SCANDAL! Sen. Obama Not Into Empty Jingoism!

Sen. Obama takes a small, but noted, stand that reminds me why I like him, but again why his principles might not translate into electoral victory. He has stopped wearing an American flag pin to protest the type of hollow, bumper-sticker patriotism that has-- as Tom Friedman noted this week-- made this country stupid in the post-9/11 era.

He explains this decision by stating that "After a while I noticed people wearing a lapel pin and not acting very patriotic... My attitude is that I'm less concerned about what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. You show your patriotism by being true to our values and ideals." Amen.

The National Review's Jonah Goldberg, however, says it's "the single dumbest thing I've ever heard of him doing." And trust me, folks... Jonah knows dumb. Malkin freaks out too!

(UPDATE: Holy crap, even the NY Daily News has their panties in a twist over this.)

The right, of course, wants Hillary to win. She's the best thing they've got going for them.