Andy Rooney

In case you missed 60 Minutes last night, this is what Andy Rooney had to say (of course, if you are thinking to yourself "what kind of flaming liberal watches 60 Minutes when O'Riley is on, then you are probably the exact person who this is aimed at, and you are also the kind of person who thinks Andy Rooney hates our freedom):

"There's a silent little war going on in this country. It's between people who wear the American flag in their buttonhole and people who do not.

(Footage of various politicians with American flag pin on lapels; flag pin; political debate; photos of President Bush; photos of President Bush's father; footage of President Bush when he was governor; photo of Harry Truman; photo of John F. Kennedy; photo of Dwight Eisenhower; photo of Richard Nixon; photo of woman; photo of Condoleezza Rice; photo of Senator Charles Schumer; photo of Oprah Winfrey with woman; footage of American flag)

Mr. ROONEY: (Voiceover) Every night on the evening news, you see people, politicians mostly, being interviewed or giving speeches wearing a little metal American flag. Are are they suggesting they love America more than I do?

If a politician running for office has an opponent who wears a flag, he usually thinks he has to wear one, too. Afraid people might say he isn't as patriotic as his opponent is.
President Bush always wears an American flag. Would we think he was un-American if he didn't? His father wore one sometimes, didn't wear one other times. I think politicians wearing the American flag is a fairly new phenomenon. Politicians weren't wearing them as much just a few years ago, not as much as they are now. President Bush didn't wear one when he was governor of Texas. I don't remember seeing Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy or Dwight Eisenhower wearing one. We did come across a picture of Richard Nixon in the '70s wearing a flag. Maybe he started it.

I've always wondered if a politician who wears a flag when the cameras are rolling wears one on Saturdays when he's home alone in his old clothes. Or is he only patriotic in public?
Women politicians don't seem to use the flag as decoration like men do. Maybe that's because they have no good place to hang a flag or they don't want to put a hole in their dress with a pin.

I suppose it isn't a very popular opinion I have, but I don't like to see a politician or anyone else for that matter wearing an American flag. Using the flag as decoration is demeaning to a great symbol. The American flag may be the best symbol ever designed. It's perfect. It represents our current 50 states and the 13 original colonies. It's both attractive and meaningful, and it stands for who we are. That's a lot to ask of a piece of cloth. And the American flag does it magnificently. It should not be used as a bumper sticker.