Fancy Store-Bought Dirt

No, not as long as their are politicians like Jack Kingston who go on tv to attack Obama for not wearing a flag pin, and journalists and radio hosts who raise the issue and actually arrange to have the question asked at a Democratic debate as if it mattered. This happened a matter of weeks ago; just before the PA primary in the latter case.

The way for the issue to go away is for people to stop bringing it up, thinking they're scoring political points, not for fewer people to complain when they do. It's a common front for attacking Obama along with that widely forwarded photo taken during the national anthem that purports to show him refusing to put his hand on his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

I recall you disliking the idea of the AIDS ribbon because it was a) a symbolic gesture that b) created an obligation for everyone to declare "what side they were on" even if they didn't feel strongly about the issue. The flag pin is the same thing, and I can understand the conflict it can cause when people you are allied with but don't agree with on every issue are the ones behaving badly. (I don't regret my vote for Clinton, but God was I mortified by this gas tax crap.)

created an obligation for everyone to declare "what side they were on" even if they didn't feel strongly about the issue.

I actually do insist that candidates be on the side of the US and insist that they feel strongly about it.

Is the flag pin been co-opted primarily as a symbol of support for the Iraq War? I haven't been paying any attention to this.

I actually do insist that candidates be on the side of the US and insist that they feel strongly about it.

And you think wearing a flag pin is the indicator for this, meaning if someone doesn't, then "they're not on our side"? Do you think it's reasonable to assume that half or more of our elected officials aren't "on the side of the US" if they don't put a flag on their lapel?

If not, then we agree.

Well, I was being mostly sarcastic there. What I honestly wanted is an answer to my second part, which would answer the question of why he doesn't wear it. It seems like a easy call to do so (i.e., so he wouldn't have to put up with it anymore) unless the perception exists (and this is a case where perception = reality) that it has been co-opted to express support for a particular policy (probably the Iraq War if so).