McCain Troops Rescue Old Glory
September 7th, 2008 at 05:51am Mark Noonan
Just all too typical:
Democrats are not caring for their Stars and Stripes. At least that’s the message out of John McCain’s campaign.
McCain supporters, claiming they rescued 12,000 miniature American flags from the site of Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech last Thursday, redistributed the orphan flags to audience members ahead of a McCain rally in Colorado Springs on Saturday.
The move was an overt swipe at Obama from a campaign whose motto has been “country first.” But Democratic convention organizers claimed the flags were not going to be discarded — but instead were snatched from the site of Obama’s historic address to carry out a “cheap political stunt.”
McCain supporters said the flags were discovered by a vendor at Denver’s Invesco Field after the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention. The vendor supposedly found trash bags full of flags in and near garbage bins, and turned them over to the McCain campaign.
Boy Scouts were sorting through 84 bags of flags in Colorado on Saturday, before a McCain supporter had veterans distribute them to the audience.
“We want to find good homes for these flags,” radio host Dan Caplis said at the rally, adding that whatever flags remained would be placed at memorials throughout Colorado.
Audience members, who booed when Caplis announced that the flags were left in Denver, waved the flags and chanted “U.S.A” before McCain arrived at the rally with his running mate, Sarah Palin.
Damon Jones, spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, released a statement saying McCain should applaud the fact that thousands of American flags were “proudly waved” at their convention.
“But instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play out a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism,” he said.
Two problems here:
Why didn’t the masses of asses take the flags home?
Is there no one in Team Obama who thought, “hey, US flags in a trash bag ain’t to cool”?
When I get a US flag, I keep it - and when the time comes for it to be retired, the trash isn’t the place I dispose of it. Somewhere in my garage there should still be, nicely rolled up, a flag I picked up by the side of the road shortly after 9/11…it was one of those flags people were attaching to their car windows and it must have blown off…I had noticed it as I was running to the scene of a car accident and I went back for it after the determination was made that no one was seriously injured and police and fire personnel were on the way. I just couldn’t let our flag lie in a ditch by the side of the road. The only thing I’d probably have more concern over would be the Blessed Sacrament (look it up). Its just too precious a symbol to be lightly cast away - too many men and women have shed their blood for it, you see?
And yet after Obama’s speech, it appears that thousands of Democrats lightly cast aside the semi-sacred symbol of the United States of America. The flags were just props - something to wave while the cameras were on, but not something needed at home, or to be treated with respect.
Really, Democrats - get with the program. Being patriotic isn’t hard, and holding in respect the symbols of our nation should come as naturally as breathing.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, DNC08, Democrats, Patriotism, Republicans
47 Comments
1. Danish Artist | September 7th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I am surprised that the “blame America first” crowd did not burn them. It would have been closer to proper disposal than dumping them in the garbage.
But the Dummycrats made an attempt at making their convention green. After the limo shortage, they could have at least recycled the flag properly. There are recycling services for American flags out there.
Why do the leftist Democrats hate their flag and country so much?
2. Timestar | September 7th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Yet another distraction that will not answer many of the questions left behind by this Republican administration.
I do believe the next timed Palin should wear a proper flag label pin and not that little jeweled job with its six stripes.
3. phnx | September 7th, 2008 at 7:51 am
“Yet another distraction ” Timestar
The typical reaction of the left which has no respect for our flag, what it represents, or the men and women who have died in service to their country.
Thanks for showing your true colors.
4. extramedium | September 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I guess all those patriots who like to seethe about “flag mistreatment” stories are going to think twice about voting for Obama now.
5. Timestar | September 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am
3. phnx | September 7th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’ll play along. Then why does Palin where a lapel pin with six stripes and a few jeweled stars? Isn’t Palin dissing America by your standards?
6. Timestar | September 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am
“wear”
7. Danish Artist | September 7th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Blondestar,
What questions have the liberal Democrat Congress answered, besides where they will go on vacation, while many of their promises from the election remained unsolved to the suffering of the American people (or so they claimed then)?
The only distraction is imbeciles such as yourself. Why didn’t the leftists burn the flags and state that they were properly disposing of them? That would have killed two birds with one stone - respectful disposal and protest.
Oh, that’s right leftists aren’t that clever.
