Obama's Flag Pin

Maybe your co-worker could ask McCain where his pin is and why he is not wearing it everyday.

i applaud Mr. Obama for trying to make a point...i just wish he had done more vocally before the pennsylvania primary, if he had this thing would be over now...better late than never.

Why are you even focusing on this?

It's a trivial issue that has nothing to do with america's problems.

I wish the media would quit freaking talking about it.

Gabor Steingart, in Der Spiegel:

A journalist's twin points of references should be the real and the important. But for months the focus of the election coverage was on trivia... Reporters focused the most attention on such pressing questions as whether Barack Obama was wearing an American flag lapel pin, whether John McCain had a mistress eight years ago or whether former first lady Hillary Clinton was incorrectly recalling her 1996 trip to Bosnia.

I felt dumber just reading that piece. Please, Jay: stop hurting America.

I really wonder why this person decided to become a journalist. Is it because you enjoyed dishing gossip in high school? You do realize that politics has real implications on people's lives, right? Give it up. Let someone who can enhance our discourse have your job.

Jay,

Is it any wonder that American public detest you guys? It's non-sensical column like yours that lowers political discussion to trivialities. You quoted Obama deriding (hint: deriding column like yours) trivialities, but then proceeded to do exactly the thing Obama was talking against. In a way, his campaign and its sucess is a slap to your face and other like you who lack basic cognition do decent reporting.

Hmm...
I haven't even gotten past the headline and we already have a non-story about the symbolism of engaging in symbolic displays of cheap symbols manufactured in China and attached to the whole thing is the false smear against the last Democratic candidate for having the audacity to allow concern for union workers to affect a vote.

You people are disgusting.

I'll now see if actually reading the story changes my reaction but I sincerely doubt it.

Not one more word about this crap. Please.

Why does John McCain hate the flag?

I KID!

But seriously, imagine if one of them got a flag tattoo, right? I mean, patriotism, WOW!

Thank goodness we live in such a time, when this is the most critical issue of the day.

regardless of the previous posters opinions, you are still cute jay!
yes that is unimportant in regards to the quality of your work...hey, just like the flag pin!!!

Jay,

Thanks for this hard hitting journalism. God knows there are silly people out there who think issues like the war, the economy, healthcare, global warming are pressing issues. I am glad you have the gumption to know what's really important to the American people.

Keep up the fine work!

McCain Fluffer.

eddie, a flag with an apparition of jesus on it over looking the smoking twin towers!! you couldnt lose an election with a tat like that!

quit freaking talking about it.
detest
disgusting
give it up.

Unfortunately the natural and immediate reaction is on the internet while the putrid original will foul Doctors offices nationwide for weeks.

I recommend extra disinfectant.

go write for TMZ, Jay

DO NOT WANT

Sheesh.

If you're gonna write about this, why not write about what is actually happening--an underground email campaign of lies about Obama, his patriotism and his loyalty to the country?

This flagpin sh!t is directed at the recipients of those emails, validating things people have had forwarded to them by friends and relations.

THAT would be actual political analysis of a tactic being used in the campaign.

It works, too. I was in ME during the caucus week. My brother has became an Obama activist, and, during a family and friends get-together, he was recruiting caucus-goers. One of them said "I can't support someone who won't say the pledge of allegience" because of an email he'd received from a friend. Where are these email coming from? How can Obama counter them?

And, in a real analysis, why is the media validating them?

why is the media validating them?

Because they're just as scared of the Mississippi results as the RNC and they feel a sudden need to fling more feces....

amen jay...i have run into a few 'HE'S A MOOSLIM' folks and as i have said previously it reminds me of going to the zoo...look ma, a tiger, and a zebra, and a viral email believer!!

"Is it fair that Obama is singled out for pin scrutiny? Probably not. But it's likely that Obama's pin will keep sticking him until he brings some consistency to his lapels."

You cannot tell me your aren't embarrassed by your profession and your "contributions".

btw, jay...i often wonder if the people whho believe these lies are somehow just appeasing some deep seated racail fears...oops i said it...

