Hillary Clinton wasn't wearing a flag pin last night, yet no questions on her patriotism. Isn't that interesting?

"What then?" "If my country's doing wrong I'm going to do everything I can to make it change course and do what's right." "And if everyone does that what sort of world?" "It'll be up to us."

I've been thinking of making "Constitution " pins and sending them to Democratic officials.Every fed official swears to "protect and defend the constitution" Think I should spend the money and do it?

Republican presidential campaign official Matthew Joseph Elliott was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child. Republican Party Chairman Donald Fleischman was charged with two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and a single charge of exposing himself to a child. Republican prosecutor John David Roy Atchison was arrested for soliciting sex from a 5-year old girl, then killed himself three weeks later. At the time of his arrest, Atchison was an “assistant U.S. attorney” appointed by President Bush’s attorney general. Republican city councilman John Bryan killed himself after police began investigating allegations that he had molested three girls, including two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15. Republican legislator Ted Klaudt was charged with raping girls under the age of 16. Republican city councilman Joseph Monteleone Jr. was found guilty of fondling underage girls. Republican congressional aide Jeffrey Nielsen was arrested for having sex with a 14-year old boy. Republican County Commissioner Patrick Lee McGuire surrendered to police after allegedly molesting girls between the ages of 8 and 13. Republican prosecutor Larry Corrigan was arrested for soliciting sex from 13-year old girls. Republican Mayor Jeffrey Kyle Randall was sentenced to 275 days in jail for molesting two boys — ages ten and 12 — during a six-year period. Republican County Board Candidate Brent Schepp was charged with molesting a 14-year old girl and killed himself three days later. Republican Congressman Mark Foley abruptly resigned from Congress after “sexually explicit” emails surfaced showing him flirting with a 16-year old boy. Republican executive Randall Casseday of the conservative Washington Times newspaper pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a 13-year old girl on the internet. Republican chairman of the Oregon Christian Coalition Lou Beres confessed to molesting a 13-year old girl. Republican County Constable Larry Dale Floyd pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting sex from an 8-year old girl. Floyd has repeatedly won elections for Denton County, Texas, constable. Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation. Republican Party leader Bobby Stumbo was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy. Republican petition drive manager Tom Randall pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 14, one of them the daughter of an associate in the petition business. Republican County Chairman Armando Tebano pleaded guilty to fondling a 14-year-old girl. Republican teacher and former city councilman John Collins pleaded guilty to sexually molesting 13 and 14 year old girls. Republican campaign worker Mark Seidensticker is a convicted child molester. Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls. Republican Mayor Tom Adams was arrested for distributing child pornography over the internet. Republican Mayor John Gosek was arrested on charges of soliciting sex from two 15-year old girls. Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17. Republican Committeeman John R. Curtin was convicted of molesting an underage teenage boy and sentenced to serve six to 18 months in prison. Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida. Republican zoning supervisor, Boy Scout leader and Lutheran church president Dennis L. Rader pleaded guilty to performing a sexual act on an 11-year old girl he murdered. Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor. Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl. Republican racist pedophile and United States Senator Strom Thurmond had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child. Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile. Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl. Republican advertising consultant Carey Lee Cramer was sentenced to six years in prison for molesting two 8-year old girls, one of whom appeared in an anti-Gore television commercial. Republican fundraiser Lawrence E. King, Jr. organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s. Republican lobbyist Craig J. Spence organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s. Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail. Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos. Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children. Republican campaign chairman Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child and was arrested again five years later on the same charge. Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page. Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter. Republican Judge Ronald C. Kline pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer. Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar. Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped. Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD. Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography. Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media. Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced prison after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him. Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl. Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her. Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison. Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl. Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy. Republican legislator Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children). Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was found guilty of molesting a 15-year old girl. Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child. Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl. Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters. Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl. Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy. Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison. Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000. Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession. Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet. Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter. Republican campaign worker, police officer and self-proclaimed reverend Steve Aiken was convicted of having sex with two underage girls. Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. Republican president of the New York City Housing Development Corp. Russell Harding pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer. Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was found guilty of raping a 15-year old girl. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women. Republican Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld authorized the rape of children in Iraqi prisons in order to humiliate their parents into providing information about the anti-American insurgency. See excerpt of one prisoner’s report here and his full report here.

Sent with a picture of the new John McCain lapel pin I could have for a donation: to show I am a true patriot?: Our campaign continues to prepare for the upcoming general election in November, and we are working to ensure John McCain is our next President. As a loyal Republican, we will need your support in our campaign against either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama this Fall in what will be a highly competitive race. Your support is crucial in sending John McCain to the White House as our next president, and that's why I ask for your support today. John McCain remains steadfast in his commitment to a brand of leadership that promotes principle over politics, and now he needs a commitment from you. With your immediate contribution of $100 or more in support of his presidential campaign, you will be sent an official John McCain 2008 lapel pin to identify you as a key McCain supporter. As president, John McCain will reduce the size of the federal government, reduce your tax burden and win the war against radical Islamic extremism. His vision for our country is a stark contrast to both Democratic candidates who want to expand the size of the federal government, raise your taxes and immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq because of mounting political pressure. The challenges facing our nation today demand tough solutions and these solutions require real leadership. Show your friends, family and neighbors that John McCain is the leader who will unite our party and win in November by following this link to make a donation for your exclusive lapel pin. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Rick Davis Campaign Manager

The language of patriotism, for many hundred of years, has been used to invoke a sense of pride in one's political institutions and the way those institutions have made possible the blessings of liberty for all--not just a few soldiers, or so-called 'war heroes'.

