Breaking News: Obama caves! Flag pin returns to his coat lapel

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OMG, will you look at that? Amazing what a protracted primary struggle amid bitter small towns will do to previously stated political positions.

The flag pin is back on the lapel of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. No, really. Look closely at his left lapel in this photo from MSNBC on Tuesday.

You may recall Obama removed the lapel flag pin last fall as something of a gesture of independence if you're an Obama fan -- or an act of defiant antiwar non-patriotism if you're not.

At the time Obama removed the pin, which most politicians had worn on their suit coats since 9/12 as a sign of patriotism, solidarity with 9/11 victims and their families and national support for American troops.

However, when a sharp-eyed local ABC-TV reporter in Iowa asked him, half-jokingly, about it in October, Obama went on to explain seriously at some length:

"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.

"Instead," Obama added rather grandiosely, "I'm going to try to tell....

the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."

Of course, removal of the little symbol could also be framed as a statement of principle that usefully underlined his oft-stated and long-standing opposition to the Iraq war unlike, say, some other Democratic senators who wanted to be president and voted to authorize use of force in Iraq.

The little flag's big disappearance aroused considerable controversy at the time. It was tied in with the fraudulent photo of Obama not placing his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, thus publicly displaying a lack of patriotism.

"It just shows you he's not ready for prime time," said Laura Ingraham, the conservative commentator.

Once the flames of controversy really got roaring, Obama reasonably explained, "I'm less concerned with what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. And you show your patriotism by being true to your values and ideals. And that's what we have to lead with, our values and ideals." But it was too late by then.

OK, he weathered that one and has done just fine on the delegate-collection side of things ever since, wearing naked lapels. Although the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermon about the chickens coming home to roost on American shores on 9/11 re-created some awkward moments for Obama.

But, whoa, there he was Tuesday on national television at a Keystone State town hall meeting trying, with some success, according to recent polls, to play catch-up to Sen. Hillary Clinton in the next key Democratic primary state of Pennsylvania, which votes April 22.

And there, like a screaming eagle proclaiming Obama's patriotism for all the bitter, disgruntled voters of small-town America to see just days after he seemed to dis them to an elite crowd of donors at an allegedly closed fund-raiser in a San Francisco mansion, waving stiffly on the senator's left lapel was the old red-white-and-blue flag pin. Watch and see if it's still there in tonight's debate.

According to a touching-possibly-true-but-then-again-you-never-know-in-big-time-politics report circulating on several blogs during the night, the pin was reportedly given to Obama Tuesday morning by a disabled veteran whose name nobody seems to know right now.

So naturally not wanting to hurt the vet's feelings, how could the 46-year-old Obama do anything other than immediately put the pin back on his public lapel for as long as necessary?

If we were cynical and had over the years seen even the most seemingly idealistic politicians sway with the winds in the face of political pressure just before a crucial election, we'd write something about how convenient that no one caught the vet's name.

But then, probably by lunchtime today someone will find a disabled Pennsylvania veteran who claims he's the one who proudly gave the little pin to the candidate. And Obama can then wear the minute flag until he himself turns 88 without having to explain an embarrassing but awfully convenient political flip-flop in the face of running against a Republican war veteran who spent nearly six years in a POW cell. And who, by the way, won his party's presidential nomination rather handily without any lapel pin.

(UPDATE: Thanks to loyal Ticket reader Ariane for steering us to video of Obama acknowledging the disabled vet. And it didn't even take until lunchtime.)

So we'll leave out all that cynical part.

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                                                                                                 Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[Larr]

Arienne-interesting your grandfather already knew all the nuances of Iraq/Afghan/AlQueda the day after the war started.

Pledge of Allegience/National Anthem....what's the diff...tradition is hand over heart for both..either way he was dis'ing his country.

Larr - USN Retired

[buvk]

the pin has 37 stars = 37 states.

[wanakee]

Media have sunk to an all time low. Reporting rumors, gossip and now Obama wearing a flag pin? Give me a break! He's the next president! It's time to wear that pin! I'm buying a flag tomorrow!

[Pauli]

So your grandfather should put the flag back up since we're fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq now.

[Lori]

Too late about the cynical part buddy.

I wholeheartedly agree with Obama about the ridiculous flag pin. It's a cheap pin made in china, but God forbid you dare not wear it. It means about as much for patriotism as the "support the troops" bumper stickers mean to the troops that Republicans actually refuse to support when it comes to health care, rotation and pay.

Republicans are all about symbols, but you can't count on them to actually DO anything. And when was the last time you saw Grandpa McCain sporting a lapel pin?

[jcscuba@gmail.com]

What are you trying to pull LA Times? Revisionist History?

Your comment is an outright lie!
It was tied in with the fraudulent photo of Obama not placing his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, thus publicly displaying a lack of patriotism.

I saw the video footage, he didn't place his hand on his heart. Check your sourcing. Jeeeeeeze

[ricardo maxwell]

O'bama is an afro-centric Marxist that harbors resentment for his white roots. He will ruin this country in a very short period of time should he be elected POTUS. It make sno difference how he tries to disguise what he really is.Flag pin or no flag pin, he is still an America hating white resenting anti capitalist.

