About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Obama in Trouble Over Flags Again?

There was an uproar when Obama stopped wearing that that damn flag pin. Another firestorm ensued over the removal of the American flag from the tail of his campaign plane, even though both candidates make over their campaign planes with all kinds of goofy logos.

After all these claims that he's being unpatriotic, you'd think Obama's campaign would be a little wary about anything that might show disrespect to a US flag.

Think again. Fox News reports 84 trash bags containing 12,000 miniature US flags have been found at the site of Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech. CBS scoffs at this story, noting the flags were merely being held in storage, and were going to be donated somewhere. Oh yeah, the Republicans are avoiding talking about the issues, too.

Sink me, but do you "store" flags in garbage bags?

If in storage, how the hell did the McCain camp get them?

Update: David Harsanyi, of the Denver Post, broke this story. Here's one of his updates:

"I just spoke with the person at Invesco who found the flags and he thinks both sides are exaggerating a bit. The person claims the majority of the bags with flags in them were near the trash, on a dock, and would have been thrown away. The person thinks it was probably an 'oversight' by the Democrats rather than any nefarious plot against the flag. But the person doesn’t believe anyone was coming to get them: he flags were there for a week and a day and no one came looking for them.'"

35 comments:

Blah Society said...

FOX News = Not a real news story.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I suspect you're right. The real question is whether these flags were in storage. Although I have a rought time believing a political campaign could be so stupid as to discard American flags, how did McCain's camp get them?

Anonymous said...

John Brinson and Bobby 'Gubber' Walsh look out you right-wing wackos have company. It's the new OHare and Angle show.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

Check this page out http://www.firefightersforobama.com/index.cfm?Section=16&PageNum=166

"Rumor Control" it's rather sad these off the wall rumors need a page to debunk them. Is it 1855 again?

The GOP's fan base is starting to resemble the towns folks from Monty Python and the holy grail. Barrack Obama "he's a witch!"

Maybe thats so as to avoid McCain's record being discussed by groups like IAFF or IVAW(Iraqi Veterans against the war).

I love these right wing "wingnuts" who still call Washington Journal and refrence rev. Wright and then say they also don't trut Obama because he's a "Muslim".

Maybe McCains new campaign slogan should be "McCain / Palin 2008. No Colored folks on our ticket!" , or maybe Fox needs a new slogan "Fox News--- We burn the cross, you kick the box from under the noose."

OR "Fox news--- Hitler used flags to brainwash too."

Anonymous said...

Say what you like about the source of the story, but the facts are the facts. The flags were in the trash.

My son, brother and nephew are currently serving under that flag for all of us.

It's bad enough that both sides use flags for campaign props. It's worse when flags are treated like hot dog wrappers and not treated with respect.

I support the right of anyone to burn a flag in protest. This disposal had no higher purpose than to get rid of convention trash.

It's ironic that the flags were likely intended for symbolism. I'm rather certain I've gotten the picture.

Bill said...

Well I guess there is nothing of significance occurring in the county if these are the things that are being focused on by the GOP in this campaign. How sad we have moved beyond truth to the new standard of "truthiness".

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/plane

Anonymous said...

I find rogans comments racist, inaapropriate,not too mention ridiculously wrong. If that is his take , one could call the Democratic party "the womwn need not apply party." His commnets had no purpose what so ever other than to debase other people. It is this sort of thing that draws the political system into the gutter.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I checked the links cited. Neither of them have a damn thing to do with this story. I'm aware of the reputation of FOX news, but I have two questions that have not been answered.

1) Why were these flags being stored in trash bags?

2) If in storage, how did McCain get them?

By all means, let's talk about issues. Trust is one of those issues. I lean Obama, but would like some answers instead of hearing that Fox News sucks.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I find rogans comments racist, inaapropriate,not too mention ridiculously wrong

That's Spike. I give him a lot of poetic license.

Anonymous said...

Actually Bill, this is a story from the Dems. They found out that a member of the grounds crew was annoyed enough when he found the flags that he gave the bags to someone from McCain's campaign to use in their convention. All of a sudden the Democratic party is alleging that McCain stole the flags. That's what made this a story. Obama is calling this theft.

Anonymous said...

I don't care that someone assigned to pack up after a three-day party put the paper flags in garbage bags. I don't find fascinating whether the clean-up crew showed a lack of sensitivity when disposing of 12,000 flags, which Anonymous 7:22 correctly described as party favors. I don't see it as slap in the face to patriotic Americans that the flags may have been stored in garbage bags, nor even if they were intended for the garbage man.
Yes, it's a non story and it's sad.

Anonymous said...

