That’s what Richard Cohen of the WaPo likes best about Barack Obama. (My thanks to Stanley Kurtz for this little nugget over at The Corner.)
It is where other politicians wear the American flag pin, a kitschy piece of empty symbolism that tells you nothing about that particular person except that he or she thinks like everyone else. Obama’s flag, invisible to the naked eye, is the Jolly Roger of a politician thinking for himself.
Well.
I imagine those who think like Mr. Cohen would probably expect me to have spotted the missing “kitschy piece of empty symbolism” immediately, being one of those dim-bulb military vets who reflexively look for every politician’s overt display of patriotism.
I never thought to look, frankly.
But now that it has been brought to my attention, I listened to the Narrative, both Obama’s and his opponents, and thought it rather silly (on both sides).
I thought Obama’s response petty and self-absorbed. Sort of like one of his wife’s campaign speeches. C’mon, dude. The Orwellian true-patriotism-is-best-demonstrated-by-a-conscious-rejection-of-one-of-its-most-common-symbols shtick was as clumsy as it was transparent. If most Democrats think like that, whoa; I’m in a very different country. Then again, maybe they do.
As for his critics: guys, pick more important things to tag the opponent with, OK? There are plenty. And I’m not even talking about Pastor Jeremiah. Obama’s record in the Senate is a good place to start (Hint: a McCain-like compromiser he ain't). His position on the Second Amendment, anyone? But I digress…
“Kitschy.” Hmmm. From Wikipedia: “…any art that is pretentious to the point of being in bad taste, and also commercially produced items that are considered trite or crass.” So. A senior commentator in one of the nation’s leading newspapers finds the American flag lapel pin to be “pretentious,” “bad taste,” “trite,” and “crass.”
I cannot agree, though I am not surprised that Mr. Cohen would think it so. Affection for America, for the freedoms it guarantees, the benefits one enjoys living in it, the opportunities and successes it has offered and awarded Mr. Cohen is so…80s.
I find the phrase “empty symbolism” particularly telling. Does Richard Cohen seriously believe the flag of the United States is an empty symbol? This is not just a cheap shot by a smug left-wing scribbler pandering to his like-minded readers who subscribe to the Post. (Well, yeah, it is, actually. –Ed.) It defies reason.
Hundreds of thousands have risked their lives for the opportunity to pledge allegiance to it. It is the symbol of a nation that holds dear that the rule of law is supreme to the rule of men. It is a symbol of a nation that produced leaders committed to a government, “…of the people, by the people, for the people…” It is the symbol of a nation that replaces its leaders on a regular basis by peaceful means. It is a nation where the average standard of living, for even its poorest citizens (even Michelle, poor dear), is one of the highest on the planet. It is a nation that dominates the world in the advancement of science and technology. And it is a nation that was born with an obscenely ugly institution of slavery, then cleansed itself of that great blemish by force of arms and then reinvented its national psyche to not only allow, but enthusiastically encourage, an American of African descent to run for its highest office.
I know I’m wasting my breath (but electrons are cheap) but I found this particular rant breathtaking in its arrogance, ingratitude, smugness, pretentious self-righteousness and stupidity.
Moreover, I think Mr. Cohen missed the irony of his story’s point, that to wear the pin is political “pandering.” In a way, the pin does represent a new low in pandering by its conspicuous absence. It panders to a significant portion of Barack Obama’s base supporters who think it too “kitschy.”
Right, Mr. Cohen?
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