Elizer:
First off: HE ISN’T MUSLIM. GET OVER IT. For pete’s sake man…
Further, I’ve said the pledge without my hand over my heart. Saying the pledge is more important than the hand motion that accompanies it. As far as the pin goes, I think that the flag pin has become a useless replacement for ACTUAL patriotism, that is patriotism by action. A pin means nothing, and I think that was Obama’s point: it’s actions that count, not appearances. Much like one who shuckles the hardest at shul but violates many mitzvos ben adam l’chavero isn’t as frum as he would put himself out to be. As far as Michelle’s comment, I think it was probably hyperbole, but even if it wasn’t it isn’t hard to at least see where an African-American woman would be coming from when saying something like that. If you think racism is dead in this country, and that there is equal opportunity, then you are sticking your head in the sand.
Finally, if Obama wasn’t patriotic, he wouldn’t be running for president. Nor would he have run for Senate. Question his policies all you want, but to question his patriotism is absurd. Much like claiming he is Muslim is absurd.
But I don’t expect you to listen to anything other than what Fox News tells you, so it’s probably a lost cause.