The Guardian's Ed Pilkington managed to get an impromptu interview with Sarah Palin at a Tea Party Express rally in Reno, Nevada. But video footage of the interview has caused a stir because it shows Palin casually putting her signature on an American flag – a potential violation of the Flag Code and thus of US federal law. 
 
 In the video above, at the 1m.33sec mark, Palin is handed a small version of Old Glory by a supporter, which she appears to cheerfully sign with a marker pen and hand back. 
 
 According to the Salon blogger Emma Mustich, by signing the flag Palin may have violated subsection 8, part (g) of the Flag Code, which states: "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." 
 
 While that may be true, in practice the Flag Code is widely breached. Given Supreme Court rulings on the first amendment protections awarded to burning Old Glory in protest, it's unlikely that subsection 8, part (g) could ever be legally enforced. 
 
 
 
 In fact, other parts of the Flag Code are breached on a daily basis without comment. Take subsection 8, part (i) as just one example: 
 
 The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. 
 
 In that case, most people's 4th of July celebrations are in breach of the code in one way or another. Not to mention a number of car adverts on US television. 
 
 If, like many Republicans, Sarah Palin supports a constitutional amendment to outlaw burning or desecrating the American flag, then she may have to place herself under citizen's arrest in order to remain ideologically consistent. 
 
 But the American flag isn't even the most worrying thing that Palin signs in this video. At the 58sec mark she signs a copy of a book by the spooky libertarian pseudo-philosopher Ayn Rand, without blinking an eye. ||||| An American flag with President Obama's image in place of the stars flew over a Florida county's Democrat headquarters long enough to enrage local veterans who called the altered banner "a disgrace." 
 
 Lake County Democratic Party officials took down the flag, which flew just below a standard Old Glory on the flagpole outside headquarters in Tavares following complaints by local veterans. But merely taking it down wasn't enough for several local veterans, who said they fought for the flag Betsy Ross made famous, not one with a politician on it. 
 
 "It's absolutely disrespectful," Jim Bradford, a 71-year-old veteran who participated in the Bay of Pigs Invasion told FoxNews.com. "It's totally ridiculous. To put somebody's picture there, to me, it's a disgrace to do that." 
 
 Bradford, an organizer with the Veterans Memorial at Fountain Park in Leesburg, Fla., snapped photos of the flag and distributed them to fellow veterans and friends. By late afternoon, he and several other veterans delivered a copy of the federal flag code to Nancy Hurlbert, chairwoman of the Lake County Democratic Party. 
 
 "We read that to her, but she would not accept that," Bradford said. "The discussion finally got a little bit heated." 
 
 The flag, which had been flying for several months without complaint and is available online for $12.95, was later removed by Hurlbert. 
 
 Bradford said Hurlbert apologized for the incident, but did not offer any promises that it wouldn't fly again. 
 
 "What really upsets me is that the flag had apparently been flying for months and no one had done anything about it," Bradford said. "I've got no hard feelings toward [Hurlbert], but people will be driving by there to make sure it doesn't go up again." 
 
 Hurlbert said Tuesday's incident was the first time anyone had complained about the flag, which she received as a gift two months ago. 
 
 "It leads me to believe that it's not about the flag," she told FoxNews.com. "Certain elements cannot accept Barack Obama as president." 
 
 Hurlbert said she intends to contact an attorney regarding the matter and remained non-committal as to whether she'll fly the flag again. 
 
 "I won't say no and I won't say yes," she said. "We want to find out what our legal rights are." 
 
 Jenn Meale, communications director for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, referred FoxNews.com to state laws that pertain to the use of flags on public lands and property when asked for clarification as to whether Hurlbert could face any penalties. 
 
 Statute 256.05, which covers improper use of state or United States flag, or other symbol of authority, reads: "No person shall, in any manner, for exhibition or display: 
 
 "(1) Place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, color, ensign or shield of the United States or of this state, or authorized by any law of the United States or this state; or 
 
 "(2) Expose to public view any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield upon which shall have been printed, painted or otherwise produced, or to which shall have been attached, appended, affixed or annexed any such word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement." 
 
 Meanwhile, Jay Agg, communications director for AMVETS, told FoxNews.com that the American flag should never be altered. 
 
 "While we are pleased the flag in question has since been removed from public display, the reported fact that it had flown for months without protest is a clear indication that we have much work to do in educating the public of the importance of protecting our flag," Agg wrote in an email. "This issue is especially important to AMVETS' members, the men and women who have proudly worn our nation's uniform and served under her flag." 
 
 The final insult to veterans? The flag is made in China.
– Sarah Palin appears to have desecrated Old Glory at a Tea Party Express rally in Reno. Video from the event shows Palin signing a flag handed to her by a fan, thereby violating a section of the US Flag Code that states 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," notes Salon. Despite her party's tough stance against messing with the Stars and Stripes, Palin's Old Glory "desecration" won't likely ever be punished, even if she placed herself under citizen's arrest, the Guardian notes. Another section of the code states that "the flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever" or be "printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard." (Click here for Palin's last flag-related snafu.)