Props to Barack Obama (and I’d say this regardless of whether I supported his candidacy or not) for not doing the knee-jerk “I gotta wear an American flag on my lapel or else people will think I’m a godless commie terrorist Moslem liberal traitor!” fashion statement.
I don’t particularly mind folks wearing an American flag lapel pin — but it has become something of a meaningless bit of sartorial decor in the political set. I mean, I presume that the folks who usually wear them for photo ops don’t wear them all the time — in their pajamas, or sitting around the pool, or watching TV. So if all it is is shorthand for “Hey, I’m in public, so I just gotta say, I love America, I’m a patriot, yay team!” then isn’t it as meaningful — or even more so — to listen to what the man actually has to say, not just what lapel pin / t-shirt / tattoo they’re wearing.
Of course, it’s particularly amusing when he’s criticized for not doing it by someone who … isn’t wearing one, either.