Inside the Beltway

VA-VA-VA-VOOM BOOM

Memo to Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson, others. Some 15,000 Hooters waitresses in 44 states are “voluntarily donating their torn pantyhose in an effort to help absorb the oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. The laundered pantyhose are used to make containment booms which are stuffed with hair, fur and fleece to absorb the oil. Hooters expects to collect over 100,000 pairs of pantyhose through this effort, which could ultimately absorb 1 million gallons of oil in the Gulf, if the booms are reused 8 times, the average life of a boom.”

Well, OK. Uh, that’s nice. The pantyhose in question “will be shipped to environmental agencies and nonprofit organizations,” Hooters spokesman Mike McNeil advises.

THEN AND NOW

“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 testimony to my patriotism.”

— President Obama, on why he did not wear an American flag pin, to KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Oct. 3, 2007.

“Although the configuration of stars and stripes has changed over the years it has been flown, its significance and symbolism have not wavered. The flag that once helped unite a new nation to confront tyranny and oppression still flies today as an unequivocal emblem of freedom and liberty. The same flag that has been raised on beaches and battlefields still adorns the uniforms of our heroic sons and daughters serving in America’s armed forces, including our troops serving in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan. … I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag.”

— Mr. Obama, proclaiming Flag Day and Flag Week, which begins Monday.

FLAGGED INFORMATION

The U.S. imported $3 million worth of foreign-manufactured American flags last year, and “the vast majority of this amount ($2.5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China,” says the U.S. Census Bureau. Such stats are not overlooked by the Flag Manufacturers Association of America, a trade group that says this trend “defeats the purpose of being a true symbol of patriotism.” The group has established a certification process for “homegrown” American flags made from domestic materials, and in U.S. facilities.

So far, four manufacturers meet the criteria. They are: Annin & Co., founded in 1847; C.F. Flag, founded in 1898; J.C. Schultz Enterprises Inc./The Flag Source, founded in 1920; and Valley Forge Flags, founded in 1882.

DOCTORED INFORMATION

Doctors are rallying around their lab coats. Physicians are “so outraged” about the impact of recent Medicare cuts that they’re sending white lab coats to Capitol Hill, signed Sunday during the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago.

“AMA physicians are sending signed white lab coats to their members of Congress as a symbolic, visible reminder that action is desperately needed to avert a Medicare meltdown,” says AMA president Dr. James Rohack.

“The Senates failure to act before June 1 made the 21 percent cut the law of the land, and this week Medicares temporary hold on claims expires. Physicians will start seeing a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments this week that will hurt seniors’ health care as physicians are forced to make practice changes to keep their practice doors open,” Dr. Rohack cautions.

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