8. JS | September 7th, 2008 at 8:48 am
it really doesnt matter why
why obama doesnt raise his hand to his heart when the national anthem plays
why obama, a us senator, doesnt wear a US Flag lapel pin like his peers do
why obama promotes cowardice by suggesting we withdraw from iraq
why obama lets the us flag be trashed…
it doesnt matter why
all that matters is that we know…
9. Retired Spook | September 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I do believe the next timed (sic) Palin should wear a proper flag label pin and not that little jeweled job with its six stripes.
How is that any different than the one Obama wears with 57 (or is it 58 or 60) stars?
I guess all those patriots who like to seethe about “flag mistreatment” stories are going to think twice about voting for Obama now.
I’m not sure which offends me more, disrespect for the flag that I served under for 24 years or comments like Extramedium’s insinuating that it’s no big deal. Extra, I think the number of voters who were sitting on the fence and were are offended by this kind of behavior is going to astound you. This is just part of a pattern of Democrat behavior, like the team of lawyers the Gore campaign sent to Florida in 2000 for the sole purpose of discrediting as many military absentee ballots as possible. There ARE Democrats who ARE patriotic and DO respect the symbol of the greatest country on earth. I’m sure there are Independents and undecideds too who are just looking for something to clinch their decision one way or the other. If only 10th of 1% were offended enough by this show of disrespect to alter the way they vote, that’s potentially over 200,000 votes.
10. kmg | September 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Why are McCain and Palin trafficing in stolen goods? The flags were stolen from Invesco Field by a vendor.
BTW, where is Sarah? the other three candidates are on the Sunday shows, but Sarah is in hiding. McCain told her she was not allowed to talk unless she was giving a prepared speech.
11. Danish Artist | September 7th, 2008 at 10:06 am
kmg,
you know today is Sunday. I am sure Sarah is clinging to her guns and bible today.
First, you leftists want her to stay home with her family and now…..
Make up your minds…oh, you can’t until you receive the fax of daily talking points like the ones you just posted.
Theft? - this is the leftist talking point in response?
Items left in the garbage are for public access. You know this, the police can sort through garbage without a warrant. Come on, you know us righties, who cling to our bibles and guns while in our trailers can’t resist going through the garbage of elites hoping to find a couch or something that is useful.
You got caught again - flag waving to you leftists is good for the camers and the mindless imbeciles and ignorant masses who support you. Once its purpose has been realized, you drop it as if it is on fire. Obama has done that consistently - Wright, Ayers, Rhezko, his typical white grandmother, NAFTA, the bridge to nowhere, earmarks, etc. etc. etc.
The desperation continues.
12. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
The point is not that the Obama camp left the flags in trash bags - some filled with garbage - next to trash cans for over a week (although that is appalling as it is), their excuses for doing so are extremely lame. The only ones who are buying it are the Obamabots.
13. CanadianObserver | September 7th, 2008 at 10:14 am
McCain Troops Rescue Old Glory
September 7th, 2008 at 05:51am Mark Noonan
———————————–
The McCain troops rescued nothing; as kmg says, they stole flags that were packed for storage. Why Republicans lie so much is a testimony to their inadequacy.
By the way, has anyone compiled the number of lies spouted by the Republicans since this long and drawn out election process started?
I would love to see Palin appear on any one of the Sunday talk shows today and say how disgusted she is with the mistreatment of the American flag by the Democratic party and then see her be shot down by the truth.
Of course, that will never happen. Looks as if she will be MIA from any interaction with the press for who knows how long. Sadly, for her, every day missing will lessen her reputation as that Barracuda fighter.
14. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Why would the Obama camp leave behind over 12,000 flags for OVER A WEEK? Why were these flags in TRASH BAGS and not boxed up? Why were these flags placed next to TRASH CANS?
15. neocon | September 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Masses of Asses - Mark Noonan
Priceless!!
The lefties are claiming the flags were stolen? Next to the garabage bins and week AFTER the convention? Exactly which storage site were they headed to?
Now are lefties also want Palin to leave her family and be on the Sunday talk circuit. I thought they accused her of already spending too much time away from the family, but be careful what you ask for. She will be there soon and her presence will probably give McCain a 2 to 3 point bounce. You’re lucky it’s not this week.
