Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
In response to Eugene Volokh's incredibly stupid WSJ op-ed about Obama's lack of a flag pin on his lapel, Roy Edroso brings the unvarnished truth:
Wearing a flag pin isn't like telling your spouse that you love him or her. Unless you are a U.S. servicemember, or Captain America, or attending a naturalization ceremony, wearing a flag pin means you are a dick.
From the guy who fired Brad from All-American Burger in Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Fox anchors to the creeps who run for office to American Dad!, the flag pin has proved a reliable symbol of dickitude. Seldom have I seen an otherwise normally-dressed guy wearing a flag pin and thought, oh, isn't that sweet, he's telling America that he loves her! No, long experience has taught me that the pin-wearer wants something from me: either my vote, or an unearned advantage for whatever song-and-dance or sales pitch he's about to spool out. Or he wants the other Republicans in the room to spot him, so they can huddle privately and exchange stories about how they dicked someone over. Or he wants to pass for a dick so the other dicks won't gang up on him. Which makes him a dick.
Like most generalizations, this one is not foolproof, but coupled with common sense it is close enough to get you through most days. What Obama was trying to tell us with his gesture was simply that he is not a dick. It's not probative, but it's a step in the right direction.
Also, Professor Volokh? Total dick.
Update: Bill Maher says it represents a nearby but different body part.
When I went through military basic training ('67, back before deregulation) one of the things we were harangued about was "flag etiquette". One does not wear the flag. It is not used for advertising. There are rules for what is a proper all-weather 24-hour display.
It's not a bad thing that those rules are no longer the law, but how they got reversed and became gestures of civic piety doesn't work for me. When I see someone wearing a flag, it's usually a chickenhawk draft-dodger. Calling that person a dick gives him credit than he doesn't deserve.
Sorry, Otto, I think the "dick" label pretty much nails it.
Posted by: bitchphd at October 11, 2007 08:28 PMWearing a flag pin simply makes one a goofball, not a dick. However, based on one criterion, this only makes Obama a goofball, albeit an articulate and smarmy one. But based on other criteria, it's entirely possible that Obama could be a dick. It cannot be ruled out.
Posted by: Jon at October 11, 2007 09:02 PMObama has not racked up a large body count, which is more than I can say for many of the other candidates, who are by and large sociopathic murderer thief kidnapper extortionists.
Posted by: Jon at October 11, 2007 09:05 PMEdroso is exactly right - since 9/11, the flag pin-wearer wants to proclaim uber-patriot status, the better to gain the deep satisfactions provided from falling into tribal passions and from picking the American pocketbook, all while avoiding serious questions about what "limited government" is supposed to mean. It's the precise OPPOSITE of patriotism.
That this is Volokh's self-serving agenda is rather clear. He has other recent posts up on his "libertarian" blog that fairly scream his dicktitude.
Posted by: TokyoTom at October 12, 2007 12:30 AMObama may not be a dick, but he is the Antichrist.
Posted by: Gaijin Biker at October 12, 2007 12:36 AMFlag pins = patriotic flair.
"We need to talk about your flair."
"Really? I-I have 15 pieces on. I also--"
"Well, 15 is the minimum, okay?"
"Oh, okay."
"Now, you know, it's up to you whether or not you wanna just do the bare minimum or, uh-- Well, like Brian, for example, has 37 pieces of flair on today. And a terrific smile."
Posted by: ajay at October 12, 2007 12:14 PMY'know, it's like these people think that the war is a high school football game.
Posted by: Charles Watkins at October 12, 2007 09:04 PMAlso, Professor Volokh? Total dick.
You better watch it, apo. Such uncongenial talk might get you dropped from the Unfogged blogroll!
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at October 13, 2007 12:14 AM"You know, the Nazis had pieces of flair that they made the Jews wear!"
"What?"
Posted by: Gaijin Biker at October 14, 2007 09:36 PM