# Obama signs iPad; Palin (allegedly) signs flag **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 5, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563 "2010-11-05T11:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/1 "2010-11-05T11:53:28Z")
[Famous people have been signing things this week.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1322627/Obama-signs-Apple-iPad-Sarah-Palin-accused-desecrating-US-flag.html?ito=feeds-newsxml) First in the barrel: Barack Obama signs someone’s iPad. And while I give him bonus points for being tech-savvy enough to do it without a fuss, I do wonder whether having an electronic signature of the current President floating around the internet is the _best_ idea (although I suppose one could scan one off a printed document…I dunno). So what do you think - good idea / bad idea / don’t care? Secondly, Sarah Palin apparently (it’s not clear from the video) signed a small American flag for a supporter. On the face of it this would seem to be a desecration of the sort which her followers would definitely disapprove; in fact, I first heard about this on _Real Time with Bill Maher_ where the usually-left-leaning audience gave an audible gasp at the news. Personally I submit that signing a flag is in poor taste but not a great scandal. Again: good idea / bad idea / don’t care? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/2 "2010-11-05T12:06:38Z")
[Go nuts](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=obama+signature), and see how far that takes ya. [Dubya](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=obama+signature#hl=en&expIds=17259,26637,27051,27356,27360,27404,27447&xhr=t&q=george+w+bush+signature&cp=8&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0&aqi=g1g-c1g-o1&aql=&oq=george+w+bush+signature&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=aa7121b3f5796106), [Biden](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=obama+signature#hl=en&expIds=26637,27356,27360,27404,27447&xhr=t&q=joe+biden+signature&cp=5&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0m&aqi=&aql=&oq=biden+signature&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=aa7121b3f5796106), [Hitler](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=obama+signature#hl=en&expIds=26637,27356,27360,27404,27447&xhr=t&q=hitler's+signature&cp=7&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0c&aqi=g-c2g-o1&aql=&oq=hitler+signature&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=aa7121b3f5796106). ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/3 "2010-11-05T12:08:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [Famous people have been signing things this week.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1322627/Obama-signs-Apple-iPad-Sarah-Palin-accused-desecrating-US-flag.html?ito=feeds-newsxml) > > First in the barrel: Barack Obama signs someone’s iPad. And while I give him bonus points for being tech-savvy enough to do it without a fuss, I do wonder whether having an electronic signature of the current President floating around the internet is the _best_ idea (although I suppose one could scan one off a printed document…I dunno). What good is a digital signature? You can just download one yourself from [Wikipedia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Barack_Obama_signature.svg). There, now I have an Obama signature. Lucky me. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/4 "2010-11-05T12:09:53Z")
It doesn’t bother me, but I’d expect it to bug her fans, 'cause after all- \*Liberals \*are the ones who deface and destroy flags, right? And when Liberals do it, it’s un-American. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/5 "2010-11-05T12:25:13Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > It doesn’t bother me, but I’d expect it to bug her fans, 'cause after all- \*Liberals \*are the ones who deface and destroy flags, right? And when Liberals do it, it’s un-American. Which is why I was surprised that a Liberal audience (and I’m going by their usual reaction to things on Maher’s show) was so shocked by it. Signing a flag? It’s just not _done_. I suppose I should have RO’d the thread title but I’m not really outraged, just curious as to the extent people see it as an issue. And I hadn’t really considered the extent to which presidential signatures are already on the net, so that one is definitely a non-issue. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/6 "2010-11-05T12:50:49Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > It doesn’t bother me, but I’d expect it to bug her fans, I’m not so sure you know her fans that well. It’ll be just like when Dubya signed a flag, a non-issue. But don’t wear a flag lapel pin. Well that there is unAmerican. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/7 "2010-11-05T12:59:19Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I’m not so sure you know her fans that well. It’ll be just like when Dubya signed a flag, a non-issue. But don’t wear a flag lapel pin. Well that there is unAmerican. Well, I’d \*expect \*it to bug her fans, but I’m not delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/8 "2010-11-05T13:02:01Z")
As one of my favorite political satires once said, the less you plan to do about something, the more you must talk about. All you have to do is say “I support our troops” and you can cut the Veterans Administration as much as you want. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/9 "2010-11-05T13:37:10Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > It doesn’t bother me, but I’d expect it to bug her fans, 'cause after all- \*Liberals \*are the ones who deface and destroy flags, right? And when Liberals do it, it’s un-American. Yep. If Obama had done this, the RW would have gone nuclear and the Fox News douchebags would be running with it into the next millennium. On the other hand, though, if he had refused to sign a flag, they would be asking why he hates Old Glory. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/10 "2010-11-05T13:48:41Z")
From [Flag Rules and Regulations.](http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm) United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag §8. Respect for flag > [@](#): > > g. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/11 "2010-11-05T14:17:46Z")
g.1 Unless you’re a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/12 "2010-11-05T16:26:43Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > g.1 Unless you’re a Republican. g.2 Then, even wearing the flag is considered ultra-patriotic. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/13 "2010-11-05T16:45:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > g.2 Then, even wearing the flag is considered ultra-patriotic. g.3 Unless you’re a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/14 "2010-11-05T17:21:24Z")
Neither bothers me in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/15 "2010-11-05T17:24:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Neither bothers me in the slightest. C’mon, it’s as though she wrote all over America itself! What’s that on your face? ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/16 "2010-11-06T05:14:39Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > g.3 Unless you’re a Democrat. g.3.a Playmates excepted. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/17 "2010-11-06T13:21:36Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Yep. If Obama had done this, the RW would have gone nuclear and the Fox News douchebags would be running with it into the next millennium. No, nobody cared when Clinton did it either. > [@Gyrate](#): > > First in the barrel: Barack Obama signs someone’s iPad. And while I give him bonus points for being tech-savvy enough to do it without a fuss… Obama gets points for knowing how to sign his name? I bet he dresses himself in the morning and goes to the potty all by himself - no wonder they gave him the Nobel Prize! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/18 "2010-11-06T15:44:01Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Well, I’d \*expect \*it to bug her fans, but I’m not delusional. I’m pretty sure that Sarah Palin fans feel that no flag is sufficiently American UNTIL it’s been signed by Sarah Palin. I’m certain that somewhere, you can buy a flag with her face on it. Winking. ~shudder~ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/19 "2010-11-06T16:15:31Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I’m pretty sure that Sarah Palin fans feel that no flag is sufficiently American UNTIL it’s been signed by Sarah Palin. I’m certain that somewhere, you can buy a flag with her face on it. Winking. > ~shudder~ How about all 50 stars being replaced with her face, winking? You betcha! ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563/20 "2010-11-06T16:20:15Z")
Oh god, it’s probably got a little motion activated voice chip, too. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-signs-ipad-palin-allegedly-signs-flag/559563.md?page=2)