Flag Pin Just One Symbol Embraced By Obama ( Change )

CBS ^ | July 3, 2008 | Brian Montopoli

[george76]

Last fall, Barack Obama explained why he hadn't been wearing an American flag pin on his lapel.

"I won't wear that pin on my chest," the presumptive Democratic nominee said. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."

What a difference a presidential campaign makes.

Obama, who suggested back then that the flag pin "became a substitute for I think true patriotism" after the Sept. 11 attacks, now regularly sports the patriotic symbol at campaign events.

He even briefly employed a campaign seal that looked a lot like the official presidential seal, the symbolism of which was hard to miss.

For a candidate who took an early stance against what he seemed to characterize as an empty symbolic gesture, the heavy use of symbolism in Obama's campaign has been particularly hard to ignore.

"All politicians, especially presidential candidates, traffic in symbols all the time," said Rutgers historian David Greenberg. "But Obama has given special care to his symbolic statements."

Image makers have long understood the importance of creating powerful symbolic associations for their candidates. A good photo of a politician gesturing confidently, a row of American flags behind him, can convey leadership ability and competence; a poor one, like the infamous shot of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis in a tank, can have the opposite effect.

[george76]

He may change everything ?

.

[newheart]

[ClearCase_guy]

"But Obama has given special care to his symbolic statements."

The halo? The Che posters at his campaign offices? Failure to cross his heart for the national anthem? Reluctance to wear a flag pin?

His special care has been noted.

[vietvet67]

Hopefully people aren’t fooled by this clown now attempting to wrap himself in the flag.

Can you fit more flags behind ya Barry when you’re making speeches?

Snowjobs in July..

[SoldierDad]

"But Obama has been carefully groomed by his handlers given special care to change his view on symbolic statements and symbols."

There, now it is accurate.

[george76]

[ElkGroveDan]

CBS? Nice to see. Maybe the halo is starting to lose its glow.

[do the dhue]

I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great

So, does this mean our country is not great? I thought we were the greatest in all time history.

Maybe I should go back to school so a liberal professor can fix my wayward thinking..

[Oldexpat]

People don’t declare themselves patriots. They are viewed by others as patriots. Our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
Now..what has Obama demonstrated? His never risked his life, never pledeged his fortune and his honor was purchased along with his mansion.
The man is fraud.

[weegee]

Last fall, Barack Obama explained why he hadn't been wearing an American flag pin on his lapel.

"I won't wear that pin on my chest," the presumptive Democratic nominee said."

[RetiredArmy]

This guy is such a piece of s*** that he will lie to cover his lies to cover his BS. That's it stupid America, fall for the garbage this SOB dribbles out too you. Suck it up, lick it in, he is piling garbage on garbage and you are falling for it. Stupid A-holes.

[OrioleFan]

His phrasing is important - "that pin" As if it was something to be ashamed of...

[Larry381]

Have I got this right?
First he threw the flag pin under the bus and now he has reached under it to retrieve it?
Would that be considered backtracking on his backtrack?
I'm so confused.
One wonders if there's anything believable about this guy.

[weegee]

The man has presented himself as a multinational candidate and said that this gives him foreign policy experiences.

He has said that he does not need to wear the flag pin even though the role of president is full of pomp and circumstance.

His pastor of 20 years damned Amerikkka.

He was backed by Ayers, a domestic terorrist who attacked the government with bombs and wishes he’d done more.

The man is no patriot. He is a demagogue and a jerk.

[weegee]

the first impressions count for much more than the “relaunched” image he wants to present.

[SoldierDad]

Even larger than is Billy Jeff Clintoon.

[aruanan]

So Rolling Stone made Gore’s wang bigger but made Barack’s ear smaller.

[weegee]

Image makers have long understood the importance of creating powerful symbolic associations for their candidates. A good photo of a politician gesturing confidently, a row of American flags behind him, can convey leadership ability and competence; a poor one, like the infamous shot of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis in a tank, can have the opposite effect.

This was a photo op gone wrong (photo oops). It was intended to show Dookie as being a tough military man.

It didn't work.

Neither did this one:

[weegee]

And gave him an aura this year...