SUMMER PROJECT/Current AP World History: If you've been following recent presidential campaign coverage, you probably know that the media has been buzzing about whether or not it's important for Barack Obama to wear an American flag lapel pin, as so many political figures do. Read the commentary at the link below for one point of view on this topic:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/19/roland.martin.05.19/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Questions to ponder:
Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Martin's assessment of this issue? Why or why not?
Do you think American voters care about this topic as much as the media seems to? If not, why does the media continue to press the issue?
Does the news media respond to what the public cares about, or does the public respond to what the news media cares about? Why do you think so?
14 comments:
Bonjour, Mrs. Stotler! When I first read this question, I had to roll my eyes. The media are parasites, latching onto anything that they can use, manipulating it and trying to make it seem worse than it actually is. He wasn't wearing an american flag pin! So what, that's like saying he wasn't wearing a tie or something, and they don't point out whenever someone isn't wearing a tie. It's just an accessory, I'm sure he had other stuff to worry about-oh, like, winning the election? I don't think the voters care that much, not unless they wear the pin themselves-which I haven't seen floating around. Like I said, the media is trying to make him look bad because they can. They have nothing else to focus on! Screw the real issues in the country, let's focus on a small, igsignicant pin! I think some media responds to what the public cares about if it will reel in ratings, and it does go both ways. Face it, we are influenced by the media. If we see it often enough, we'll start to think that it is a big issue when it really isn't.
~H. Baker
I agree with Heather 100%. It's just election propaganda. I think we as a nation should stop focusing on minor things (like flag pins) and look more closely at the things that count (like the candidates' plans for ruling our country) And if you think about it, how many of the people raising the accusations were wearing flag pins themselves?
-Katarina
The media response would be that they cover topics that the American public cares about, so if lapel pins are what the public cares about, they're fair game. The National Enquirer tabloid newspaper sells MILLIONS of copies a year, based on celebrity gossip and alien sitings. Is it possible the American public really DOES care about flag lapel pins, as the media would claim?
The people care about what they think that they should care about. Deep down, who really cares about what Kate Moss wore to the beach, or if she has celulite? The media is directing us against REAL topics.
-h.baker
I agree with the CNN reporter, it's time we make decsions based on substance.
However, this might be substance. There is a difference between someone not wearing a flag pin on a particular day and someone refusing to ever wear a flag pin. Refusing to wear a flag pin is an indication of a deeper problem.
Not wearing my BSHS shirt today, means nothing. My refusal to wear a Hancock Panthers shirt, does mean something.
The media must continue to find the meaning of the refusal to wear a simple flag pin.
-Korinne Cowles
HI MS. KATE!!!
Absolutely not this guy is a whack job. Like he says just because he takes off his rings or shirts it doesn't mean he doesn't have a passion for those things. Therefore just because they don't wear a pin with a flag on it it doesn't mean they don't love this country. I personally think that they are showing their dedication by showing they're crazy enough to try and run the country. If that's not love and dedication tell me what is. I don't think the voters will completely agree with him. Really you have to be ADD or OCD or some other kind of crazy to obsess over a candidates clothing rather than important things like... I don't know maybe how they're planning to run our lives for the next 4 YEARS!! I could care less if they wore a burlap sack and suspenders over a barrel on the waist, as long as they have what's best for the citizens at heart they've got my vote. As far as news and responses I think that works both ways the news trys to get people to respond to them by covering what the people want to hear about. That's what improves ratings and puts money in their pockets.
-T. Remsburg
I really don't understand what the big deal is. Who cares if he didn't wear the pin, according to the article alot of politicians neglect to wear them. In my opinion wearing an American flag pin doesn't make you a patriot; it's whats in your heart not on your chest that matters. If we base who we vote for on how much American flag apparel is worn, we could end up with some total wack-job off the street, but hey at least he had a pin! Anyway the media is just trying to get a big rise over something little. It's not that Obama is a bad guy or unpatriotic, he's just their target because, as sad as it is he's black and his family was of a different religion, so in their minds he's the easiest to destroy. Not including the fact that people in our country believe anything they read or see on television these days.
