The whole idea

United States congressmen were expected to carry some sort of American flag with them for the day. Senator Rock's aides had given him several handkerchief-size flags, one of which he hung from a front pocket of his dark plaid golf shorts before he even got out of bed that morning.
It was very early, just past dawn, and Rock wasn't sure of anything, but he thought this matter somehow pertained to the previous night's long health-care debate.

By the time he reached his den, Rock couldn't find any of the small flags. There were two handkerchiefs on his desk he had used to wipe sweat from his face and hands as he walked or golfed during the week, but they were plain white. He explained to someone that he was patriotic enough to not care who or who did not see him with a flag. The whole idea seemed silly to him.