MSNBC host Martin Bashir makes a pretty compelling case.
By her own admission, Sarah Palin‘s bus tour is not a campaign tour. It’s also not a book tour. It’s… what the hell is it?
As Martin Bashir pointed out, the best answer you’ll get is a predictably nonsensical one from Palin herself, which she articulated on Fox News: “This is not a campaign bus. This is a bus to express to America how much we appreciate our foundation and to invite more people to be interested about all that is good about America.”
Palin is not promoting a book, a candidacy, or anything but herself. And as Bashir points out, she gets paid heartily by Fox based on the magnitude of her recognition. Palin co-opts the notion and indeed the flag of America to further her own career. “She drapes herself in the stars and stripes, and makes millions of dollars in the process,” as he puts it.
This may violate a federal law known as the Flag Code. “The Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes—the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it’s made clear that the flag should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. And that is exactly what Sarah Palin is doing.”
Of course, the same could be said for Donald Trump, who bowed out of the candidacy he was flirting with conveniently at the NBC upfronts, where the heightened profile he’d amassed masquerading as a potential presidential candidate no doubt lined his pockets with a few extra layers of green.
And as of last night, it appears these two are fast becoming partners in charlatanism, combining their antics for an effective photo op. Unfortunately, there are no penalties for violating the Flag Code. It’s more just a base line code for decency and respect. How ironic that these two, who earn a living projecting themselves as pinnacles of patriotism, can’t even rise to meet this basic benchmark.
Watch Bashir’s segment below:
[via Raw Story]
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June 01, 2011 at 4:41 pm, Killdebt said:
I still don’t see the flag on that bus…??? Where is the flag? I see some red stripes on it but no full image of a US flag. Where are the stars? All the stripes? I want to see all 57 stars (as per Obama). Where are they? What idiots…
June 04, 2011 at 11:38 am, Tellico1 said:
we have a President that refuses to salute the flag and we have to listen to people whine about Sarah Palin’s Bus? We have left wingers and illegals burning the flag and this fool is b_tching about Palin’s bus???
June 01, 2011 at 4:41 pm, Killdebt said:
I still don’t see the flag on that bus…??? Where is the flag? I see some red stripes on it but no full image of a US flag. Where are the stars? All the stripes? I want to see all 57 stars (as per Obama). Where are they? What idiots…
June 01, 2011 at 5:11 pm, gekkobear said:
Yes, because the flag has never been painted on anything, or used in advertising, or ever misused in any way by anyone except Palin… right?
Have you perhaps ever seen a TV, or a billboard? Seen any magazines before in your life? If any of these are true you know the previous statement is false, don’t you? Or are you incapable of remembering things that have happened in the past?
But yes, we should use a law that has never been enforced to punish one single person for having the wrong political thoughts… this can’t possibly go wrong. See the republicans can’t use this power against the liberals in the future because there hasn’t been a Republican President or Republicans majority in Congress for how long? What, 5 years? That’s forever, we can’t remember 5 years ago.
Do you really love the Republicans enough that you want to take this step and approve misuse of justice to endorse unequal application of the law so that the law is simply a tool to beat down anyone who disagrees with you?
What a wonderful world you propose where justice has nothing to do with violating the law, but instead the government makes laws that you can’t help but violate so they can punish whomever they choose at will for anyone who violates the new thought-crimes and disagrees with whoever is in power. You’ve got to love a plan to help the wealthy and powerful stay wealthy and powerful and crush all opposition; right?
Or did you believe your actions here would lead to something different?
June 01, 2011 at 5:11 pm, john charles webb jr said:
you betcha !!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2818816914_0fde7d141c_o.jpg
June 01, 2011 at 5:59 pm, Jerrycam1 said:
Give me a phucking break. The liberal/progressive/socialist/marxist media is so pissed that she’s shoving it up their ass, their eyes are crossing and steam is venting from their ears.