16. WhatChange | September 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Yea, you can tell by what comes out of their mouths that the Dems love the flag and America! Everything evil in the world is America’s fault, what more to prove their love of the flag? Barry not holding his hand over his heart, Barry respects the flag! Michelle was proud one day in her life to be an American, she loves the flag! Barry hangs with Ayers, renowned terrorist, proof again he loves the flag!
kmg, alias liberal homophobe, and CO, Canadian coward, screw off.
17. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 10:31 am
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/06/MNMM12OT2S.DTL
Democrats do not think that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s arrival in the enemy camp changes Sen. Barack Obama’s path to the White House. As far as they’re concerned, Republican John McCain’s running mate is President George W. Bush.
As Obama told voters in Pennsylvania on Friday, “This race is not a personality contest.”
That bet is about to be tested.
Independent observers in Ohio think Palin does change the race, enhancing the GOP’s appeal - not among the women who supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, but among white men. They say Palin’s most potent weapon may even be her snowmobiler, union husband, Todd.
“If you see him turning up in Appalachian Ohio and up in Canton and Warren and the old steel towns, I think he would play very, very well,” said Ken Heineman, an Ohio University political analyst. “If they try to go after his DUI conviction, jeez, his whole up-from-the-blue-collar thing? He’s going to resonate very well among swing voters and among male Democrats, the blue-collar Democrats that Obama did not win in the primary. He would be an incredibly appealing figure, and of course, she is herself.”
Discussions are underway to deploy Todd Palin, a McCain aide said, even though he has taken leave from his oil-field job to care for the couple’s five children. He joked at an event Thursday, “If I had a crystal ball a few years ago, I might have asked a few more questions when Sarah decided to join the PTA.”
18. Magnum Serpentine | September 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am
All of this is republic grandstanding.
next
19. kmg | September 7th, 2008 at 10:43 am
What’s the source for the story of the flags being left with the garbage? The McCain campaign. That is not a credible source.
20. CanadianObserver | September 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
14. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am
———————————–
Kimberly, the vendor who found these flags must have been thoroughly disgusted to see them thrown in with common garbage. Surely, there should be photographic proof of this dastardly act. There must have been someone from the McCain troops with access to a camera to record this despicable behavior for posterity.
That would definitely put the Democratic denial of this matter to rest.
21. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Maybe not, kmg. But pictures are worth a thousand words.
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/mystery-solved/
22. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Wow, CO, you must be reading my mind. LOL. I’ve seen more photos around the net - ones with bags sitting next to trashcans … I’ll have to look for them.
23. extramedium | September 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Spook - save your outrage and victimhood for a legitimate affront - this is s a political stunt - nothing more. And nobody except right wing media junkies are going to pay any attention to it. And oh yeah, they weren’t going to vote for Obama anyway.
There are all sorts of examples of disposable American flags, and when normal people are finished with them, they dispose of them. When your American flag bumper sticker wears out, do you hold a retirement ceremony and sing God Bless America, or do you scrape it off with a razor blade and get on with your day?
24. neocon | September 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
extra,
Are you saying that the masses of asses discarded the “disposable” flags as soon as the lights went out and the cameras were off?
Were they to heavy to carry home? Or were they inconvenienced by them?
25. FmrMarine | September 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
CO
P!$$ OFF
Worry about kanada you know the empty attic to our north.
NOBODY and I mean NOBODY gives a crap what you think about the US or the Republican party
26. neocon | September 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Just a personal observation, everytime I am at an event, this July 4 comes to mind, and I am giving a small “disposable” American flag, I bring it home. NEVER ONCE DID I THINK ABOUT THROWING IT AWAY.
27. CanadianObserver | September 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
NOBODY and I mean NOBODY gives a crap what you think about the US or the Republican party
25. FmrMarine | September 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
———————————–
Then by all means, FmrMarine, you and everyone else here can stop reading and posting responses to them.
28. extramedium | September 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
neocon,
I don’t know what was happening with the flags - sounds like somebody grabbed some flags from the convention center and decided to make a big political stunt out of it. Right wing partisans say they were destined for the trash and left wing partisans say they were being stored for future events. Who am I to believe from either of these highly biased sources?
