Now, Senator, About Your Jewelry …

Bob Schieffer Wonders, Why So Much Emphasis On Flag Lapel Pins As A Sign Of Patriotism?

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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I watched the ABC debate the other night when the question came up, again, about why Senator Obama doesn't wear a flag pin in his lapel.

Since no one asked me, here's my thought on all that.

I think it is a nice thing if people want to wear a flag on their lapel.

But I believe it more important to keep the flag behind our lapel — in our hearts.

I feel the same way about wearing my religion on my sleeve; it fits better for me on the inside.

When I go to see our local baseball team, I do wear my Washington Nationals baseball cap. But am I less a fan if I don't wear it to work?

The truth is I have been known to wear a red, white and blue, stars and stripes tie on the Fourth of July. Am I less patriotic when I trade it for my Santa Claus tie at Christmas?

Patriotism is no more about signs or pins than religion is about reminding others how pious we think we are.

No, the proof in these puddings is not the signs we wear but how we act.

Wouldn't that also be a better way to judge our presidential candidates than by the jewelry they wear?

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[blackspirit3]

FLIP FLOP HILLARY????
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed actions that would warrant a nuclear response that would %u201Ctotally obliterate%u201D Iran. The New York Senator told ABC''s %u201CGood Morning America%u201D Tuesday and MSNBC''s %u201CCountdown With Keith Olbermann%u201D Monday that, if president, she would be willing to use nuclear weapons against Iran if they orchestrated a nuclear attack on Israel.

Clinton, who has tried to cast her rival as too inexperienced for the job of commander in chief, said of Obama''s stance on Pakistan: "I don''t believe that any president should make any blanket statements with respect to the use or non-use of nuclear weapons."

[blackspirit3]

Hillary is betting on white racism to win. Is that a win? Hoping that White America will reject a candidate on racial terms. We all know had Obama ever lied about being shot at by a gang on the streets of Chicago he would be thrown out of the race. Hillary is allowed to remain in the race while the media create stories to beat Obama with, to say a man who just finish paying off his student loans is an elitist is retarded at best.

Obama went to college and received a Law Degree because he didn%u2019t know enough to help the churches and people of his community with just having a 4 year Degree. How is that elitist, who goes to college to become a lawyer to help poor communities? Not Hillary, she went to Walmart. Not Bill he went to Canada and rallied against the Viatnam war.

[concorde5]

Obama will tear McCain to shreds. If you look at the tournout on the democrat side, the republicans can''t win. The numbers don''t work in the republican''s favor this time. The country is simply fed up with republican failures.

This is just like when Clinton won in 92. They laughed at Clinton when he announced he was running for pres. They said he was a no name who had no chance at winning. He lacked the experience needed to be president. He was too young.

And low and behold he became our president. The country was fed up with republican failures.

We are now at the same point. The country is wanting something new and different from republicans. The writing is on the wall. Jump on board or get left behind.

[xlib]

My goodness but this story has been running for a long, long time.

[iamthequeen-]

All the Republicans had to say was that the Democrats weren''t supporting the troops and they capitulated on the war funding. Even Obama. He had the opportunity to prove his mettle against the Republicans and he FAILED. Actions speak louder than "change" words. And patriotism STILL defines politics until the Democrats find another way to beat the Republicans. Think about that while you''re sipping on your liberal latte.

[concorde5]

Iamthequeen.......Hillary and McCain are simply more of the same. The country can''t risk four years of Hillary or McCain.

We must elect Obama! He is the only one of the remaining candidates who has even a remote chance of bringing about the real change we desperately need as a country in crisis.

[iamthequeen-]

You''re right concorde about Gore. And see what happened to Leiberman? That''s the fear with Obama. He''ll turn on the Democrats by pandering to the Republicans in the name of "uniting". The Republicans will NEVER play nice. Just look at the all the NOTHING that Pelosi and gang got accomplished this past year with the MAJORITY. You Obamacan''ts are blind to reality if you think he will be any different.

[concorde5]

PA needs to put a nail in Clinton''s coffin and end this mess. It''s time for us to unite behind Obama and give the republicans the whooping they deserve.

[concorde5]

I think a lot of the Blue Collar workers in PA are choosing Clinton for one of two reasons.

