# Kaine lapel pin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681 "2016-10-05T03:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![n5tp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@n5tp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/n5tp)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/1 "2016-10-05T03:11:10Z")
What lapel pin was Kaine wearing at the debate? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/2 "2016-10-05T03:17:09Z")
> **[Here's What Tim Kaine's Lapel Pin Means](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2016/10/04/heres-what-tim-kaines-flag-lapel-pin-means-n2228179)** > > It's not an American flag pin, but it's something very important. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/3 "2016-10-05T03:26:39Z")
Aw, not a Hydra pin. That would have been awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/4 "2016-10-05T03:52:34Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > [http://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2016/10/04/heres-what-tim-kaines-flag-lapel-pin-means-n2228179](http://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2016/10/04/heres-what-tim-kaines-flag-lapel-pin-means-n2228179) Just to save others the trouble of clicking on that link, the pin depicts a blue star on a white field with a red border. It’s from an organization called “Blue Star Families” and he wears it to honor his son, who is serving in the military overseas. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/5 "2016-10-05T13:09:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Just to save others the trouble of clicking on that link, the pin depicts a blue star on a white field with a red border. It’s from an organization called “Blue Star Families” and he wears it to honor his son, who is serving in the military overseas. It’s not from an organization. There are several organizations which have been named after the blue star (or gold star) symbol but the flag predates those organization by quite a bit. The Blue star flag was first designed in WWI. It became widespread and hit it’s peak in WWII. A white flag with a red border and blue star for each family member in the service was displayed throughout the country. If the family member died the blue star was replaced with a gold star. Blue Star Mothers of America started in 1960. Blue Star Families was started in 2009. Quite a long time after WWI. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/6 "2016-10-05T13:49:39Z")
The linked article says, “It’s a [Blue Star Families](https://bluestarfam.org/about/) pin, worn to honor his son, who is serving in the military overseas.” I was just summarizing the linked article, to save others the trouble of having to click on it. My deepest apologies if I got a minor fact wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/7 "2016-10-05T13:50:28Z")
You might recall in _Saving Private Ryan_ there was a short scene with no dialog where the brothers’ mother is being notified of her loss. A banner with four stars is shown in the window at the start of the [scene](http://pyxurz.blogspot.com/2015/03/saving-private-ryan-page-5-of-10.html) (scroll down). ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/8 "2016-10-05T13:55:46Z")
There was a notable “issue” about said pin in July when the NC Republican Party called him out for wearing the flag of [Honduras](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/07/28/republicans-said-kaines-pin-was-the-honduran-flag-it-was-actually-a-symbol-of-his-sons-military-service/). The actual meaning of the pin (the blue star flag) was clarified then. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/9 "2016-10-05T14:03:18Z")
When Donald Trump responded to the DNC speech made by Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of an Army captain who was killed in Iraq, Trum was criticized for going after a “Blue Star” family. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/10 "2016-10-05T14:04:47Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > There was a notable “issue” about said pin in July when the NC Republican Party called him out for wearing the flag of [Honduras](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/07/28/republicans-said-kaines-pin-was-the-honduran-flag-it-was-actually-a-symbol-of-his-sons-military-service/). The actual meaning of the pin (the blue star flag) was clarified then. Some didn’t [get the message.](https://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/conservatives-snap-over-the-lapel-pin-tim-kaine-wore-during-the-vpdebate-heres-what-it-really-means/) > [@](#): > > Many viewers Tuesday night watching the Longwood Vice Presidential debate were noticing a difference between Senator Tim Kaine’s lapel pin and Governor Mike Pence’s. > > Pence wore an American flag pin, the typical option for such an occasion. > > Kaine, alternatively, wore a flag for Blue Star Families, a flag donned by family who have members serving in the military. > > Many people watching and tweeting did not like the choice. > > ``` > What kind of lapel pin is @timkaine wearing? It sure isn't an American flag…#VPDebate > Is Kaine wearing a Japanese flag lapel pin? What is that? #VPDebate > > — Z A C (@zzcrane) October 5, 2016 > > @timkaine look at your lapel pin. Look at @MikePenceVP. @timkaine you're wearing the wrong one because you're for the wrong team. #VPDebate > > — Dustin Hinkle (@Fireman0135) October 5, 2016 > > #VPDebate what is on Kaine's lapel pin? Doesn't look like the US flag like Pence's > > — Andee (@andeew2016) October 5, 2016 > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/11 "2016-10-05T14:17:54Z")
And of course the idea that the candidates _have_ to wear an American flag lapel pin is silly nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/12 "2016-10-05T14:26:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > When Donald Trump responded to the DNC speech made by Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of an Army captain who was killed in Iraq, Trum was criticized for going after a “Blue Star” family. No he was criticized for going after a [Gold Star Family](http://time.com/4433169/khizr-khan-gold-star-families-history/). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/13 "2016-10-05T14:31:11Z")
Sorry, yes, you’re correct. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/14 "2016-10-05T16:03:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > … My deepest apologies if I got a minor fact wrong. Wait, do you know what kind of crowd you’re speaking to? Fat lot of good that will do if it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/15 "2016-10-06T02:13:44Z")
🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/16 "2016-10-06T02:16:23Z")
I have a blue star flag in the window by my front door. My son is in the Navy. It is a rare event when someone comments on it or asks what it is. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/17 "2016-10-06T10:51:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Some didn’t [get the message.](https://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/conservatives-snap-over-the-lapel-pin-tim-kaine-wore-during-the-vpdebate-heres-what-it-really-means/) If I was Tim Kaine I would wear that pin everywhere just to get the endless stream of easily rebuttable complaints. “Oh, you don’t know what this is? Why don’t you talk to someone who supports military families. They can probably fill you in.” _(Of course, if **I** was Tim Kaine, I would wear a Decepticon logo just for funsies.)_ ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/18 "2016-10-06T20:42:22Z")
And on this foolishness election are won or lost. As a people, we are so stupid. Not ignorant for that can be cured by education. Stupid refuses to learn as it likes to live stupid. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/19 "2016-10-06T21:58:17Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > If I was Tim Kaine I would wear that pin everywhere just to get the endless stream of easily rebuttable complaints. "Oh, you don’t know what this is? Perhaps you need to go back to fifth grade." 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681/20 "2016-10-07T21:35:49Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > There was a notable “issue” about said pin in July when the NC Republican Party called him out for wearing the flag of [Honduras](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/07/28/republicans-said-kaines-pin-was-the-honduran-flag-it-was-actually-a-symbol-of-his-sons-military-service/). The actual meaning of the pin (the blue star flag) was clarified then. Honest mistake; they look so similar. :rolleyes: [![](https://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-countries-flags/honduras-flag.gif) ](https://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-countries-flags/honduras-flag.gif) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kaine-lapel-pin/767681.md?page=2)