Obama’s Brave Stand on Pin Raises Questions of Patriotism, Plagiarism*

* WARNING: Please see clarification at "Clarification: Or, Who Is Danny Wrilski".

“I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest,” he said in the interview. “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 testament to my patriotism.”

Barack Obama, October 3. "Barack Obama Stops Wearing American Flag Lapel Pin"

But anonymous sources close to the Senator say he may have “borrowed” the words from an identical statement made late last week by Cub Scout Danny Wrilski of Evanston, IL, who said these very words a few days earlier while handing back his “Progress Toward Ranks” badge to his pack leader.

It is now known that Danny was fooling around with his basement chemistry set and accidentally tested the badge for lead, immediately grasping the positive result as a risk to himself and his fellow Scouts. Up to 1.6 million of the badges, made in China, may be affected by the toxic paint. That's when he decided he had to refuse to wear the cherished badge, turn it in to his Scout leader, and report the discovery.

Thanks to Danny, a wholesale recall was initiated, as reported widely: “The Boy Scouts of America said Thursday that a painted, plastic badge commonly worn by some of its youngest Scouts is being voluntarily recalled after a test revealed high levels of lead in the paint.” (“Boy Scouts' plastic badges recalled”).

Danny’s "I decided I won't wear the pin" statement was recorded in the pack leader’s written recommendation that Danny be recognized for his discovery, (for which he's being awarded the Science Badge).

Danny, who reportedly has no bitterness towards the Scouts, explained to his pack leader that while the Boy Scouts await the replacement badges, he will find some other way to show his progress as a Scout--and as a patriot.

Sources close to Senator Obama admit that the candidate was familiar with Danny’s achievement, and “may have” unconsciously run across something like the Scout's statement refusing to wear the pin, and, without realizing it, may have incorporated it verbatim into his own statement during his television interview on Wednesday.