Y'all seem to think that putting your hand over your heart is done to impress other people. Obama may think so too. It's probably true in many cases. A shame. Saluting the flag is just saluting a piece of fabric to some people. To most, it's showing respect and gratitude for what the flag symbolizes.

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

Exactly 12thMan! And such images mean a lot. Sometimes they are done purposefully to make a statement. So, is his statement that he doesn't really respect America and our flag? Or is he simply ignorant of the proper way to respect the flag and our country? Either way, he loses.

Image can be devastating in a political race. I remember in Texas during the Governors race when Democrat Ann Richards was running against Republican Williams (can't recall his first name). At one function, after they debated, he REFUSED to shake her hand when she offered hers....and this was caught on camera. They showed it over and over again....and the image of him doing this is what won the race for Richards, IMO. I didn't vote for her----but I sure lost any respect I had for him and wouldn't have voted for him either. In Texas----being a bad sport like that is a big No-No.

Image IS important.

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“I’ve been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official, when I ran Project Vote voter registration drive in Illinois, ACORN was smack dab in the middle of it, and we appreciate your work.” — Barack Obama, Speech to ACORN, November 2007

What BS.

In one breath you're telling me, "it's personal", and then in the next breath you're telling me it's symbolic.

Make up your mind. Which is it?

If it's personal, then it's none of your (*)(*)(*)(*) business, and shut up about it.

It it's symbolic, then what does it symbolize, exactly?

And please don't try to tell me it stands for "mom, apple pie, and the flag" - the reality is, it's just a partisan thing. Dennis freakin' Hastert was giving those pins out on the House floor the first day he became Speaker. Politicians do stuff like that. "Hey, let's have a show of solidarity". Rah rah rah.

People have come to associate that little lapel pin, with the concept that "we can protect you better than the Dems can". That's the freakin' point.

Not freakin' patriotism.

If those weasels were patriotic, they'd take off those stupid lapel pins, roll up their sleeves, and get to work. But instead they're sitting there worrying about god(*)(*)(*)(*) symbolism.

Of all the stupid idiotic sh***....... Ahhhh.......

Argh!!!!!

Nonsquirt, why are you still talking about the flag pin? Nobody cares. Get it?

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

That would prove he loves America. Nothing proves that more than outside appearances.

So, one cannot show respect and gratitude for what the flag is supposed to symbolize without putting his hand over his heart every time the anthem is played? That's how we tell such things? Seems to me that's really easy to fake. If I hated America and was working for its destruction I guess I could keep everyone off my trail by wearing a flag pin and putting my hand over my heart. A nice flag sticker on my SUV will work wonders.

A good way to tell is to look and see how many of his non-symbolic actions point to that. Got any examples?

Which is pathetic. It''s true. But it's pathetic. No need to be concerned with how someone will actually govern. No sir. Let's just see what he's wearing and whose hand he shakes. Puts his hand over his heart? That proves he'll be a great President (let's ignore W for a minute).

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Nope. Contradicted by facts in evidence. Obama evidently cares, and JP evidently cares, and I evidently care, so "you" seem to be the odd man out on this one....

(j/k, I'm just teasing) -

So, you admit my point, right? That the lapel pin stands for partisanship, not patriotism.

No. It depends on who's wearing it. Some wear it, some don't. MOST don't. There's no tradition or long known understanding about wearing the flag pin. Ditto, yellow ribbons. Not wearing it means nothing. Purposefully not putting your hand over your heart does mean something. In a crowd, it doesn't matter. No one is looking around to see who puts his hand on his heart. On a stage, running for president, is a different story. Obama made a point of not wearing the flag pin. IMO, he was patronizing the extreme left in doing that. IMO, he's most likely doing the same thing now. He's NOT running for VP. Makes me wonder though if he wasn't compelled to put his hand up, why did he bother to stand at all? Why face the flag at all? Isn't that symbolic too? Cajones not hairy enough?

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Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.

Maybe his definition of "honoring" a flag differs from yours. Maybe his not putting his hand over his heart wasn't a protest of any kind. I don't. Never have. And I'm not protesting anything.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

well, except for the radical fringe right

hmmm, still waiting to hear this on ANY newschannel.....

All I care about is how many babies Obama has kissed, in front of cameras.

'Cause ya know...screw everyone else, it's "all about the children."
(sorry...I couldn't find a "gag" emoticon.)