I haven't watched the video, but I did see Mr. Obama explain the flag saluting thing the other night on the news. There was something floating around the internet on this (email) which I assume is the same thing on the video. He said regarding the picture in the email, the flag was actually behind him, and there was a person speaking in front of him, and he was listening to the person, so he didn't feel it was appropriate to salute the flag which was behind him, in that particular situation.

I have seen numerous pictures of him saluting the flag, so in my opinion it is erroneous for anyone to suggest that he "refuses to salute the flag properly."


As far as the flag pin,this is what he told ABC news: The Illinois senator answered the question at length, explaining that he no longer wears such a pin, at least in part, because of the Iraq War.

"You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.

"Instead," he said, "I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism. I'm less concerned with what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart," Obama said Thursday while campaigning in Independence, Iowa.

"You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. And you show your patriotism by being true to your values and ideals. And that's what we have to lead with, our values and ideals," Obama said.


Personally, I would never judge a person's patriotism by whether or not he/she wears a pin. In my mind, a person's actions define whether or not they're a patriot, and it sounds like that is what Obama is saying.