Oct
14
Posted on 10-14-2007 at 02:58pm
“American Flag Pins are for Idiots”
Filed Under (Elections & Candidates, Fashion & Style, Government & Politics) by Rachel Walden on 10-14-2007

I’m not a huge fan of Bill Maher, but found myself nodding and chuckling in agreement while reading his recent essay for Salon.com, “American flag pins are for idiots.” The gist of the story, in response to hand-wringing over Barack Obama’s lack of a flag pin on his lapel, is that the focus on such trivialities is stupid. You don’t expect subtlety from Bill Maher.

Maher writes:

New Rule: Show me a man wearing an American flag pin in his lapel, and I’ll show you an @$$hole. I’m sure there are exceptions, but in general people need to remember that lapels aren’t for wearing pins to create the illusion that you’re supporting the troops. They’re for wearing ribbons to create the illusion that you’re helping cure a disease.

Last week we had the first genuine controversy of the presidential campaign: the shocking news that Barack Obama doesn’t wear an American flag lapel pin, so apparently he and America are no longer going steady. “No lapel pin, Senator? It’s like not wearing pants. Why don’t you just stab the Statue of Liberty in the eye while b*tch-slapping a 9/11 widow?” Another in a series of bullsh*t non-stories that have zero effect on the troops, the war or anything in the real world — or, as Fox calls it, “Breaking News.”

Of course, wearing a flag pin doesn’t automatically make someone an idiot. Thinking that the presence or absence of an accessory actually means anything about one’s patriotism or qualifications may be a different story.

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Comments

William on 14 October, 2007 at 3:10 pm #

You forgot the rest of Maher’s comment, went something like:

Regarding the lapel pin … of course, the Republicans are the party of Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig, and countless other closeted homosexuals… so their fixation on jewelry is understandable.


Rachel on 14 October, 2007 at 3:53 pm #

William, that would be what the link is for.


Mack on 14 October, 2007 at 4:30 pm #

Oh snap!

Thanks for ruining my night, rachel. I tivo-ed Maher on Friday and was going to watch it later this evening.

I hope that tree ends up in your living room. ;)


Rachel on 14 October, 2007 at 4:33 pm #

Mack, if it does, I trust you’ll be available to remove it? :)


claudia on 14 October, 2007 at 7:45 pm #

bill maher may not pull his punches - but that totally works for me. the guy is SPOT on. love bill… he’s sharp as a tack.

personally, the flag pin would make me shrink away from whoever was wearing one… it’s a type i tend not to relate to. but i love to be surprised and i’m sure there are exceptions as bill points out. but overall, not my kinda dinner party.


KF Raizor on 14 October, 2007 at 9:57 pm #

Maybe it’s time for John Prine to update his song “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” to “Your Flag LAPEL…” :-)


democommie on 15 October, 2007 at 5:31 am #

I would wear an American Flag in my lapel, upside down, as a sign of distress, if I ever wore a suit. Like the ubiquitous gas guzzling, one passenger SUV’s with a “Support our troops” sticker, seeing the flag pin is often the easiest way for me to identify the folks who don’t have to do anything, personally, because we have an “All Volunteer” Army. I recommend, to all who haven’t done so, that you read Dalton Trumbo’s, Johnny got his gun” and “Night of the Aurochs”, as well as Harry Harrison’s (”Soylent Green”), “Bill–The Inter-Galactive Hero”).