Gallup: 28% say wearing flag pin shows a “great deal” of patriotism
posted at 3:28 pm on July 3, 2008 by Allahpundit
I’ve complimented Obama on his political astuteness enough times that we should revel a bit in one of his dumbest, most needless mistakes. Follow the link for the demographic breakdown, noting that voters over 50 are overrepresented in this category.

Which column would St. Barack fall under on the flag pin question? “Not at all”? Can’t be, or else he wouldn’t have cared enough to take it off in the first place. Like I’ve said before, no one invests more meaning in the pin than Obama himself. Pencil him in under “a great deal,” which is ironic given that that’s the group he’s going to suffer with most for his dopey, juvenile protest.
Exit question: More people regard voting as patriotic than risking one’s life on the battlefield? How’d that happen?










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More importantly, 78% of people think that voting shows a great deal of patriotism, but voter participation is, what, 30% or less?
lorien1973 on July 3, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Well when it comes to voting, it is a mindful willingness to uproot anything concerning Freedom… so they (liberals) go dyslexic and think this is how I will be patriotic… and vote for the wrong ideal!
I bet Michelle ran out and bought a truck load of American Flag pins to put on every lapel and coat Barry owns.
upinak on July 3, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Only 62% of people surveyed thought serving in the military was a very patriotic thing to do? I would have guessed that would have been considered higher (more patriotic expression) then showing up to the polls on election day. Strange.
Zetterson on July 3, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Hows come half and half is so white in this picture and so black in the one below it?
Is that the CHANGE hes’ talkin about?
The mans a camellion in more ways than one apparently.
dhunter on July 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Someone learned grammar at an inner city school I’m guessing?
Hening on July 3, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I think that once a person is selected to contribute to a polls data they immediately shut off their brain. Some of this stuff just doesn’t make sense.
Zetterson on July 3, 2008 at 3:39 PM
I also noticed red tie, white shirt, blue tie, apparently hes’ got two ties.
dhunter on July 3, 2008 at 3:39 PM
I’m sure that’s because being in the military isn’t seen as patriotism. It’s viewed as something you do for the money, cause you’re poor and “we always send the poor.” And I’m sure some see the soldiers simply as people who want a legal right to kill.
We don’t treat our soldiers like heroes. That’s how we treat our movie stars. This really doesn’t surprise me.
Esthier on July 3, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Well Hening, why don’t you go ahead and start up your own blog. Show AP how its supposed to be done.
Zetterson on July 3, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Are we going to see Obama in an Uncle Sam costume now? If 28% are for pins, Id say a full Uncle Sam costume has to be worth at least double that.
Chuck Schick on July 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM
And I see someone whom is a self proclaimed elitest who think that he/she is better then all!
Utinam coniurati te inforo interficiant! Caput vacans
upinak on July 3, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Public education
bnelson44 on July 3, 2008 at 3:51 PM
I hope not.
upinak on July 3, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Guess accurate grammar and spelling are the province of “elites” now. Halp Us Upineck – We 8 Fancy Wurds.
Grow Fins on July 3, 2008 at 3:52 PM
That’s funny. I guess I’m not very patriotic. I don’t even where a flag pin.
I guess I missed all the stink about the lapel pin because I still don’t get its importance. Now taking off your pins and ribbons and throwing them away in demonstration..that would be unpatriotic. Nobody would do that and run for president!
shick on July 3, 2008 at 3:54 PM
This day and age, I honestly couldn’t give two hills of beans how people say or do things.
No one is perfect, no one has the perfect edumacation! So with that said, and the fact you either can’t understand latin or just didn’t get the damn joke, Poo on you! Allah does a fine job… whoopty doo if He or Ed have a momentary lapse of DUH when writing. Grow up ffs!
I just don’t care for grammer nazi’s. If that is a problem for you I would suggest you find something else to quibble about.
upinak on July 3, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Can we temper our joy at Obama’s mistake for a moment by realizing that those 28% were probably going to vote Republican anyway, even with a punk like McCain running for the election.
It’s even more interesting that equal or greater numbers consider protesting policies you oppose to be patriotic as those who think something silly like wearing a flag pin is.
Now, as a conservative, I support the nation, but I don’t wear a flag pin, and I don’t have a flag sticker on my car. My patriotism was proven during the nine years I served in the Army. I don’t need to demonstrate it for anyone ever again.
The flag pin doesn’t mean the person wearing it is a patriot. Let’s say politician “A” is wearing a flag pin. He supports and announces that as a true patriot, he will decide that citizens in the country do not have a right to an attorney regarding a national security investigation.
Politician “A” may be patriotic, however he is also a person who intends to violate the principals of this nation. Specifically the right to an attorney, and the right to due process for citizens. No, I’m not talking about Club Gitmo. I’m talking about the National Security letters which the FBI can present you with, demanding information, and threatening sanctions including arrest for calling anyone, including your attorney.
Personally, I’ve always dreamed of being given that letter. That way I could call my attorney, and be arrested. Then I would enjoy watching the FBI try to explain to a Judge that while I was being arrested for calling an attorney, they very carefully advised me of my rights to call an attorney.
This aspect of the PATRIOT ACT is unconstitutional, obviously and flagrantly. Yet, we Conservatives don’t throw up our hands in disgust when we see this proposal from the Government. Why is that?