By comparison, "nationalism", which was the brainchild of the late 18th century Europe, is used primarily to defend and enforce specific cultural and ethnic norms of a people which can be lumped up as ideology. As one might expect, the enemy of nationalism is cultural contamination, racial differences, religious differences, and intellectual free thought.

Modern day nationalists have little or no regard for differences, open debates, or a tolerance of cultural differences. For the nationalist, our republic is not for the weal of the many as is traditionally understood by patriots. Far from it. We live in a regime, as it were, an orthodox pattern of regulated behavior in which one dominate race (natio) rules.

Patriotism, which is much different than nationalism, carries in its spirit a love of liberty which is shared commonly. It is an openness towards the other and a deep sense of fellow feeling despite cultural differences.

When it comes to war, a nationalist feels only secure if the nation has more power and prestige. War for the patriot is strictly a matter of defense, for the patriot is content with his freedom and his fellowship with others.

In this understanding those like Bush and McCain are no patriots. They are nationalists. The diminutive of this, by the way, in German is "nazi".

which everyone in Germany had to do, or be turned into the SS. If you were an agent for another country, wouldn't the first two things you would get is a flag pin and a Bible?

Are we next going to have to wear Elephant pins, Donkey pins, Bible pins, or whatever religion you are pins, and on and on? Yellow Star pins, Pink Triangle pins....... No thank you. I am an American. I do not have to tell anyone what I am or what I believe in. I have the right to decide what I will do to show my appreciation for my country. I do not wear a pin. I do not have a ribbon on the back of my car saying I support the troops. I actually try to keep my country a Constitutional Republic and I actually support my troops, by giving to Veterans groups and hounding Congress to pass all the benefits that they are entitled to. Unlike John McCain who wants to take away their benefits, so that they will stay in the military. Shame on him! Shame on all of those people who demand that someone wear a "Lapel Pin".

Privacy Rights. That is one of those Rights that they hate us for and our soldiers are giving their lives for. The Right to wear a pin or not.

Remember, after 911, all those people who put on those flag pins, and without thought, took us into an illegal war. Banners, pins, slogans all stop thinking and the one thing our Founding Fathers wanted was for all of us to THINK!

SPMOSHER - Santa Fe, NM (Just like Mexico... only new & improved with that classic Mexico taste! The fact that we are wearing our symbols of patriotism and love of country, the flag, as clothing or jewerly, or even better yet, as a ubiquitous marketing prop in a staged backdrop... these are all pandering tactics, and really shows nothing regarding the depth of American patriotism of the wearer. In fact, that is the primary difference. A true patriot bares his US flag, he does not wear it. I think Obama is correct on why he chooses not to adorn them. He has a respect for our flag, as a flag.. and not as something to be worn to show everyone how you feel. I think it's equivalent to a Jesus Night Light my grandmother had for years. I found it in the worse taste, and even blasphemous, to take the Christian savior of humanity, and stick a light bulb up his but and plug him in to the wall. That is why I choose not to wear the flag as jewelry, clothing or other crap Chinese products. If you truly respect the flag, then fly you flag, but don't wear it.

It's like all the SUPPORT THE TROOPS magnets on petroleum guzzling vehicles. Wrapping oneself in the flag, does not a patriot make. Flag waving (while crapping on the Constitution) is the height of BushCo's hypocrisy, but it still hits the right buttons with some voters, just as HRC's signing on to legislation banning flag-burning may seem to make her less of a"hippy/pinko/card-carrying liberal" to others. I am sad to say that my adolescent offspring refuses to pledge alliegence to the flag some mornings, saying sometimes it's hard to be proud of this nation. All my child has known of the USofA is GWB's perversion of our rule of law, claiming the Constitution is "just a GD piece of paper" and killing thousands of people to make his and his cronies' bank accounts bigger. I cannot blame the child, but try to explain that it wasn't always this way, and, if all the votes are counted this time, we will all be proud citizens again, not only of this Nation, but of the world.

The more important question should be, Where are the flag pins made? I have an idea where they came from and its not USA.

As I understand it, wearing a flag lapel pin is only mandatory if you are not lily-white. The 100% white people are assumed to be patriotic Americans. Anyone less white is suspect and therefore must self-identify by wearing the flag lapel pin.