Barack Obama removes his U.S. flag lapel pin once more

Well, it's gone again.

Barack Obama's little American flag lapel pin, which a disabled veteran gave him Tuesday and the Democratic presidential candidate announced he would demonstrably don for the crowd of applauding Pennsylvania voters and assembled cameras, went missing for the big debate last night with Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia.

The nationally televised debate was the final encounter between the two Democrats before Tuesday's potentially decisive primary balloting in the Keystone State.

Last fall, as we recalled here Wednesday morning, Obama removed the flag lapel pin that he, like many in public and private life, had worn since after 9/11. The gesture called public attention to Obama's early and continued opposition to the continuing Iraq War.

After a national controversy erupted over the symbolic removal, Obama....

explained his reasonable view that pins on the chest matter less than what's in the heart. He had not worn the symbol since October.

And he was not alone in that act. The Republican presidential nominee-to-be, Arizona Sen. John McCain, a decorated war veteran and former POW, does not routinely wear such a pin either. Nor does Sen. Hillary Clinton, although neither of them used to and then stopped, claiming publicly there was some larger issue behind that choice.

A number of conservative commentators and bloggers suggested Wednesday that Obama's sudden willingness to wear the U.S. flag pin in working-class Pennsylvania was an attempt by his campaign to assuage another ongoing controversy. This one concerns the candidate's recent disparaging remarks at a San Francisco fundraiser about the thinking of small-town Americans who, he appeared to suggest, cling to religion and guns in bitter disappointment with their lives.

The fact is, countless voters at nearly every candidate's appearance proffer gifts to the campaigner or anyone seemingly associated with the candidate. Secret Service guards, who must keep both hands free at all times, refuse to be distracted by such gestures or accept anything and are very careful about who gets close to the candidate holding what in their hands.

Alert campaign staffers usually head off such gift encounters to avoid any embarrassment, politely accepting the pins, cards, letters, photographs, even cookies, pies and cakes, and promising to pass them on, which they sometimes do.

For Obama to accept the token himself and publicly acknowledge it was no accident. Some past campaigns have even helped to arrange such seemingly chance encounters to create positive publicity and photo opportunities, not unlike planting questions in a public forum.

And the veteran's presumably genuine gesture gave Obama the very public opportunity as part of his standard stump remarks to thank all the veterans present for their service to the country and then to put on the pin in front of them, which drew an enthusiastic ovation.

The actual wearing of the pin, however, lasted less than 24 hours. In last night's debate Obama dismissed it as "a manufactured issue."

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Matt Rourke / Associated Press

Comments

[tom jones]

Was it wrong for Obama to accept the pin from the veteran and put it on ? NO. Had he not accepted it OR not put it on, he would have been persecuted for it. Now he is being persecuted for not keeping it on for...how long??? until the end of his campaign ? Seems like a case of darned if you do, darned if you don't. Obama is not a panderer or an opportunist. He has basically said that he will wear the flag when he feels like it, not because he is expected to. His true patriotism is in his heart and his actions not on his sleeve (lapel)

[Angela]

Doesn't he get it? Over half of the country voted for Bush. Not all Americans are into nuance and long winded answers about something simple. His stance will only hurt him in the general election and I can't understand for the life of me why he is continuing down such a stupid path.

[Neo]

you Americans are a laugh. i'm going to decide who to vote for based on whether a candidate wears a flag lapel pin. so sad that you capitalists think i'm that thick. comon', you guys can do better than that.

[Neo]

you Americans are a laugh. i'm going to decide who to vote for based on whether a candidate wears a flag lapel pin. so sad that you capitalists think i'm that thick. comon', you guys can do better than that.

[Derrick Durroh]

I'm still not sure how Hillary one the debate, according to the polls. Given what questions were asked and how each candidate responded I had Obama winning. When Hillary was asked about bosnia she said, " I lied but lets get over that". When Obama was asked about being bitter he said, " it was taken out of context, I should have chosen my words better." His basic message, is that people are tired of unfulfilled promises, so they are comforted by something that makes them feel good. I think this is self explanatory. Some people when they are seeking comfort they eat, workout, play games, what ever the hobby is, it realy is a true statement. Obama was smart for not taking the bate of attacking Hillary about bosnia. This will divide the two candidates further. In conclusion, the debate was irrelevant to electability in november. ABC was doing it for the ratings. Keep controversy in air to get viewers. This is what happens when special interest is involved in politics.

[David]

Seems a little cynical coupled with an unflattering photo.

In addition to discussing Obama's motivations, perhaps we should look at your motivation in making a big deal out of this, using that photo and couching your words to imply something sinister where no evidence exists. It's innuendo. You're trying to connect dots that don't connect on their own.

And what is your goal with that? What is your motivation. Aha! You don't want Obama to be president, and if this helps question his integrity, maybe people won't vote for him.

The headline itself, "Barack Obama removes his U.S. flag lapel pin once more" is inflammatory and out of context with the rest of the story. If people read the headline, they're led to believe that Obama refuses to wear the pin and made some symbolic removal, which isn't true. Lying is not a tool in the reporter's toolbox.

This is yellow journalism to be sure, and the whole thing ought to be tossed out.

