I bet one of his Moh Bros
October 5, 2007 - 12:41 ET by RackieI bet one of his Moh Bros told him to take it off.
Definition of True Patriotism
October 5, 2007 - 12:47 ET by Vivian LeeYou can check out his voting record and see what Obama's real definition of true patriotism is.
http://conservativebelle.blogspot.com/2007/10/obama-his-version-of-true-patriotism.html
ConservativeBelle
The flag does not represent
October 5, 2007 - 14:29 ET by QueenMumThe flag does not represent any particular person, including the President. The flag is a symbol of our country. It's the primary focus of our National Anthem. To consider honoring the flag as somehow "optional" for an American is beyond the pale. Every civilized country in the world has a flag that is representative of that country and its people. Obama has clearly demonstrated that he doesn't understand what constitutes patriotism. It has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing with any particular policy. It's all about believing in the principles upon which our country was founded and respecting the symbols which represent those principles. And we don't need Sen. Obama to "establish" or "define" what is or is not a matter of patriotism. In fact, he's just about one of the last people I'd consult on the matter. IMO, Sen. Obama has virtually spit on the American flag in an attempt to demonstrate his contempt for the current Administration and its policies. Klein et al are just plain ignorant.
Power to the people!
Queen: Concur with your
October 5, 2007 - 17:56 ET by BDQueen:
Concur with your position.
When I was growing up in grade school in 1972 when had a assembly every month in which we gathered by grades and sang patriotic songs in the gym while a 6th grader raised the flag.
In 1974 they discontinued that practice as the Teachers union felt it was not "Worldly enough" or some such tripe and the old teachers were retiring and being replaced by the Boomers.
Today we are still suffering through these boomer idiots, though they are starting to be replaced...
On my ACU uniform I have a US flag velcroed above one shoulder ostensibly to show that we are now an army at war. I was actually approached once by some "Citizen" who asked why.
"But to the extent that
October 5, 2007 - 15:31 ET by fitzfong"But to the extent that wearing an American flag lapel pin could be misconstrued as support for the most disgraceful administration in my lifetime"
Based on this quote, Joe Klein is either a six-year-old or a liar. Otherwise, he would have ranked the Carter and Clinton administrations as far more disgraceful than the George W. Bush Administration. Of course if he was a six-year-old, the current administration would be the most and least disgraceful administration in his lifetime. He may write like a six-year-old, but the Primary Colors' Mr. Anonymous already has a documented history of being a liar...so I'll go with that choice in this case, too.
How to be an American
October 5, 2007 - 23:26 ET by clarkfkHow to be an American Patriot (taken from the American Liberal Encycolpedia, Second Edition):
1. Get rid of all American insignia
2. Insult any Republican government or government official
3. Side with the extremists who want to destroy our country
4. Act like you're "for the people," when you're really for the power
5. Establish justice for the left-wingers against the right-wingers
6. Ensure domestic unrest
7. Provide for the common "de-fence" (as in illegal immigration)
8. Promote 15th-generation welfare
9. Secure the blessings of liberty to those who are not conservative
10. Dis-establish the constitution and all rights guaranteed to anyone who is not a liberal
11. Smile for the camera, while you're back-stabbing the same people who voted for you
12..... and on and on and on