June 01, 2011 at 6:20 pm, Bull Power said:
Thats not the American Flag….
Well actually what happened I can tell you…
Some drunk painters were painting the bus… and now see the result…
THATS NOT THE AMERICAN FLAG… BECOZ I CANT SEE THE FLAG THERE… ITS JUST RED STRIPES…
June 01, 2011 at 6:27 pm, AmericaNeedsMitt said:
Martin Bashir is a complete moron. ‘Nuff said.
June 01, 2011 at 6:31 pm, AmericaNeedsMitt said:
No, wait – it’s the author of this article, Alex Moore, who is the complete moron.
June 01, 2011 at 6:47 pm, Danny White said:
The Flag Code is not federal law.
What a bunch of nitwit, liberal morons.
June 01, 2011 at 11:09 pm, Jacobite said:
Well it is an illegal law but with no teeth since it is illegal… think of it more rules to live by. Like not walking under a ladder.
June 01, 2011 at 10:21 pm, Greg Randall said:
Oh yes, clearly a violation of…umm…what code is the law written again? And watch, all of your liberal friends out there will be telling you how “Sarah Palin desecrated the flag for money”! And you’ll spend 20 minutes on that stupid subject! Are liberals fit to reside here anymore? I’m beginning to wonder if they are.
June 01, 2011 at 10:28 pm, Greg Randall said:
Anyone remember Obama covering his junk while the National Anthem is played?
See: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp
Under this same code is Palin is supposedly “violating”…
§ 171. Conduct during playing.
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
June 01, 2011 at 11:06 pm, Jacobite said:
I think you’ll find the “Flag code” is not really a law, is more rules of etiquette regarding the flag since any punishment violates the First Amendment. Well at least that’s what the Supreme court says. A good follow up story might be why Mr. Bashir choose Sarah Palin as the target of the Flag code violation.
June 02, 2011 at 5:21 pm, ArleneStrickland said:
Actually, it IS a law. http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf
July 16, 2011 at 7:57 pm, NSAWP said:
Dumbass.
“Thus, the Flag Codedoes not prescribe any penalties for non-compliance nor does it include enforcement
provisions; rather the Code functions simply as a guide to be voluntarily followed by
civilians and civilian groups.”
Under the background section.
June 02, 2011 at 12:27 pm, Diane Hipsher said:
It’s not wrong to simply have a sticker of an American flag on a vehicle. Now this is dececration of the flag: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150192811812596&set=a.390796382595.168569.49867377595&type=1&theater where is the story on this? The liberal media is just mad Palin won’t tell her where they are going with the bus and they can’t dig up any dirt on her. Liberals hate to see women and minorities in the republican party because they can’t make all the false accusation that we are all racists and hate women because we won’t let them murder their fetuses.
June 02, 2011 at 5:49 pm, h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e-s said:
Where’s the article about this?
June 03, 2011 at 12:49 am, 1st Freedom said:
***GOD BLESS AMERICA***SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND REMEMBER OUR VETERANS***IN GOD WE TRUST***
June 03, 2011 at 1:35 am, mike said:
I love this!!!!Bashir’s feelings are so hurt because Sarah Palin didn’t ask him first if she could tour the US, the best he can do is lash out at her like a child, angry at getting the leftovers at Sunday dinner. He cites US Code but never cites the particular paragraph; That’s because THERE IS NO CODE COVERING HIS CHARGE… Oh, unless she’s in DC, and even then it’s a rule of etiquette, not a federal law. I love the childishness of the national media. Now, how long will this post stay here???
June 05, 2011 at 5:08 pm, Timh said:
Obama REFUSED TO NOT ONLY PUT HIS HAND ON HIS HEART DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BUT REFUSED TO SAY THE PLEDGE, and refused to wear a Flag LAPEL PIN!
NO LAWS BROKEN BUT WHO IS IN iS THE REAL PATRIOT:Sarah OR OBAMA?