Is it fair that Obama is singled out for pin scrutiny? Probably not. But it's likely that Obama's pin will keep sticking him until he brings some consistency to his lapels.

You bottom-feeders are irredeemable.

y'know, sometimes when i read posts like this i have to wonder if the swampland writers have a weekly pool to see who can write the article that gets the most hateful feedback. it is just too consistent week in and week out and it seems they do take turns outdumbing each other...at least i hope it is that and not that they think we readers are so ignorant as to care about this...actually, either way they are thinking we are ignorant...i hope y'all get big cold sores on tuesday morning before going on all the cable talk shows!!!

I join others here in saying Thanks!--for maintaining such sharp and detailed focus on the infinitesimally trivial.

"Is it fair that Obama is singled out for pin scrutiny? Probably not. But it's likely that Obama's pin will keep sticking him until he brings some consistency to his lapels."

vs.

"'I can do at least 30 or 40,' he said last spring of the push-ups, as his campaign bus crossed the countryside. 'But it's pretty easy to cheat on a push-up.' He paused, aware that he had grabbed the attention of his traveling press. 'I would never do such a thing, of course,' he added, smiling."

Small sample size, and all, but indicative of a larger issue.

Obama is treated with suspicion about complete bullsh!t.

Whereas McCain is given the benefit of the doubt on something that, while it should be treated delicately, is of some degree of actual concern.

Jay, do you see "imparting important information in an impartial manner" as part of your job? This article seems to reflect a People or Us Weekly-like concern for the hot topic du jour than something fit for a supposedly legitimate news source.

BTW, kudos to you for opening up a comment thread based on this article. Surely you knew it wouldn't be well-received, so thanks for being willing to open it up to feedback.

Why?

*sigh*

And Jay, you had been showing such improvement lately.

This was true when John Prine wrote it nearly 40 years ago, and it's still true today:

Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore
We're already overcrowded with your dirty little war
Now Jesus don't like killing, no matter what the reason for
And your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore

Well, I knew this post would stir things up, and sure enough it did. But I do think the issue is illustrative -- there's a disconnect between Obama and, for lack of a better term and to borrow from Mike M., Appalacian voters. To them these kinds of symbols are important, like Jay Ackroyd notes on the pledge of allegiance. I was with Obama when he put the flag pin on at that Veterans event in Washington, Pennsyvania and I didn't see the point in writing about it then and was one of many who derided the debate question in Philly. But in thinking about it, I began to see the importance of writing something short to explain why this seemingly silly issue is such a media cynosure. Like all potent symbols, the flag must be handled with care by politicians. There is meaning, whether we like it or not, in choosing to adorn oneself with it. I felt it important to examine why Obama is now chosing to wear it when at first he shunned it. I didn't think it worth a long story or space in the magazine, but the 500 words that was written, to my mind, adequately addressed the issue. JNS

Still no detailed analysis from Swampland about what the Mississippi special election might mean for November, but we get this crap and Michael's "Slogan" nonsense. The American people, and America, is in trouble. 82% of the people believe we are headed in the wrong direction. And this is what you guys give us?

Even if it were my job to convince you about this, I don't have the requisite puppets or special education skills to adequately convey this message to you.

From Jay's story: But it's likely that Obama's pin will keep sticking him until he brings some consistency to his lapels.

This reminds me of Glenn Greenwald's take on the Politico's handling of the Edwards hair story:

Simon pronounces:

It is the haircut that will not die.

He can spin it, he can gel it, he can mousse it. But it is not going away.

Simon marvels at how enduring the story is -- as though there is some phenomenon keeping the story alive independent of the fact that the gossipy, tiny-minded, substance-free "political journalists" plaguing our nation -- from Roger Simon and Maureen Dowd to Adam Nagourney and Mickey Kaus and Matt Drudge -- have not stopped talking about "the story." It's tantamount to someone who keeps chewing their food and spitting it across the room and then marvelling at how filthy things are and writing columns bewilderingly examining how and why the floor is covered with crusted food and what that signifies.

And you wonder why people like us get peeved, Jay?

I do think the issue is illustrative -- there's a disconnect between Obama and, for lack of a better term and to borrow from Mike M., Appalacian voters.

