Classic Washington Politics

Barack Obama on the May 4, 2008 edition of Meet The Press:

This gas tax, which was first proposed by John McCain and then quickly adopted by Senator Clinton, is a classic Washington gimmick.

Barack Obama on May 13, 2008, according to Mike Dorning of The Swamp, a Baltimore Sun weblog:

So what is that on Barack Obama's lapel as he speaks at a town meeting in conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh's hometown, Cape Girardeau, Mo.?

Why, it's a flag pin!

For the second day in a row, Obama has pinned the Stars and Stripes to his suit lapel. He also wore a flag pin yesterday at an appearance in Charleston, W.Va., in which he spoke about patriotism and veterans issues.

When is a "gimmick" a "gimmick?" Apparently when the subject is Hillary Clinton, not Barack Obama.

An About-Face, Obama Style

Barack Obama, courageously, on October 3, 2007, according to cbsnews.com:

You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. 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 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.

And Barack Obama on May 13, 2008 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, according to The New York Times:

Sure enough, Mr. Obama, wearing a flag lapel pin for the second day in a row, walked out of the building to the announcement of Mrs. Clinton’s victory and headlines calling it a blowout.

One day, "a substitute for true patriotism." Seven months later, standard attire. Sounds like typical Washington politics to me- oh, wait, that's what Barack Obama criticizes.