I originally thought that the question proves Obama's point, in that there's so little belief in "Washington" that its a waste of time to even ask one that deals with the issues.

Seeing McCabe's response though brings me up short. Apparently its as simple as wondering why Obama refuses to "be like everyone else."

I've raised my kids to not feel they have to follow the crowd than for no other reason that "everyone else is doing it." You do what is right, first.

Also, her question was supposedly not about patriotism, but to see if he "supported the flag." That makes no sense either. The flag is a symbol of the nation, and supporting what that symbol stands for is patriotism. The cloth that is the flag itself has no meaning. Does a person have to metaphorically wrap themsleves in one (as what "everybody" was doing with these pins were) as the only way to validate their patriotism? Of course not. McCabe implies that they do.

Obama made clear why he didn't wear one, becuase the over use of them cheapened the meaning of it. Many of the people wearing those pins, clearly, could give a rat's behind about America. But in McCabe's view, that was okay, becuase they "supported the flag."

In McCabe's view, conversely, Obama may have still been patriotic, but just didn't "support the flag."

Look, I respect people no matter what their background, but this is nonsense.

Posted at April 19, 2008 3:43 PM in response to Why Nash McCabe Makes Barack Obama's Point