And as long as the media adopts a "this is bad news for Obama, he's got some 'splainin' to do!" approach, rather than a reporting-on-objective-reality approach, that "disconnect" is likely to persist.

Report facts instead, please.

(I admit it, I had to look up "cynosure." Pretty sweet vocab word, thanks.)

What this article is illustrative of is the lengths that Time writers will go to smear Obama and try to change the subject to anything other than real issues, real policy, where McCain and the GOP have no answers.

You know your roll. Your paycheck depends on you fulfilling it.

"But I do think the issue is illustrative -- there's a disconnect between Obama and, for lack of a better term and to borrow from Mike M., Appalacian voters."

Every time such a questionable, blanketing, third-person sociological claim like that is made, it should be backed up with evidence.

I guess Jay so far won the "honor" of writing week's most pointless article and the one getting most opprobriums from the commentators.

Well done Jay. But week is not over yet. Michael might sneak up on you yet.

If you aren't interested in being a journalist, JNS, there are lots of other fine professions.

Why has political journalism in the country become ONLY concern trolling. If McCain is going to win in South Carolina, he's got to address rumors of having a black baby...If Obama is going to win X state, he has to show he doesn't believe in Rev. Wright's nonsense.

Seriously, stuff like this on any respectable blog would get you thrown off as a troll.

Or, maybe, you would like to investigate and/or report on where these things get started? Or would that mean you don't get invited to barbeques any more?

How about this one - John McCain has nine houses. The average American has one house. How is John McCain going to convince the average American that he knows what they are going through in these tough times when he owns nine houses?

How is owning nine houses consistent with his positions on the environment. If he REALLY cared about the environment, why would he be burning up electricity at NINE houses?

There, I've given you two or three columns and a couple of blog posts. Run along.

"But I do think the issue is illustrative"

No arguement here. Just not in the way you think it is.

"Well, I knew this post would stir things up, and sure enough it did. But I do think the issue is illustrative -- there's a disconnect between Obama and, for lack of a better term and to borrow from Mike M., Appalacian voters. To them these kinds of symbols are important, like Jay Ackroyd notes on the pledge of allegiance. I was with Obama when he put the flag pin on at that Veterans event in Washington, Pennsyvania and I didn't see the point in writing about it then and was one of many who derided the debate question in Philly. But in thinking about it, I began to see the importance of writing something short to explain why this seemingly silly issue is such a media cynosure. Like all potent symbols, the flag must be handled with care by politicians. There is meaning, whether we like it or not, in choosing to adorn oneself with it. I felt it important to examine why Obama is now chosing to wear it when at first he shunned it. I didn't think it worth a long story or space in the magazine, but the 500 words that was written, to my mind, adequately addressed the issue. JNS"

This "disconnect" is entirely of your making, Jay! By your own admission, Obama does what every other politician out there does without you writing columns about it: sometimes he wears a pin, sometimes he doesn't. Then you ad a little PS at the end to say, oh, and McCain doesn't wear one at all. But the reason Obama gets this nonsense foisted on him is because of -- YOU.

Obama wears it, as McCain doesn't, and for you, this signifies that McCain doesn't connect with Apalachian voters. No, I'm sorry, the fact that Obama wears the pin more often than Hillary and McCain means he doesn't connect with Apalachian voters. Why? What do Apalachian voters have against people wearing flag pins?

But that's not it. It's the fact that when Obama doesn't wear one, like his competitors, he's not a patriot. If he wears one, he's capitulating to silence this dogged issue. If he ignores your inane, manufactured, McCarthy-ite insinuations about his patriotism, and wears a pin when he wants, it's because he's not being consistent.

YOU are the problem, Jay. YOU are the reason Obama "doesn't connect" with Apalachian voters. If you had any real reasons, you'd use those, but you don't, so this is all you have. YOU are the reason this question keeps popping up. YOU are the reason the MSM sucks. YOU are what's wrong with politics. YOU are the reason Hannity's smears and Swiftboat attacks work because YOU, in your journalistic judgement, tell your readers that this is a worthy issue of consideration. And because your readers mistakenly believe a place like Time magazine has enough credibility that they would only report things worthy of reporting, based on that misplaced faith in your integrity, they assume there's nothing to it.