This story is just absolutely ridiculous. I remember seeing this on CNN when they started the big "stink" about it. I really don't think there's much else to say than what the people above have said. Obviously many politicians neglect to wear a flag pin on their lapel. The media is willing to do anything and everything to get a rise out of the public, which ultimately leads to higher ratings. An opportunity was seen to target an African American candidate whom is already victimized as a supposed "Muslim" in the eyes of ignorant and unknowledgable voters. I really hope, though, that the American public can read through these scams, and choose the candidate best suited to serve our country as commander and chief for the next 4 years.
-Andrew Omerzo
I remember seeing this on TV. I thought the whole thing was stupid. The media just had to find something to talk about and make a big deal out of something little. It makes me sick. We shouldn't be worried about what a flag lapel we should be worried about what they have to say to make our country better. We should be worried about a flag lapel. It seems when you woant to know what going on in the election. You always here them talking about something that doesn't even matter like Obama neing a "Muslim". The media just makes me sick.
Josh Wise
What is the big deal about wearing a flag lapel pin? It is a sign of your support of the country, that is what it is. I can understand if he only has one pin and it was on a suit at the dry cleaner's, but I have yet to see Obama with one of these tiny flags. It is along the same lines as saying the pledge of alliegance. It makes me sick when someone has such little respect for the country when they refuse to say it, let alone when they talk, refuse to look at the flag or even stand. Obama doesnt do that either by the way, last time I checked. His whole family seems a little lacking in outright patriotism in my opinion, after all, his wife said that this was the first time she has been proud to be an American, when a black man was running for president. However, he is so worried about his media image with middle America, he might have become the biggest firebreathing patriotic American ever in the last few weeks. He has changed churches more in the last year than most people do in a lifetime in order to "find one that fits their lifestyle." Shouldn't you try to fit your life to the church's standards? To sum it all up, the only way to show your patriotism is to do things that we have deemed patriotic (i.e. wearing a lapel pin and saying the pledge), or else nobody will know where you stand. As the cliche goes, actions speak louder than words...and that is what Obama has forgotten.
Actually, Joey, Senator Obama does say the Pledge of Allegiance. This is just one of the many mistruths about the senator. Many false rumors have been spread about the him, his patriotism, and his religion through a series of conservative chain e-mails. In fact, Senator Obama has dedicated an entire website to challenge these rumors. Here is a link to a video showing Obama leading the pledge...
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/patriot
-Andrew Omerzo
First off, does the media actually think that a lapel pin is more important than the issues? Honestly who cares if Obama doesn't always wear the flag pin, I mean do you really think that he's not patriotic just because he chooses not to wear it? Take McCain for example, he isn't always decked out in his red, white, and blue attire, but we don't question his patriotism becaused we know from his past deeds, ie. serving in the military during the Vietnam War, that he is patriotic . It just goes to show that you can't judge a canidate by his wardrobe. Presidential candidates need to be judged based on their actions and their deeds and not by their promises or by what the media deems important.
-Jenny Burdock
I also remember when this started circulating in the media. One reason it was so contraversial was this: Senator Obama stopped wearing it. It's not as if he has never wanted the flag pin on his attire; he used to wear it, and now he doesn't. He has admitted that part of the reason he does not wear it anymore is due to the Iraq War. He also said the flag pin became "a substitute for true patriotism." It seems to me that Senator Obama was trying to make a statement by NOT wearing it, and I disapprove. I understand this is not an issue that the media should spend hours discussing. It is a waste, and there are many more important things to talk about. However, I think every politician being viewed by the country should show as much respect for our country as possible. If wearing a flag is a standard sign of patriotism, he should wear the flag. It wouldn't hurt his chances of getting elected at all; it could only help.
LOL...I spelled my name wrong... that's embarrassing... I don't know how to change it..
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