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ABC Puzzles Over 'Obsession' With U.S. Flag Pins; Notes Nixon Wore One
NewsBusters.org ^ | Oct. 5, 2007 | Scott Whitlock

Posted on 10/05/2007 1:41:17 PM PDT by freemarket_kenshepherd

On Friday's "Good Morning America," ABC reporter David Wright narrated a sympathetic look at Barack Obama's decision not to wear an American flag lapel pin and asserted that this country's "obsession with flag pins is relatively new." To further defend the Democratic presidential candidate, Wright pointedly noted that liberal bogeyman Richard Nixon wore such a pin. He observed, "Ike didn't wear one. JFK either. Nixon did wear the flag as he told the American people he had nothing to do with Watergate."

Of course, Wright himself was not wearing a pin with the U.S. flag on it. As the MRC has previously noted, ABC President David Westin banned on-air talent from having such pins adorn their lapels. In 2003, he deemed it the "patriotic duty" of reporters not to display the flag. At a journalist conference, he elaborated that "after 9/11, the question came up and we, as a matter of policy at ABC News, tell our people on the air, you shall not wear an American flag or any other symbol on the air."

(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abc; americanflag; flagpins; mediabias; oldglory; richardnixon
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1 posted on 10/05/2007 1:41:19 PM PDT by freemarket_kenshepherd
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

seems hillary almost never wears one...


2 posted on 10/05/2007 1:44:44 PM PDT by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd
we, as a matter of policy at ABC News, tell our people on the air, you shall not wear an American flag or any other symbol on the air.

Ok, remove all wedding rings.

3 posted on 10/05/2007 1:45:37 PM PDT by generally (Ask me about FReepers Folding@Home)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

Well, this article certainly backs up my determination to avoid ABC news at any cost!

I have no use for those who would feel that wearing an American flag would somehow be less than a simple way of showing support for our great country and the brave men and women who defend us.


4 posted on 10/05/2007 1:46:42 PM PDT by jwparkerjr (Sigh . . .)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

If its good enough for BB King, its good enough for me.


5 posted on 10/05/2007 1:46:50 PM PDT by art_rocks
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To: xcamel
seems Hillary almost never wears one...

Dracula never wore a cross.

6 posted on 10/05/2007 1:48:21 PM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't drive, can't fly, can't ski, can't skipper a boat; but they know what's best for us)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

John Stossel needs a new (television) home. That’s the ONLY thing ABC has going for it.


7 posted on 10/05/2007 1:51:12 PM PDT by GOP_Raider ("I guess I like to do things that bother people." -Urban Meyer)
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To: N. Theknow

Hillary does before elections. After the elections, it’s gone.


8 posted on 10/05/2007 1:53:48 PM PDT by Ladysmith ((NRA, SAS) I’m paranoid. The only question is, am I paranoid enough?)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

Politicians of both parties love to wear patriotic attire. It’s a lot easier to do that than to actually defend our Constitutional liberties.


9 posted on 10/05/2007 1:55:14 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

ABC pandering to its last five viewers - looney leftist losers.


10 posted on 10/05/2007 1:55:58 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd
It’s no surprise that anti-American ABC and the anti-American Dummie candidates don’t “understand” the obsession with American flag pins. They never will understand.
11 posted on 10/05/2007 1:58:21 PM PDT by vetsvette (Bring Him Back)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

“ABC Puzzles Over ‘Obsession’ With U.S. Flag Pins; Notes Nixon Wore One”

ABC has to keep up with The University of Missouri Journalism School,
the operator of the local NBC affiliate here in Columbia MO.

here’s the relevant excerpt from an article about the ties some
J-School emeriti professors has forged with....Al-Jazeera.

(excerpt)
The potential for controversy over a relationship with Al-Jazeera is
not lost on officials at the journalism school. They haven’t
forgotten state lawmakers’ criticism in 2001 when KOMU-TV wouldn’t
allow broadcast reporters to wear American flag lapel pins.

http://www.showmenews.com/2006/Feb/20060212News009.asp

Oh yeah...UMissour J-School is Uncle Walter Cronkite’s alma mater.


12 posted on 10/05/2007 2:03:44 PM PDT by VOA
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

Wearing a pin is a personal choice, and Obama should have just said so instead of attempting to justify his decision. I don’t think any less of people who don’t want to wear pins, just as I don’t think any less of people who don’t want to put bumper stickers on their cars or hang flags on their houses. We should be free to express our sentiments (or not) as we choose.


13 posted on 10/05/2007 2:05:59 PM PDT by John Jorsett (scam never sleeps)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

The reason Nixon wore a flag pin and Kennedy didn’t was because the trend started during Nixon’s presidency. I remember it well. It was the result of a backlash against all the anti-war types back in the late ‘60s-early ‘70s. I had an American flag decal on my car at the time as did many others. It was also during that same time that police officers began wearing sewn on American flag patches on their uniforms.


14 posted on 10/05/2007 2:11:11 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono (If you don't want people to get your goat, don't tell them where it's tied.)
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To: John Jorsett

Obama said that wearing the pin was a lazy way to claim you were patriotic. He said that he was/is genuinely patriotic in defending this country.

So what action has he taken on securing the border?


15 posted on 10/05/2007 2:16:52 PM PDT by weegee (NO THIRD TERM. America does not need another unconstitutional Clinton co-presidency.)
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd
ABC Puzzles Over 'Obsession' With U.S. Flag Pins; Notes Nixon Wore One

ABC President David Westin banned on-air talent from having such pins adorn their lapels. In 2003, he deemed it the "patriotic duty" of reporters not to display the flag.

And ABC banning all on-air talent from wearing a US Flag pin isn't obsessing?

16 posted on 10/05/2007 2:17:19 PM PDT by RJL
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To: freemarket_kenshepherd

Nonsense, ABC ... “I’m Proud To Be an American” is nothing new. We just don’t want that to turn into nostalgia.


17 posted on 10/05/2007 2:21:20 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: xcamel
Chee' wear de' rrrrrrribbon!
18 posted on 10/05/2007 2:25:04 PM PDT by johnny7 ("But that one on the far left... he had crazy eyes")
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To: Inyo-Mono
I had an American flag decal on my car at the time as did many others.

I had forgotten about that. The "doves" gave me the finger many times because of that decal.

19 posted on 10/05/2007 2:37:48 PM PDT by ncpatriot
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To: weegee

“Obama said that wearing the pin was a lazy way to claim you were patriotic.”

Then proudly wear a yellow plastic wrist band to prove you’re a patriot.


20 posted on 10/05/2007 2:56:56 PM PDT by 353FMG (Government is the opiate of the people.)
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