[SUMRZZ]

As it was so eloquiently said, "this is indeed political silly season" Only in America can you have dork journalism.

[Squonkamatic]

He probably found that pin in a box of Cracker Jacks and decided it looked cool, since he obviously has no interest in what the symbol stands for. The whole democrat ticket is just as phony, hollow, callous and aloof. Simply strapping that badge on won't fool or win anybody over, it just gives his own people something to be self righteous about since they don't have anything of value to offer. They will be losing big time.

[Tom O]

Ohhh fret! An article critical of the Messiah! What ever will we do?!?!?

[aron rhetoric]

Glad to see it on his suit. For any reason. As an elder punk rocker, I understand Obama not wanting to ride band wagons.
Gore stood behind a dozen U.S. flags in 2000; the NAFTA pimp didn't make me think he cared about America one iota.

[Independent in CA]

So he was for wearing a flag pin before he was against it and now he is for it again. Wow, that is more than a flip flop, it is a flip flop filp. He outdid Kerry!

[Daniel H]

It can be truly said that politics can turn even intelligent folks imbecile. Imagine then what it can do to the likes of Malcolm.

Or read the above, either will do. If I could only melt it down I could use it to fix my roof...

[Brian]

why the hell is Obama held to a diffferent standard than McCain?

Here is a picture of McCain taken April 8th where he is not wearing a lapel flag:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080416/ids_photos_ts/r3436050508.jpg

where is the outrage?? This issue is so phony.

[Darryl]

As all the Obama faithful rush to attack the article, they are missing the clear point of the article. Back when Obama's crafted image of being principled, and above the fray went unchallenged, he made this "principled" stand against wearing the lapel pin, and all the Obama faithful said amen.

Now, that the veneer has fallen, and he's made several gaffs exposing himself as elitist, Machiavellian, and willing to tolerate racism for personal opportunity goals, he's now exposed as just another politician, willing to do anything, even go against his own words to win votes.

[Groucho]

Obama sporting a flag lapel pin?

Does that mean he's joined a bowling league?

Hillary will drink to that!

[Cindy from DC]

The flag lapel pin was given to him as a gift at an event from a Disabled Veteran. Imagine the media storm if he refused it and just put in his pocket No matter what he does the right wing msm will find fault. Gimme a break--come up with a real issue

[confused]

Yah, he is wearing a pin again I see that but he is wearing the wrong one. According to him, his policies, and ideals of which he is really commited too as I have compered to another country and found similarites. The Hammer and Sickle should be his flag. Nothing like a good salute ah commrad!!!
TRAITOR! I'd rather die than vote for this Marxist. I only vote for patriots and people that follow our system of Government.

[RacerX]

Wow, so now we're judging someone's dedication and Patriotism based on whether they put on their lapel pin? Egads.. "Mind-numbing journalism" for sure.

If there was any truth in advertising with the politicians they'd be wearing Mexican flag pins.

Now watch, it's going to turn into something wrong--like the "flair" they had in Office Space. "Oh look, McCain has more flair on than HIllarity today".

So much of our popular journalism sucks anymore. Brain-dead electorate.

[BBowers]

That was without a doubt one of the most idiotic blog posts I've ever seen. And very disrespectful of the veteran who gave Obama the pin.

I have always defended journalists, but this past week has blown that out of the water for me. The whole "bittergate" controversy is the biggest non-story of the year, being pushed only by the Clinton campaign, right-wing Obama-haters and (surprise surprise) the lazy, sloppy media. The media apparently got bored and were happy to jump on any juicy tidbit, and this was the one for this week (I'm sure they're all bummed that there's no good video).

But what the media has failed to realize is when the media starts telling small town people how they are supposed to react to someone, they show themselves to be far more condescending and clueless than Obama was with his comments. And the polls since this manufactured "flap" haven't changed, and numerous articles have shown that people in small towns couldn't care less about this crapola.

What I'm waiting for is the media expose on how the media is rapidly becoming irrelevant. This article is a perfect example of the inane and pathetic excuse for political analysis that rules the day in editorial circles. What do the candidates think about the price of food? Or fuel? What are the candidates planning on doing about Osama bin Laden, who is still at large? What are we up against in Afghanistan and Pakistan and what can we do about it? How can we get a handle on the falling dollar and the mortgage crisis?

We get none of that -- we get BS stories (poorly researched ones at that!) about the freaking flag pin.

How do you people sleep?

[John O'Connor]

Are you serious? OMG? This is actual election reporting in 2008? LOL!!!

[echo]

Unclench. It's a pin. Get over it.

Have you nothing of substance to say?

[JOE]

This socialist pig won't even cover his heart at the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. He's only wearing it because he couldn't disrespect a VET by not wearing it, or it would have shown his true color.

[Charles]

If your cynic comments are correct why is Obama not wearing the pin after that?

[Susan I]

TOOOOOO coincidental for me. I'm sure he'll bring it up in the debate tonight as well. How many flag pins do you think he has been given since last year, and he decides NOW to put it on, acknowedging the man, in front of the cameras, right before the PA primary?????

He makes me ill. Mr. Condescending