But there is nothing to it. Obama wears a flag pin sometimes, and sometimes he doesn't. But he wears it more than those whom he's running against. And the one's he's running against don't bother to wear a pin as they attack Obama for wearing one more often because they know YOU are so in the tank, that hypocrisy will never rise to anything, but a PS tagged onto the end of a column, that then opines it must be the fact that Obama doesn't wear a flag pin every day that makes YOU have such a double standard.

But I can think of a much, much, much better explanation for why you hold this double standard. Because YOU are so compromised that you can't even see your own hypocrisy.

jay,
the issue is important to appalachian voters because the don't get good information from MSM about what the real issues are...why do you (maning the media) continue to raise questions like this when a better one (perhaps, Mr. Candidate, how long will it taake you to build an alliance like the kyoto agreement and what do expect the success to be...what is your definition of success when it comes to tackling global warming during your term?). that is what frstrates me...garbage in/out is all most people get. do you have any idea how hard i work to get substantive answers to important questions? the amount reading i do, the number of emails i have to send??? this used to be the job of the media, now it is all run like E! and people magazine...i am saddened by this, and even more importantly worried...i have a son at the scripps school of journalism who wants to do real reporting and i doubt he will be able to find a job lest he writes puff piece bs...

Rev Hagee is not an issue because MSM does not run continuous loops of hagge speeches. Cindy Mcain's tax records are not an issue because MSM does not repeatedly ask repeatedly for transparency.

Hillary and Bosnia sniper fire was shown repeatedly. McCain's Sunni/Shiite mistake was explained away by members of the MSM. McCain was defended by the press, short-circuiting any discussion.

The most recent MSM big name hires? Tony Snow, Karl Rove, William Kristol, and Frances Townsend. See a pattern?

The newest African-American pundit, Rev Eugene Rivers, a major figure in the GOP's Faith Outreach Program. Do you think a GOP Conservative African-American represents the voce of most Black americans? since Black voice are only on MSM as guests, Perhaps someone who has a broader viewpoint might be appropriate. I'm not talking about Sharptonor Jackson. How about someone about Obama's age?

This morning on Morning Joe Mika B and Pat Buchanan, a Nazi lover that the MSM accepts as an analyst were musing about how Obama had an image of being elist. A guest who was rational pointed out that GW was Yale and Harvard educated. Buchanan laughed and said we helped Bush out. Al I remember of the rest of the segment was Buchanan laughing in Mika B's face. Buchanan knows that the MSM can be directed to carry any message to the masses that the GOP wants.

You are gullible. You are unbalanced in your coverage and you have no clue about your own bias.

Try this, go back to the beginning of the year and count the articles done on Obama, Clinton, and McCain. How many were critical of each candidate? How many issues about McCin went uncovered? Do you think that there was balance in the coverage of the candidates? Let us know what you find.

Russert seems to realize that McCain has gotten a free ride. He says we will get to analyzing McCain "down the road." That road seems far away.

Heckuva job sweetie!

They pay you guys? Where can I sign up for this mindless gig?

I can not tell you how insulting it is, Jay, for you to continue to suggest that Obama is not a patriot, and to use such undeservedly respected media real estate as Time to sew doubt about his patriotism.

How can you possibly pretend that there is reason to pretend Obama is not an American who loves his country, and wants to serve, as you apparently assume all the others whom you don't question do?

F&$CK you, Jay. That's the appropriate response to your modern day McCarthyism. And the horse you road in on.

Now I've brought the discourse down to your level, you bottom-feeding smear peddler.

memekiller may have went over the top jay, but he has a point....novak still has a job after saying basically that obama is the antichrist...and then it was repeated in every media format, and now i am starting to hear the evangelicals talk about it in reference to the recent disasters in asia and the armegeddon...20 years ago novak would have been kicked off of tv and ostracized all the way back to the rock he climbed out from under..today he is given a microphone and asked to tell us more...dammit, if i keep writing about this i may have to put myself out of my own misery....agghhhhh i am so frustrated at the drivel and bullshi#

JNS is simply looking forward to the day that David Broder retires and the role of telling low information Americans what it is they care about (because they can't figure it out on their own) opens up for the taking.

