Barack Obama has picked up a couple of previously disdained (non-human) tools to wield in the home stretch of the Democrat primaries: flag pins and crosses. (At first, I wondered why he's even bothering. Then I realized that this Christian- and patriot-pandering is for the general election.)
The flag pins came first--in spite of Obama’s affirmatively-expressed decision not to wear one.
The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security. I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism.Was the reversal cynically made with the West Virginia and Kentucky primaries in mind? Many observers think so, including this one. And it appears that the senator isn’t even trying to hide this.
Nonetheless, in WV, Hillary Clinton beat Obama like…
(A red-headed stepchild?
A runaway slave?
Feel free to suggest any other inflammatory metaphors I can use here.)
Anyway, Clinton beat Obama in the WV primary by 41 percentage points. So Obama brings out the big “gun.”

No subliminal seduction here, as was alleged about that silly Mike Huckabee ad; Obama is overt in his product placement. But will his Leftist constituency cry out in protest at this blatant “Christianism?”
We’ll see.
Look, if Obama wants to use Jesus as a campaign tool, that’s between him and Jesus but could we not pretend that this usage isn't a mere ploy to garner the votes of those in Kentucky who haven’t been paying attention to the senator’s Wright/Black Liberation Theology connections?
The caption reads: “My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want, but I won’t be fulfilling God’s will unless I go out and do the Lord’s work.”
Well I guess that depends on who your lord is.
(Thanks to Ed Morrissey and to Memeorandum)
UPDATE: Obama used the Cross tactic in South Carolina. Was it a counter to the Muslim Whisper campaign?
(Thanks to Protein Wisdom)
I'm still trying to figure out why BHO is supported by the Muslim world despite his apostasy of Islam which is, for everyone else, punishable by death by the chopping off of one's head. Anyone have any clue on this? Do you think the Muslim world believes he is practicing taqiyya?
Posted by: abinitioadinfinitum | May 14, 2008 at 11:04 AM
My personal favorite is a hybrid: "beat like a red-headed stepchild in Kmart."
Posted by: Casey | May 15, 2008 at 09:57 AM
You know me Baldi, I'm a Trini. Hillary beat Obama like a road march (the most popular song played by all the bands on Carnival Monday). She beat him like a steel pan (Americans call it 'steel drums'; Trinis call it 'pan.'). She beat him like Cinderella's stepmother beat her pretty stepchild. She beat him like licks was food and the grocery stores were giving it away free.
I think Obama is practising taqqiyah. The Muslims believe so, too. No true Christian comes to Christ and sets out the terms according to which he will submit to Christ's lordship.
Posted by: Helen | May 16, 2008 at 07:23 PM