ABC Puzzles Over 'Obsession' With U.S. Flag Pins; Notes Nixon Wore One

NewsBusters.org ^ | Oct. 5, 2007 | Scott Whitlock

[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."

[Spok]

The hammer and sicle would be more appropriate.

[muawiyah]

Could be. Here, however, we have a political puke who was wearing a flag pin and after we were attacked by his friends (AlQaida) he took off the flag ~ presumably to await our surrender.

Tell us you don't care to defend that sort of behavior.

[fleagle]

Well said. The left loves to jump on the bumper stick, American flag, and flag lapel pin issue, which is a non-issue as far as I’m concerned. Although it always make me glad to see citizens proudly and appropriately displaying the U.S. flag.