Matt Ortega

It is the presidential campaign season so the media, naturally, has to run several stories on complete non-issues and frivolous things, like Senator Barack Obama’s (D-Illinois) flag lapel pin, or the lack thereof.

“You know, 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.”

“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.”

Naturally, this led some in the right-wing blogosphere to become completely unglued. Flag lapel pins are required accessories, apparently.

This is only getting mentioned on here because since the story “broke” earlier this week, my Google Alerts include at least one Obama-lapel pin story from the traditional press and right-wing bloggers. It’s ridiculous.

Air General Merrill McPeak (ret.) defended Senator Obama on a conference call with reporters.

“This business about the lapel pin, I think the senator understands that patriotism is hard work,” replied General McPeak. “If you could just do it by placing a flag on your lapel, that would be pretty easy.”

McPeak then dismissed the flag flap as “petty symbolism.” “This pin flap is kind of business as usual. Isn’t that the old politics, the gotcha politics,” he said. “Barack stands for turning the page. Let’s do something substantial here.”

McPeak appears in a new television ad that will be running in Iowa.

Updated 10/05/07 at 8:15pm: Matthew Yglesias:

In some ways, though, this even gives it all too much credence and sells short the level of sheer cynicism and stupidity running through the idea of having a controversy on this subject.

Updated 10/05/07 at 11:57pm: The Chicago Sun-Times wrote a harsh editorial about Senator Obama and his lapel. This is the most laughable commentary from an establish newspaper this electoral season.

We believe in candor and honesty. But a presidential candidate should choose his words carefully, and Obama’s latest spouting off makes us question his judgment. Is this what we can expect when he diverts from his meticulous talking points? [emphasis added]

It seems that the Sun-Times aren’t use to honesty in the nation’s leaders.

Updated 10/06/07 at 3:55pm: Steve Benen shares my disdain for this detour from the real issues, but feels compelled to point out hypocrisy when he sees it.

It would be my sincere preference that our political discourse not delve into who does and does not wear American-flag pins, with every presidential candidate’s lapel suddenly drawing sharp scrutiny.

That said, if we are going to go in this direction, we might as well highlight hypocrisy when we see it.

Discussing an interview in which Sen. Barack Obama said he had stopped wearing a flag pin on his lapel during the lead-up to the Iraq war, Sean Hannity said on his radio show: “[W]hy do we wear pins? Because our country was under attack.” He continued: “And to politicize once again the war to this extent. Well, who cares about the war? Are you proud of your country?” Yet while criticizing Obama for not wearing a flag pin, Hannity himself has not worn an American flag lapel pin on a number of recent occasions.

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw lapel pins.