'I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest'
OBAMA | Dem hopeful says American flag in lapel has become a substitute for 'true patriotism' since 9/11; GOP spokesman differs
Barack Obama says he no longer wears an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"My attitude is that I'm less concerned about what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart," the Democratic White House hopeful told a crowd at a campaign appearance Thursday in Independence, Iowa.
(AP)
Interviewer: One last quick question, and this is just kind of a lighter note, you don't have an American flag pin on; is this a fashion statement? Those have been on politicians since Sept. 12, 2001?
Barack Obama: You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. 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, instead I'm gonna try to tell the American people what I believe what will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.
The question first came up in a TV interview Wednesday in Iowa.
"The truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama told a Cedar Rapids station. "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; instead I'm gonna try to tell the American people what I believe what will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
The Illinois senator's comments prompted a reaction from state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), who heads up Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson's Illinois effort.
"To say that it would be some sort of hypocrisy to wear the flag on your lapel is out of touch," Brady said. "I certainly don't mean that people who don't wear a lapel pin aren't patriotic -- but it's another thing to say that people who are wearing a lapel pin are falsely patriotic."
Brady's candidate, the former Tennessee senator and TV star, sports a lapel flag. Another flag wearer, Rudolph Giuliani, did not answer when a Sun-Times reporter asked the GOP presidential hopeful about Obama's comments at events in west suburban Glen Ellyn and in Chicago.
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, also in Chicago on Thursday, said she wears a flag pin "from time to time.
"I think there are so many ways that Americans can show their patriotism: wearing a flag pin; flying the flag; pledging allegiance to the flag; talking about the values that are important to America; teaching your children about what a great nation we have; standing up for those values; speaking out; there are just so many ways that one can demonstrate patriotism," the New York senator said.
Contributing: AP