Roger’s Rules

Email This to a Friend

August 3rd, 2008 7:05 am

Do symbols matter? The case of the Obama’s campaign plane and its missing American flag

As of July 29, Barack Obama had raised some $340 million for his campaign to be President of the United States. (John McCain, by contrast, had raised something less than $150 million.)

Even today, $340 million is a lot of dough. What do you suppose Obama does with all that cash? One expense was having his chartered Boeing 757 made over for the general election. He made many changes. For example, there’s a new private section with first class seating for Obama and his staff while the press gets the standard 3-seats-to a side cattle-class accommodation.

But the most noticeable alterations are on the outside. When the plane was repainted, not only was “Change We Can Believe” and the address of Obama’s website emblazoned on the sides of the place, but the American flag on the tail was replaced with Obama’s campaign logo: you know, the circle with the Yellow Brick Road or whatever it is supposed to be in the center.

Maybe this is Obama’s little rebellion over his capitulation to pressure to start wearing a flag pin on his lapel again.

In any event, it is no wonder the plane has been dubbed “O-Force One” by observers. Personally, I am glad that Obama and his campaign managers are so liberal in dropping hints about what really matters to them. For voters who are paying attention, it provides a vivid sense of Obama’s priorities.

Air Force One proudly displays the American flag on its tail, just as Obama’s plane did before its make over.

Were he to become President, of course, that might be one of the first cosmetic changes he made: replacing the American flag wherever it appeared with the Obama O–or is it the Obama zero? Experts have yet to render a judgment about that.

Pajamas Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:

1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.

2. Stay on topic.

3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.

4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.

5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.

The clause regarding "hate speech" has been deleted because readers criticized it as being too loosely defined. We agreed.

These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that Pajamas Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pajamasmedia.com.

8 Comments

1. srlucado:

I am disturbed by Obama’s lack of respect for America. Everything is always about him; what *he’ll* do, what *he* represents, how lucky we are that *he’s* arrived. He has expressed nothing but ignorant disdain for the USA right up until the moment it anointed him Lord God Emperor (I don’t remember exactly when that happened, but he seems to think it has).

Obama needs to show some respect for the institutions that made, and keep, this country great. Yeah, simple flag-waving isn’t patriotism, but ignoring the world’s greatest symbol of peace and prosperity isn’t patriotism, either.

Scott

Aug 3, 2008 - 11:50 am 2. jhstuart:

He might even replace the flag with the utterly ridiculous ‘coexist’ label that appears on bumper stickers in VT. A careful evaluation of the name shows the Islamic symbol first (as in ‘c’) and Christianity last (as in the cross).

Aug 3, 2008 - 5:08 pm 3. Bill Bradley:

And if Obama’s plane had the American flag on it for a foreign tour, you would attack him for his arrogance, as he is not the president.

Naturally … LOL

Aug 3, 2008 - 6:19 pm 4. Xanthippe:

Having either the American flag or the “big O” on his jet’s tailfin strikes me as vain… why are celebrities like this, anyhow?

But I am glad to see the American flag replaced with the “big O”. If he were zooming about with the American flag on his tail, one might get the false impression that he represents *all* of us.

Aug 3, 2008 - 9:34 pm 5. Frank Gado:

There are many good and compelling reasons not to vote for Obama, but the repainting of the tailfin on the plane he has rented is not one of them. The insignia that was painted over was the logo for North American air. According to a photo I have seen, the American flag is prominently displayed along the fuselage. (McCain’s rented plane also has no American flag on the tailfin.)

Chauvinism is an excusable vice, but it distracts from important matters when it is unfurled in a critical election–as this one surely is.

Aug 5, 2008 - 11:03 pm 6. Robert Owens:

The insignia on the tail of the Obama Airplane sure looks like a Muslim rising sun to me. If he is elected everyone will be required to read and abide by the Koran.
America BEWARE!!

Aug 28, 2008 - 6:19 pm 7. Sharon Susdorf:

Obama has the Muslim logo on his plane,signs and now they are mixed in with the American flags. Does this mean Islam over America?
He has spoken of his muslim faith before and mentioned that we had 57 states. I heard this and I thought he doesn`t know how many states we have and he wants to be our president. I found out later he was refering to Muslim states. Why doesn`t anyone question this vast amount of money pouring in from the middle East for his campaign. This is against the law for non citizens giving money to our campaign funds.
Noone has made personal attacks against Michell Obama like they have Sarah Palin and her whole family. and Cindy McCain. Why is Michelle getting prima donna treatment???
I have never seen such a down and out dirty campaign,Lies.Lies and more lies as they take all of our money and don`t even feel bad about it..They think it is their right.

Oct 21, 2008 - 12:43 am 8. Trebor Sirrah:

What do you expect from a muslim, small M. Born in Kenya, a wife who has never been proud of America and a socialist to boot.

Aug 22, 2009 - 5:07 pm