1) They are really fond of Bill Clinton, as am I. He was a great president who really helped a lot of Blue Collar workers. Voters think if they get Hillary in office it''s the same as having Bill back.

Secondly a lot of Blue Collar workers secretly harbor Racist views toward non-whites. They won''t admit it but they will never vote for a Black person, mexican, or asian for president. I think that is in part why Gore lost. He chose Leiberman, a Jew, as his running mate. Racists won''t vote a jew in office either.

[lvdragonlady-2009]

This is the kind of dumb sh*t that got the shrub in the WH, stupid, unimportant BS.
All of you that think that just because someone wears a flippin flag pin makes them more patriotic. BULL.
It is what one believes not what one wears that matters.
get the f**k over it

[iamthequeen-]

So, are you saying we patriots should be more like Obama''s mentor and adviser, Rev Wright? Shouting God D** America and swearing allegiance to Africa? No thanks, I''ll be celebrating on July 4th about all that is GOOD with this country. You liberals can honor whatever African holidays you want since you have that RIGHT here in America.

[iamthequeen-]

No, you Obamacan''ts, some of us are truly patriots and do wear our patriotism on our sleeves, literally. Why do YOU have a problem with that? I can''t help it that Bush and company destroyed this country but there are DEMOCRATS that are PATRIOTIC. And thanks for calling us names in the name of patriotism. It shows your true liberal-leaning self.

[grumpas]

As far as I can see the ones who make prominent displays of patriotism are the least patriotic among us. That''s why they have to go overboard with the displays. To hoodwink some perspective voter with their false devotion. It''s the same with religion. Those who wrap themselves in it and have to say prayers to cover up their fascism are disgusting individual''s. They are putting on a show that comes off as insincere.

[nonayabiness]

Am I missing something? I don''t think I see an American flag pin on Charles Gibson''s lapel. And personally, whenever I buy anything American flag related, I make daggone sure it never says ''made in China'' it MUST say, ''Made in the USA.''

[wilmer425]

This particular democratic nomination process is too bitter. I wouldn''t consider voting democrat at this point unless it was Obama and Clinton. without both of em, the dems will be split and McCain will win. and McCain? He''s about as liberal as either of the dems, he just likes the war in Iraq.

[cyberus-2009]

Boy oh boy this is SERIOUS!

Has anyone checked to see if he has a ribbon sticker on his vehicle?!?

Lack of a ribbon sticker means you don''t support the troops and if you don''t have a sticker and support the troops your are a TERRORIST!!!

(sarcasm intended)

[Syndicate]

Flag pin? The real measure of ones patriotism is the flag tattoo.

First it is carved into your flesh.
Second it hurts like hell.
Third you will bleed for it.
Fourth no one sees it.

Its under your suit. Maybe Obama has a Flag tattoo but I doubt it. He''s a wuss.

[happyfeelin]

Every Sunday morning, I usually Tivo Meet The Press (love Tim Russett-potato head) and This Week with George Stephanopolis. However, this weekend, I happened to tune into Face The Nation with Bob Schieffer. When I heard Bob Schieffer comment about the flag pin and how ridiculous this is, and how he articulated how trite we''ve become over this matter, I was so impressed, I''ve removed George Stephanopolis from my Tivo, since he should have recused himself as the debate host knowing full well that it was a conflict of interest relationship between himself and the Clintons (which now everyone seems to know but most of us believed before the debate and figured Diane Sawyer should have done it with Charlie Gibson and not George Stephanopolis. I am very proud to say that I now record Face The Nation and Meet The Press and consider it one of my morning news musts! For those critics of Obama''s non-wearing of the flag-pin, just remember: Bush wears a flag pin, and so does *** Cheney; Donald Rumsfeld wore one also. But, I wonder if they will after being charged with war crimes or will Bush move to Paraguay before this happens....(http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/51221.php)

[justsane-2009]

wlmrtpatriot---yes, it is still america, and last time i checked, we still had freedom of attire...for me, i''d rather have a president who wears a peace button on his or her lapel than a cheesey made in china flag...

[wlmrtpatriot]

What''s the trouble with O not wearing a lapel pin? What IS the trouble with Obama NOT wearing a lapel pin
He is a presidential candidate and last time I checked
this is still America.