Unemployment is at 6.1% and we talk about flags?

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Unemployment is at 6.1% and we talk about flags?"

Absolutely. This is a story. I am concerned whether the American flag is being viewed as nothing more than a "party favor," as Anon 9:11 noted. What concerns me even more is why I can't get a frank answer. Instead of saying, "let's talk about the issues," why aren't Dem officials answering the questions?

I told you thje flags were found in garbage bags. According to The Seattle Times, those garbage bagfs were being "stored" in and around garbage bins.

donmiles said...

Bernie: you've been had by another Fox Noise failure to fact-check. The flags-as-trash story is completely bogus.
See how it got manufactured HERE:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/214283.php
The issue isn't that Fox Noise "sucks", as you cautioned: it's that they have an agenda. Their head, Roger Ailes, was the disinformation guru for the sainted Ronald Reagan. And Karl Rove is now on Fox's payroll.
Take care, Bernie: you don't want to start forwarding campaign scams by Karl Rove :-)

Sebrink said...

Bernie, I disagree. This is a non-story. American flag pins are made in Hong Kong, just like the 'support our troops' magnets that these tools put on their cars. The pins were probably not needed anymore and discarded, properly, because they are plastic pieces of junk. Remeber, these are flag PINS, not actual flags

Bernie O'Hare said...

Papier,

These are not party favors. These are American flags.

Don,

I appreciate the point that Cameron's credibility (FOX) is suspect. But I'd like to know whether these flags were in trash bags by garbage pins, as the Seattle Times reports. I consider that a story, if true.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, I don't know what happened, but Mike Fleck was spotted by the trash bins.

Anonymous said...

You Pennsyltuckians should stop clinging to your guns and religion and flags. You're all a bunch of unsophisticated, Hillary-loving, not-ready-to-vote-for-a-black-dude rednecks who need to get your heads out of your asses and get down with my whole change thing. No wonder it's taken Michelle this long to be proud of this stupid country. I'm tired of asking. I'm very popular. I deserve your vote already.

Sebrink said...

...agree to disagree then. I see these as party favors and not flags....cheap party favors. And the American flag cake that my mom makes on July 4th, the one with the strawberries for red stripes and a field of blueberrys and marshmallow stars, I see that as a cake and not a flag.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Bernie. These are flags that were put in the trash, not old socks!!! Have some respect for your country.

We, my family, have a flag flying all year long, whether it is the flag on the large pole of our house or the little ones that we buy at the dollar store. When they get too old, they are burned in an respectful way. This is the way it is supposed to be done!

I don't know exactly where Obama stands with his respect for the country, but you can bet your ass that he won't get my vote.

FemNazi

PavlovsDog said...

*SIGH!!!!!!!!!*

One must occasionaly find humor in the slack-jawed knuckle draggers over at Fox News.

This is such a non-issue. It is trivial compared to the other issues the blasted media should be talking about.

PavlovsDog said...

"Say what you like about the source of the story, but the facts are the facts. The flags were in the trash.

My son, brother and nephew are currently serving under that flag for all of us.

It's bad enough that both sides use flags for campaign props. It's worse when flags are treated like hot dog wrappers and not treated with respect.

I support the right of anyone to burn a flag in protest. This disposal had no higher purpose than to get rid of convention trash.

It's ironic that the flags were likely intended for symbolism. I'm rather certain I've gotten the picture."

No need to wave the 'military relatives' flag around. Many people have served or have had immediate relatives serve.

I'm sure BHO did not himself put the flags in in a trash bag. Some dumb intern (at one time I was one) probably did, not realizing that some people would get their panties in a wad. They probably didn't realize that the man is patriot and a flag is merely a symbol. He's running for President of the very country that flag represents.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I'm sure BHO did not himself put the flags in in a trash bag. Some dumb intern (at one time I was one) probably did, not realizing that some people would get their panties in a wad.

Valima, That's pretty much my take. Somebody screwed up. So why not just admit it?

The cover up is always worse than the actual offense and I suppose that's what's bothering me.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

papier boy, GREAT POINT! And oh yes how many Republicans fly American flags made in Red Commie china outside their houses and those ones you stick between the car window and roof?

If you bought an American flag at Wal-Mart you probaly have one made in china. And well those arent REAL AMERICAN FLAGS, they are kindling for Anti American protest abroad.

And what about the American flag bandanas and du rags so many "USA" chanters wear? Is it ok to wear the flag? Why were no republicans up set when at the Superbowl where we saw Janet Jackson tit blurred, no one and I mean NO ONE, bitched about freaking "Kid Rock" wearing a US flag like a cheap poncho!