You can question someone's patriotism for no reason other than they wear a flag pin more often than others, and I can't call her a bottom-feeding, smear peddler?

I guess I find the official question, in print -- in TIME MAGAZINE -- a bit more insulting than my off-the-cuff, but more accurate, assessment in comments.

Why is what I'm calling her less worthy of print in TIME?

A pathetic excuse for journalism.

I should be happy this flag crap is the worst you can come up with about Obama, but the sorry truth is that the repetition of this nonsense causes (yes, CAUSES) a number of our less-thoughtful fellow voters to start believing there's something questionable about Obama's love of country. That's YOUR responsibility, and a wholesale perversion of the role of the media.

if that was directed at me meme, i have no prob with your comment other than saying JNS is solely the problem is a little unfair...Obaama is somewhat to blame, they have a symbiotic relationship and he could do a better job of making the media stay on point (though you could argue he shouldnt have to). the problem obama has is that he can't do it with the agressive nature that is required because then the media will paint him as an angry black man. bush got away with a whole bunch of bs for a long time by bullying the press so the would kiss his ass for access...it worked beautifally and would have continued to work had he not been so incredibly inept at his job.

I just went back last night and looked at the coverage of how Republicans responded to Clinton's attack on Al Qaeda. You know what I found? Gingrich backed Clinton up. All the "wag the dog" crap came from the Jay Newton-Smalls of the world: CBS, Time, ABC, NBC.

It wasn't Gingrich making the suggestion. He didn't have to. He had his smear merchants in respectable, mainstream magazine to raise the question that keeps "popping-up" in Time magazine, and placing the blame on the victims of those smears for not adequately making them stop lying about them.

So, to reiterate: f$#ck you, Jay Newton-Small.

What kind of mind do you really have to have to compare not wearing a flag pin to adultery and lying?

Honey, I cheated on you with another woman and I repeatedly lied to you, but you can't be mad because I'm wearing my flag pin.

kinda like wonder woman's bracelets!!

If you believe this issue is illustrative of the disconnect between Obama and certain voters, why not be an actual journalist and explore the roots of those issues? Expose the chain e-mails. Print what they really say, and expose how dirty and racist and xenophobic those who pass them on can be. Explore the right's use of the politics of resentment, the lingering effects of the Wallace to Nixon shift of white voters in the South 40 years ago. Ask some of these voters why Obama's explanation doesn't resonate, or if they have ever even heard Obama's explanation.

Instead, you wrote the same article that's been written a hundred times, provided your readers with no insight, and embarrassed yourself in the process.

This article raises more questions about Time's patriotism than Obama's pin.

Stop hurting America.

Hey Jay, do you wear a flag pin?

Flag pin schmag pin. What I want to know is, if held hostage like Iron Man's Tony Stark, will he crave a Burger King?

These are the burning issues of our modern world.

Is it fair that Obama is singled out for pin scrutiny? Probably not. But it's likely that Obama's pin will keep sticking him until he brings some consistency to his lapels.

Is McCain consistent in wearing his flag lapels? Not until recently: he consistently doesn't wear them.

How is this Obama's fault, and not yours, his pin keeps "sticking" him?

Jay,

Why would you write this? It's been played over and over and over. It's stupid. It lowers the IQ of anyone who reads it.

Instead, why didn't you write a 500 word essay on how the TV media has said NOTHING about the Pentagon domestic propaganda story. Nobody is covering that and it's important.

Please?

I can't comment on the article, because I am so bored by this that I couldn't even get myself to read it.

But can't we have a policy thread? With something on a real issue like health care or climate change?

If you believe this issue is illustrative of the disconnect between Obama and certain voters, why not be an actual journalist and explore the roots of those issues? Expose the chain e-mails. Print what they really say, and expose how dirty and racist and xenophobic those who pass them on can be. Explore the right's use of the politics of resentment, the lingering effects of the Wallace to Nixon shift of white voters in the South 40 years ago. Ask some of these voters why Obama's explanation doesn't resonate, or if they have ever even heard Obama's explanation.

