The AP cleans up Obama’s statement about not wearing a flag pin:

First came questions about why he doesn’t wear a flag lapel pin. Obama said he thinks true patriotism is demonstrated by a person’s actions, not his lapel.

Actually, if you’ll recall, he said this:

“You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin,” Obama said. “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,” he said, “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.”

He didn’t merely say that true patriotism is demonstrated by people’s actions; he said that wearing the pin was “a substitute for true patriotism.”

Eyebrows were raised not because Obama chooses not to wear a flag pin (that’s his right); but because he indicated he looks down upon those who still do wear flag pins.