The Presence of a flag pin on a lapel did not guarantee that the act just described is a Patriotic Act. Wrapping the flag around a wrong action doesn’t make the action right.
There’s a lot in the PATRIOT ACT I agree with. I don’t agree with it all, and I think those National Security Letters should be written out of the bloody thing.
Snake307 on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM
So 28% of Americans think that a “great deal” of patriotism amounts to a lapel pin. Those would be the same 28% of Americans who think that supporting our troops means saying so when everyone else says so, but besmirching our troops whenever an occasion allows opportunity or is promoted by the MSM. These would be the same 28% of Americans who are avowed Marxists and damn proud of every terrorist act they have ever done.
maverick muse on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM
So why was Hening an “elitest” for pointing out bad grammar?
Grow Fins on July 3, 2008 at 4:03 PM
You already said it was a joke. Never mind. Halp Me, Ime an a Moran!
Grow Fins on July 3, 2008 at 4:05 PM
What’s the point of pointing it out? Allah isn’t going to change it unless it a totally mis-spelled word. And even then, they are to busy with stories to change it right away.
It makes no sense. Give the guys a break! We are here for our enjoyment! This is what they get paid for. And no matter how good you are concerning your employment, people screw up. Big deal.. move on.
Besides the City education thing was just wrong and annoying. Good grief.
upinak on July 3, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Hey,
Make sure your ACLU membership is updated and paid in full….
Seven Percent Solution on July 3, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Wow, it was only a joke. Simmer down…..I’m a big Allahpundit fan.
Do you mean, “Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant” ?
FUTUE TE ET IPSUM CABALLUM, DUDE
Hening on July 3, 2008 at 5:25 PM
It goes along with the whole psychosis that society has seemed to embrace that America isn’t good and defending it is just disgusting which is why these AWOL wimps who run to canada get the “awww poor thing” status among them. While of course, voting lets them get their opinion in..so I am not surprised at all that there is a switch. Disgusting isn’t it? I think it’s just part of the push for the one world gov’t starting with not defining our borders that our forefathers fought so hard for. I hear often, see what france thinks of us? I say, who the hell cares what france thinks of us!
diaphanous on July 3, 2008 at 5:30 PM
I’m still wearing my red aids ribbon from 1991…I don’t dare take it off or people will think I don’t care!!!
Seriously, how long will this pin/ribbon/magnet on the car thing go on?
tlynch001 on July 3, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Lapel pins suck…especially American flag pins. They are not flags and not even suitable representations thereof. They don’t warrant flag code protection and nobody should ever salute one.
They’re stupid and you’re a fool to believe they carry ANY patriotic value.
This diversion was the single dumbest issue I have ever heard taken up on the national political front. Sad. Sad. Sad.
How many of you doofuses are wearing a flag lapel pin right now?
The Race Card on July 3, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Don’t poke yourself…again.
The Race Card on July 3, 2008 at 6:23 PM
The point is not that Obama doesn’t wear a flag pin but that he came out and announced specifically that he would not wear a flag pin because of the Iraq war and that is a very politically charged stand to take. I don’t think even that makes him unpatriotic but I can see why it would rankle with some people.
aengus on July 3, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Subtract the under-18 population. I’m guessing its more like 78% of eligible voters.
Democracy has become a fetish, a cure-all for the ills of every society on the planet.
aengus on July 3, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Translation?
aengus on July 3, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Every day of the campaign they should keep track of flag pin wearing and whoever wears one the most should be declared president because obviously this issue is of earth-shattering importance to Americans.
But they should also put a microphone near each candidate and during the campaign if a candidate does not sing the national anthem at least 14 db loud then he is immediately disqualified because he obviously does not love America.
Dave Rywall on July 3, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Where is the pandering column?
Wade on July 3, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Wearing a flag pin shows that you know how to put a pin on or know someone who does. To say that it shows a great deal of patriotism makes about as much sense as saying that using carbon offsets shows that someone is a great environmentalist.
MB4 on July 3, 2008 at 8:38 PM
That’s easy. People tend to be self-centered and a whole lot more people vote than risk their life on the battlefield these days or even know someone close who does.
MB4 on July 3, 2008 at 8:41 PM
I am pretty sure I have “Made in China” on my shoes. Does that count?
MB4 on July 3, 2008 at 8:46 PM
What store do I have to buy all these patriotism trinkets from so I could be patriotic?
I’d only be patriotic if I had the stickers and pins to prove it. Also why do they call them lapel pins when they wear the flag on their sleeve?
LevStrauss on July 3, 2008 at 9:14 PM
The 6% who said serving in the military isn’t patriotic at all should be packed up in a truck that is wired with explosives and driven off a cliff into the ocean immediately after detonation or given 1 way tickets to Iran or France. I would personally take the detonation option if I was them since the other one is just cruel and unusual punishment.
MannyT-vA on July 4, 2008 at 8:59 AM
You’re an idiot. You are actually suggesting death because some Americans exercise their rights with dissent and/or differing opinions.
You defeat the entire point of being an American. You are not a great American. France would not be good enough for you. I’m thinking the former USSR.
The Race Card on July 4, 2008 at 5:59 PM