Oh thats right Kid Rock is a famous Republican so its OK!

Anonymous said...

valima shows barry's shame (which is to say, none). there's a theme here.

Anonymous said...

Spike...

What does buying an American Flag bought at Walmart have to do with throwing them in the trash?

An American Flag is an American Flag no matter where it is made. Remember NAFTA? Get a grip!!!

As for wearing American flags as du rags and bandanas, you liberals wanted it, so deal with it!!!!

Also, Janet Jackson's tit...who cares...it was a tit!!!


GO KID ROCK!!!!

FemNazi

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw

Anonymous said...

BO,
After the ALL the trash at the convention, why would you go though the effort of sorting flags, rolling them up and placing many in boxes and the rest in storage/garbage. These items were certainly segregated for reuse and were heisted for a shameful political stunt. This would be different if they were in a dumpster and mixed with other trash. They were not. Guess that is what the GOP does when they cannot talk the issues.

I agree with AJ. FAUX news! Enough said.

So many issues to talk about. BO, maybe you could point out the many misstatements and misleading facts on the McCain Palin stump speeches and Palins speech to nowhere. Maybe McCain’s straight talk express should be call the John McCain/Plain Lying Express.

Interesting how after a McCain spokesperson was asked toughed issue oriented questions about Palin’s record, McCain responded by canceling a TV interview with the network. Now Palin refuses to talk and/or take questions from the Press. Bet her first interview is with Jeff Gannon (The Whitehouse planted reporter).

We were mislead by Bush. Now we are being mislead by McCain. More of the same.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I've read elsewhere that Palin is being kept under wraps. From Wednesday until today, that is understandable. Over an extended period, it is not.

As far as the flags being carefully bundled is concerned, I saw the pictures. I'm pretty sure that some flunkie just screwed up. What bothers me is the failure to simply acknowledge that and move on.

If stolen, why not report it to the police? After 8 days, it's pretty clear that nobody was coming for them. Perhaps they were just forgotten.

Anonymous said...

Who the Hell are you that they need to acknowledge you before they move on.
You really let this blog thing go to your head. Your own personal banana republic, Sadam O'Hare.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Here we go with the anonymous personal attacks. No one said that Dems had to acknowledge anything to me. What I said is that the explanation provided makes no sense. Obama does not have to appeal to me - he has to appeal to the center. He gets nowhere by conveying the image that he does not take the flag seriously. I personally don't give a rat's ass whether he wears a flag pin on his lapel or paints over the American flag on the tail of his campaign plane. But lots of people do, and I presume he'd like them to vote for him. That's reality. He gets nowhere by providing a BS explanation that the flags were "stolen" by Rs to make him look bad.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

Obamas use of mini flags no where near as DISGRACEFULL as the foreign policythe Neo_cons have done under the "american flag" chanting "USA"

OR

What that swine Henry Kissinger did under the cover of the American flag for years. Ask Cambodia, Chile, if mini flags in a trash bag is worst than bankrolling the over throw of leaders to prop up blood thirst dictators.

I know I get more pissed when some ass clown waves the Flag chants "USA, USA" and uses that to promote anti-american ideals.

Why no outrage from McCain over the flag being used so cheaply to propagate and lie us into Iraq?

Oh yes thats right AGAIN! Republicans can do what ever the fuck they want (to,with,or wrapped in the flag), and Liberals like me should bow down and just take it.

Or how about the possible VP Hubby being a sepratist. Thats way worst than once dealing with a reformed , former weather underground member decades later. Oh yes thats sexist point out the MAN in that marriage was supportive of Anti-American vaulues. Gee they love they flag but not supporting what it REALLY stands for.

How about better funding for the VA??? No? Oh but "USA!USA!USA!USA!' Wave that flag while we screw the vets over. YEeeHaaaa!

Lets talk about REAL AMERICAN FLAG ISSUES! McCain and the GOP fall on their face like a lush every time!

Oh and I thought when I first heard this scandal "Who let Mike Fleck clean up the convention?"

And I thought it was the Arenas staff not the Democrats who clean up the place?

And if the Democrats really wanted to talk issues in the race for 1600 PA AVE, let Nader and McKinney debate. They will only speak to REAL issues not "who is the bigger yankee doodle dandy?"

Anonymous said...

the louder spike squeals, the better we know mccain is doing.

Anonymous said...

"Or how about the possible VP Hubby being a sepratist."

You mean her husband of Eskimo descent, right?

Anonymous said...

You are tne man Spike! You are no more irrational than O'Hare and I doubt he has ever been rational.
Keep fighting the good fight.