Instead, you wrote the same article that's been written a hundred times, provided your readers with no insight, and embarrassed yourself in the process.

Posted by Settembrini

I just wanted to repeat this in the hope that if they see it enough, someone at Time will understand that this is how real journalism should work.

What Settembrini said: the story here is the underground campaign to smear Obama. The story includes the pro-Minuteman guy selling 'Obama' t-shirts picturing Curious George the monkey. The story includes the Christian missionaries using their non-profit foundation to tie Obama to violence in Kenya. The story includes the attempt by Missouri Republicans to keep the old, poor and non-white from voting in November.

These things don't show up in the inboxes of MSM journalists. They get forwarded to the inboxes of 'Real Americans'.

Stop hurting America, Jay.

Obama was being consistent: he consistently ignores Jay and wears a pin when the inspiration strikes. And apparently that patriotic inspiration strikes him more often than Hillary or McCain. Which, with a functioning press corps, would be something that would attract Apalachian voters to Obama, maybe.

Having Apalachian voters look past Obama's skin would be good for America, but you traitors don't care. You want the juicy, manufactured divide that tears this country apart.

I said things along these lines yesterday, but now that there's an appropriate forum for my sentiments:

This is a bad article.

You're doing a bad job.

It is inexcusable that this was featured on Time's home page.

Cliff Said:

"It is inexcusable that this was featured on Time's home page."

Cliff, I agree. However, considering all that has transpired over the last several years with media and election coverage of American politics, does it really surprise you that this kind of trivial B.S. is featured on Time's Homepage?

Thank You RSBG,--No your flag decal,pin,etc.won't get you into Heaven anymore.Are we going THIS far astray?This is a very crucial election!Get Serious!!-gtrzan

I'm pretty sure we've had an 8 year demonstration that wearing a flag pin doesn't necessarily entail good government, competence, or even a respect for the Constitution and federal agencies. Or the public. Or even veterans for that matter.

A flag pin is an easy short-cut to 2-deminsional patriotism promoted by lazy people. Which is exactly why it's been a GOP staple for years.

Gonzo wore a flag pin. Brownie wore a flag pin. Tom Delay wore a flag pin. Why don't we elect one of them President? They're obviously Patriots(tm).(

(The term "Patriot" is the official joint property of the Republican National Convention, Limbaugh-O'Reilly Inc., and Fox Entertainment. All rights reserved..)

Symbolism means nothing, should mean nothing. But those who ridicule symbolism shouldn't themselves embrace it when it suits them. That is being dishonest. Obama has been doing that quite often. He mocked Hillary for drinking beer and throwing back a shot of whiskey in Pennsylvania while he has merrily gone about bowling, shooting pool and, now, wearing flag pins.

According to Jay, the litmus test for patriotism is the flag pin.
[Remember that all ye aliens and IRS/INS people.]

Jay, sweetie, a few questions:
-Do you wear a flag pin?
-Do you remember to wear your flag pin to bed? Surely you don't want to unpatriotic dreams to crowd in on you! Suppose that phone rings at 3AM? What will those bitter people say if they see you answering that red phone without wearing American patriotism?
-Do you wear your flag pin while taking a bath/shower? Suppose the Gingrich patriotism police drops in and find you in, or out of, the shower without your patriotic flag pin on?

It was suggested above that your best bet to show you are patriotic 24/7 is to tattoo it on you! That way all will see that you are patriotic - even when you are gratuitously bashing your fellow American in a very un-American way.

So, Jay does not pursue the story of John McCain's patriotism - even when he does not wear the flag pin. The reason, presumably, is that McCain amply demostrated his patriotism when he served in the Navy.
And another "Mc" served in the Navy too. His name, Tim McVeigh.

Is flag pin == patriotism?
And "flag pin" really deserves a thread at TIME magazine?