Whatever the case - it doesn’t matter. People of all stripes dispose of representations of the American flag every day. Is somebody here claiming to be an authority on when those disposals call for ceremony?
Just a political stunt folks.
29. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
“sounds like somebody grabbed some 12,000 flags from the convention center”
Fix it for you, extra.
30. neocon | September 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
extra,
A political stunt that the careless. selfish Democrats could have easily avoided.
They walked right into this and now they have eggon their face. Just like Obama does nearly everyday he is unscripted.
Did you know hw thinks he’s already the President?
31. neocon | September 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Oh and he wants to take away guns, but he just doesn’t have the votes.
32. WhatChange | September 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Hey libs , how much political traction are you clowns getting from the lies and distortions ablut our VP choice? I suspect a good bounce from this flag storg, seeing that Barry has a good friend in Bill Ayers and does not place his hand over his heart. The 3 should make a good single video ad on election eve night, terrorist Ayers, Obama asleep during the National anthem and American flags in the trash. Thanks also for trashing flyover country and working women with your anti Palin ads. Special thanks to the MSM as well!
33. kmg | September 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Speaking of Palin, where is she? I saw the other three candidates this morning, but McCain told her not to open her mouth until he told her to.
34. kimberly4victory | September 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
News2 spoke to the vendor who claimed to have discovered the flags after the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention at Invesco. The vendor, who did the exclusive interview on the condition that his name not be released, said he found trash bags full of flags in and near garbage bins, and turned them over to the McCain campaign.
“When I saw bags and bags of these being collected and rolled downstairs, I asked the maintenance people to stop, to put them on the side so I could collect them and use them,” the vendor said. “My original thought was to take them to the V.F.W., Logan Memorial Cemetery, Cub Scouts, anybody who would have a use for them.”
http://www.kwgn.com/pages/morning_news_landing/?News2-Exclusive-Vendor-who-rescued-flags=1&blockID=50405&feedID=202
Now, if the maintenance people had been told to keep them for the Obama camp, don’t ya think they would have told the vendor?
35. WhatChange | September 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
“Speaking of Palin, where is she?” kmg homophobe
I thought you lbs were interested in the 17 year old daughter. How is that smear campaign working for you guys? Awesome strategy, thanks!
Expect Todd Palin, union guy, to start campaigning in battleground union states Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania. I know, Biden’s lobbyist son will chew him up. Really can’t wait for election eve TV ad starring Ayers, Obama and flags in the trash. Maybe work Francois Kerry in testifying before Congress, and John Murtha talking about our Marine cold blooded murderers.
Go ahead, lie and distort Palin ad nauseum, then ask where she is. LOL. And may the voters choose between the anti-American and the American.
36. FactCheck | September 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
How did I know you poor saps would fall for this? You really are just that simple.
Of course, this is a useful example of how Republican politics operates. First and foremost, the entire “issue” (tongue firmly in cheek) is utterly pointless. So McCainiacs *steal* flags in order to make some BS non-point about “patriotism” (a word they have rendered meaningless). Their story is a lie (Republicans really, really like lies), but it’s already gotten out, and you can bet that it will join “Obama is a secret Musilm!” as one of the handy-dandy nuggets of scariness the Republican base of low-info voters will keep in mind. Sure, the correction is out there, but the lie got out first, and that’s what counts.
And, of course, you guys believe the lie wholeheartedly. It’s what you do. You don’t know any better.
But hey, at least this means you don’t have to talk about any real issues for the moment, right? And that, ultimately, is the point.
BTW, how many flags were at the RNC? Just the one fake one on the video screen? Why are you so unpatriotic? Why do you hate America?
37. WhatChange | September 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Purely coincidential that he is friends with terrorist Bill Ayers and does not place his hand over his heart. LOL with real Americans with that defense. How is the smear campaign against our VP candidate’s daughter working out for you anti-Americans?
38. LiberalNitemare | September 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hard to imagine the democrats passing up a chance to burn a flag.
39. Mark Noonan | September 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
kmg,
You know, there are now a total of 69 false rumors about Governor Palin - one of them is that she’s not available for the press to question her.
40. Danish Artist | September 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I see Fart Check just received his daily talking points.
