From the Associated Press:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he doesn’t wear the American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for “true patriotism” since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Asked about the decision Wednesday in an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Illinois senator said he stopped doing so shortly after the attacks and instead hoped to show his patriotism by explaining his ideas to citizens.

“The truth is that right after 9-11 I had a pin,” Obama said. “Shortly after 9-11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.

“I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest,” he said in the interview. “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 testament to my patriotism.”

You can expect Obama to catch holy hell from all sides. Indeed, it’s already started. Law professor Eugene Volokh argues that’s Obama’s decision is like deciding to stop telling your wife that you love her. Wrong. It’s like deciding to stop telling other people that you love your wife.

Like most people, I kind of assume that my married friends love their wives. I’d probably think it was weird if they decided to wear numerous symbols demonstrating something that should be obvious. Same goes for the flag. I don’t know a single person who wears a flag pin all the time. Or who is ostentatious about displaying a flag on their car, house, or boat. If you’re an American, and you live here on purpose, I kind of assume you love your country. I know I love my country.

I can kinda see what Obama’s saying, too. Overt, aggressive, and ubiquitous flag worship can seem kind of cheap and unseemly. And where’s the value of such a statement if everyone’s making it? This video filmed in NYC a few days after 9/11 does a fantastic job of making the point.

Finally, I’m not surprised that all the right-wing pundits are tripping over themselves to excoriate Obama’s conviction on this point. Ironically, though, I think Obama might be channeling a righteous source none of them would dare refute. Check out these words Jesus uttered to his disciples before delivering the Lord’s prayer:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:5-6

Or try this one:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:15-16

I think that’s sort of what Obama had in mind when he talked about true patriotism. When you look for a leader, you must look to the man, not his lapel pin.

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