By the way, Jay sweetie, are you related to that Anne Marie Cox sweetie? Or are you just in cahoots? AMC is on a war path: She seems to believe just as ardently that "sweetie" == sexism?
[And you wonder why we - the people, the poor and getting poorer people whose plight deserves no thread from Jay, are bitter!]
--
When too much "noticing" may not be good for you:
Have you noticed that Hillary Clinton wears red lipstick?
And that Monica Lewinsky wears red lipstick - maybe even she wears a blue dress?
And Chelsea wears red lipstick?
--
"I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live." - John McCain
Raw Racism, Melting-Pot America / McCain '08, WRONG for America

It's arguable even true that the Israelis are less secure then they were since George Bush attacked Iraq. And since a majority of Israelis want their government to have direct talks with Hammas, it is both outrageous and hypocritical of George Bush to politicize the situation.

Poll: Most Israelis back direct talks with Hamas on Shalit

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/958473.html

Of the Republicans in Congress who are actively fighting to block increased veterans benefits right now, how many wear their little flag pin every day?

What exactly are Americans getting from the professed Patriotism(tm) of these people?

It's empty symbolism that somehow keeps coming up in the media? Hmmmm.
Vacuous non-issue... media.
Vacuous non-issue... media.
Vacuous non-issue... media.

There has to be some connection! Where's Sherlock Holmes when we need him?

Jesus, PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW.

Unbelievable. This isn't journalism!

cb, I think you might have just created a viable presidential campaign. Somebody needs to pick that ball up and run with it.

McCain Fluffer:

No, no it's not surprising. Especially given the frequency with which I see articles like "Miley Cyrus' Scandalous Half Nude Pictures!" and "ZOMG Who Is Teh American Idolz?"

Speaking of which: JNS, please go work for Perez Hilton and leave us decent brain-using people alone.

JNS,

You provide absolutely no worthwhile contribution as a journalist.

"According to a report by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, over 60 percent of election coverage by the US media has been focused on campaign strategies, tactics or personalities -- but not on actual political content.

Reporters focused the most attention on such pressing questions as whether Barack Obama was wearing an American flag lapel pin, whether John McCain had a mistress eight years ago or whether former first lady Hillary Clinton was incorrectly recalling her 1996 trip to Bosnia.

The American public has not only been misled during this election campaign, but has also been fed a constant stream of irrelevant information. In one of his novels, the British writer, essayist and journalist George Orwell invented the Ministry of Truths, which he called "minitruths," with which one would try to confuse the public with small parts of the truth that even when added up do not give the whole picture.
(snip)
How do the Republicans plan to end the scandal of the uninsured? Some 47 million people in America now have no health insurance. Around 9 million have been added to that total during the seven years George W. Bush has been in power. This is the greatest market failure since the invention of modern capitalism."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,553068,00.html

Maybe you could write a story about the Bush family's collaboration with Nazis: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

Or will it be how Obama can't relate to Apalachians because he would appease Nazis, had he been there, unlike the patriotic Bush, whose family was there, and did appease them.

Flagpins? 75 posts and counting about flagpins? I'd rather discuss the two davids on Idol than spend another second pondering the importance of tiny lapel pins. I am no Obama fan but I could care less what he wears on his suit jacket. For instance, Obama still hasn't given a straight answer for how his handwriting appeared on that questionaire about gun control that he said he never saw, was filled out by a low level staffer and that misrepresented his position. How come we can't get an enterprising reporter to ask him about that?

Just a thought, JNS:

Would you get fired if you wrote something about the guy who still has 249 days left in the White House? That's right. 249 days! And you Big Media types just let him be. GTH

Someone above suggested that JNS was "gullible." Hardly. Pawn is more appropriate. Yep, just a pawn of the RNC machinery, though degree of willingness is still not completely clear.

Oh, and I think you were just outed, sweetie.

Hey, where are Rusty/obamish/QH on this? He's awfully quiet.

In news somewhat related to this post: My mother just forwarded me an email regarding Michelle Obama. It purports to contain 6 or 7 quotes from her 1985 senior thesis at Princeton re black/white relationships in the US. The sender (I'll try to track the original source tonight) claims that this essay shows how she is unfit to be first lady. It claims that she is a "separationist" and she feels whites are "ineradicably racist", backed by anonymous quotes from classmates. It also issues an ominous warning that she may use her "resources as first lady" to "elevate black over white America".