“Stealing” is buzz word for today. This tactic is so reminiscent of the old Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers shows. “Can you say that?”, “Now repeat after me.”
Fart Check, it has been a week and Obama has hardly done anything except change the campaign focus against Palin. Doesn’t he know she is the VP nominee? Obama hasn’t returned to the issues just run smear after smear. The proof is in the advertising.
41. Mark Noonan | September 7th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
extra,
You’re not getting it - the fact that the flags weren’t taken home is absolutely stunning: as has been pointed out, when most people get a flag, they keep it…didn’t the Donks want them as mementos, if nothing else? Where does the attitude come from which makes an AMERICAN toss aside Old Glory?
Then there’s the Team Obama failure - 12,000 US flags are not hard to miss. Didn’t anyone on Team Obama think for even a moment? Or is it that they, like the masses of asses, just care so little about the symbols of the United States that it never occurred to them that the picture of a US flag in a trash bag (and you can’t escape the fact that they were in trash bags) would look really bad?
I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever seen a US flag thrown in the trash, and I can’t recall a single instance of it - its just not done.
Now, as to the election - certainly it isn’t the burning issue of our times, but its a stupid mistake, we’re going to take advantage of it and we’re going to force Team Obama off message for a day or two with it. You don’t like it? Then tell your fellow Donks to have a bit of respect for Old Glory and Team Obama to be a lot more careful in future.
42. What? | September 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Mark writes:
“Now, as to the election - certainly it isn’t the burning issue of our times, but its a stupid mistake, we’re going to take advantage of it and we’re going to force Team Obama off message for a day or two with it. You don’t like it? Then tell your fellow Donks to have a bit of respect for Old Glory and Team Obama to be a lot more careful in future.”
Well, thank you for admitting you are basically playing politics with this issue and that this is not really worth talking about.
Mark writes:
“You’re not getting it - the fact that the flags weren’t taken home is absolutely stunning: as has been pointed out, when most people get a flag, they keep it…didn’t the Donks want them as mementos, if nothing else? Where does the attitude come from which makes an AMERICAN toss aside Old Glory?”
Stunning to you. The rest of the country doesn’t feel the need to carefully dispose of $.02 flags.
Do you really expect a person to keep and cherish every cheap American flag they have ever been handed at some event or holiday?
Please drop your Rockwellian version of patriotism and faux shock.
43. FactCheck | September 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
one of them is that she’s not available for the press to question her.
Where are her press conferences, then? Where is she taking questions from the press?
Why are so very, very interested in pushing lies? Isn’t that, you know, against your religion?
44. extramedium | September 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
“You’re not getting it - the fact that the flags weren’t taken home is absolutely stunning…”
“Then there’s the Team Obama failure…”
In saying this, I take it that you know how the flags were distributed (handed to people when they walked in, left on seats to be picked up by whomever sat there, etc.), You know that these flags were distributed to attendees and not extras. You know the claims of the Obama campaign that these were surplus and meant to be used at a future event are lies. You also know that if the flags we’re incorrectly handled, it would have been the fault of the Obama campaign staffers and not the employees of the facility.
To sum up - in making these smears, you seem to know a whole lot about what went on in the management of the Democratic National Convention that nobody else does. How is that? It’s not in the article that you linked.
45. JS | September 7th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
fact check; the flags were in the garbage
fact check; the DNC was responsible
factcheck; you sure look stupid
46. Ken | September 8th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Looks like to the democRATS, the American Flag is just another prop to be thrown away when no longer needed. As much as they carry on about how burning the flag is protected under the First Amendment, I’m shocked that they did not have a massive bonfire
47. baldeagle390 | September 8th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
When I was a lad I used to find it curious that grown men in their WWII uniforms would have tears in their eyes as they saluted the flag on Memorial Day. Now I understand that the flag represented the country they fought for and saw many of their friends die for. No big deal? You have got to be kidding! At the 4th of July parade in my hometown those little flags are handed out to the crowd by the VFW. I still have every one of those. I’ve never seen any of them thrown in the trash or on the ground. Maybe people take them home and thrown them away but I’ve never seen anyone do it in public. I’m sure that some of the comentators above don’t understand but trashing the Flag is an insult to most Americans but especially to vets and service men and women. Sorry, I just could not bring myself to do it out of respect for them.