[Genna]

And right he is too.

Are you Americans not SICK to death of your own hypocrisy yet?

[Travis]

IT'S A FRIGGIN FLAG LAPEL! George Bush consistently wears one, yet I don't think we'd rush to call him a great defender of American liberties/policies. Agree or Disagree?

[James in SB]

Yep, a nation whose scribes and pundits are mired in an ongoing discussion about whether someone wears a flag pin on his or her lapel -- and why and when and for how long and what all that means and how we can parse that to evaluated a person's fitness for the office of president -- deserves exactly the kind of idiotic, symbol-kissing, mindless, inarticulate, unthinking, uncaring president we have right now. Apparently, you think this is what we want to hear about -- over and over and over. Not issues, but a pin on a lapel. A fricking lapel pin. Are you kidding?

[Christopher]

Andrew Malcom, your post was an exercise in absurdity. For example: "...like many in public and private life, had worn since after 9/11." Really? Many in private life? I live in a city of 4 million people and I've never once witnessed anyone with a flag pin on their lapel other than a television journalist or a politician. Wait, I saw a man wearing one at the airport once. Many years ago.

You are part of the problem.

[F Shoe Fitzwearit]

Obama's right. More media focus on tangential trivialities.

[jjmcgo]

Obama does really well with vacuous answers about "hope" and "change" and really poorly with responses to questions about his character, associations and allegiances.

[jjmcgo]

Obama does really well with vacuous answers about "hope" and "change" and really poorly with responses to questions about his character, associations and allegiances.

[Rey (American Canyon CA]

SHOW your patriotism people. Wear a flag pin and lets show the Chinese that they have our allegiance! What a joke!

[Chima]

Obama's mistake in this whole campaign is that he gives the American people too much credit and assumes they can see BS when it smacks them in the face. Sadly, the American people are idiots and are motivated by soundbites and not FACTS. The American people waste time obssessing over flag pins and patriotism, while flag-pin-wearing patriotic republicans have destroyed America.?

God help us all

[Seriously]

Umm, besides the misleading account of the pin removal, is this really a story? Wow, reporting really is in the game of fluff and crap. How about you list how the senators voted on certain laws and policies, and links to what people interpret that stuff as? Hell, even if you have to start off with fluff and crap due to your dumb boss, you could sneak in some intelligent stuff somewhere. Here let me help. Both Democrats vote for the environment (I think Obama is way ahead overall throughout the years though) and McCain hasn't recently helped the environment at all by some accounts (despite what he'd have you believe)... and the Democrats both were trying to vote against tax breaks for super rich oil companies.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/Barack-Obama-green-vote-47102504
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/47101/story.htm

Obama in particular seems to like the environment and wants to make some rules that will protect adults and especially babies and children:

http://presidentialprofiles2008.org/Obama/tab1.html

[D matthews]

IF NOT WEARING IT WAS SILENT PEACEFUL PROTEST AGAINST THE OIL WAR OF LIES THAT BANKRUPTED OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH THAT?

OBAMA LOVES AMERICA ENOUGH HE TOOK A LONGER ROAD WHEN AT HARVARD ,HE WAS IN A POSITON COULD HAVE HAD A VERY EASY SURE FUTURE INSTEAD.

LETS STOP THIS FLUFFY NATIONAL ENQUIRER KIND OF STUFF... AND GET TO THE .ISSUES, PLEASE!

[Regina]

Where is Hillary's flag pin.. Has she ever worn one? Noone has asked her that question...Media hypocrisy? OPPS, it may not go with her jewelry ensemble........

[ShaneBertou]

Just did a Google image search for "John McCain." No lapel pin to be found. Went to his website and *gasp* no lapel pin in his main photo OR throughout his photo gallery.

Did the same Google image search for "Hillary Clinton." Only three lapel pins in the first 10 pages of results. Went to her site and *gasp* no lapel pins to be found in any of her photos either!

Thank you L.A. Times for helping to make Mr. Obama's point for him. The media truly IS hellbent on distracting us from the issues.

[mark nickolas]

We just went through the AP wire archives and McCain has never worn a flag pin at least since he secured the GOP nomination on March 4th. Not once. We have photos for every day since. Check it out:

(Who said he did? We said he didn't, like Clinton.)

[bvila]

He didn't "remove" the pin... he wore a different jacket than the one to which he attached it...

There really are SUCH bigger issues than this that it's ridiculous... only those of you who are already decided against him (and are BITTER because you're finally realizing that the MAJORITY of Americans want Obama for President) get riled up over something so small and insignificant.

[Samer Kurdi]

This country is in serious trouble when this passes as news. You disappoint.

[Occasional Observer]

McCain and Clinton wear no flag pins, yet they get no flack for it. Why don't these people just come out and say what they'd really like to see: a big "N" on his lapel.

[Dan Casali]

"When facism comes to America, it will be draped in a flag and clutching a bible" .... Sinclair Lewis, 1937(?)

[Paul]

Ah, the power of terrorism, that can even make some Americans afraid to remove their flag lapel pins. How brave the "anti-terrorists" are, killing more Americans now than Al Qaeda did, rather than admit to a mistake.