Un-effn-real. I want to laugh it off, but I see so many family members on the cc list, before and after it got to my mom. And, apparently, many are treating it as relevant or reliable. I'm sad. I think that there are many people who have made up their mind about Obama, and are now actively seeking reasons to justify not voting for a black man.

"Flagpins? 75 posts and counting about flagpins? I'd rather discuss the two davids on Idol than spend another second pondering the importance of tiny lapel pins."

ny nick: The point of these 70+ posts is to tell JNS that her article on flag pins is not appreciated. We're all tired of it, too, which is why we're complaining about seeing this sh!t crop up again.

Hell, when you say, "How come we can't get an enterprising reporter to ask him about that?"
you are saying exactly what we are saying.

Wow. Are you dolts criticising Newton-Smalls not aware that in her abysmal attempt (#1,000,001?) to defend Obama, Newton-Smalls dutifully and without challenge quoted Obama's failed attempt to explain his "patriotism" and his allegation that others who wear a flag pin are phony and not truly "patriotic" in Obama's "mind"? Also, someone please explain to Newton-Smalls that John McCain, unlike Obama, has never declared that he wouldn't wear a flag pin because doing so was a sign of phony patriotism. Consequently, McCain does not need to explain the absence of a flag pin on his clothing. Good Lord, you uber leftists are stupid.

> Good Lord, you uber leftists are stupid.

Thank you for pointing it out to us. We're ever so grateful.

Though what escapes you seems to be the idea that flagpins are a "non-issue" in the first place. Personally, I don't care if any of the candidates wear one; it doesn't matter. If they want to, great. If they don't want to, great. If flagpins are important, maybe candidates should go the next step and get tattoos. Maybe big ones, completely covering their faces. Would that show their "patriotism"? Would it make them more electable if they got 100% of their skin colored red, white & blue?

The fact that the media, JNS in this case, made, and keeps making, an issue of this is what some of us are complaining about. Given the real, substantive issues out there - please, tell me I don't need to spell them out for you - flagpins should not be reported on. There are bigger - much bigger - fish to fry. The fact that JNS is harping on this non-issue clearly demonstrates that she's just trying to smear Obama - and I'm neither for nor against him, at this point - and quite possibly at the behest, implicit or otherwise, of Republican handlers. If so, that's hardly good "journalism."

Did that makes sense, or should I try banging rocks together for you?

texte:
"Why" are "you" putting so "many" quotation "marks" around "your" words? It makes you "look" like you "failed" English class.

Also, it's Jay Newton-Small. Singular.

Mr. Nice Guy, Cliff:

texte is a memeber of the GOP 'fact squad' I think. I saw them earlier in the day looking for worms, grubs, and other small invertabrates. Lacking any other abilities, this is how they nourish themselves.

They only come out in twilight to feed, I think....

texte wrote:
"John McCain, unlike Obama, has never declared that he wouldn't wear a flag pin ... Consequently, McCain does not need to explain the absence of a flag pin on his clothing.

So, texte, tell us why does McCain NOT wear the patriotic pin?
Surely this country was founded by flag pin wearing patriotic forefathers.
So why can't McVeigh, I mean McNasty, wear one?

Good Lord, texte, "you uber leftist are stupid."
My sentiment exactly

Of all the silly non-issues that have been raised in this campaign, this may be the silliest.

News Flash:

Faux news' big headed answer to Tweety, Neil Cavuto, spent a portion of his show on the "plus size" (read normal weight for her height) woman who won America's Top Model.

The storyline accomplished
Newton-Small's goal of stirring things up. It highlighted the disconnect between normal sized women and professional anorexic women known as models.

The guest was a woman from some organization that was opposed to fat people. The woman repeatedly called the normal sized "Top Model" fat.

As I was channel surfing, I did stop to watch the mental carnage that was in front of my eyes. I was stirred up.

I lost minutes out of my life that I will never get back. The segment was as insightful and informative as this post by Newton-Small.