Obama Fashion Line Launches as GOP Jabs
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(Credit: Barackobama.com)
President Obama’s new found support for a Democratic super PAC wasn’t his only play Tuesday for new troves of campaign cash. His re-election campaign also launched a new line of celebrity-designed, “Obama-inspired” apparel and accessories meant to solicit donations from an upscale crowd.
The new “Runway to Win” collection was rolled out at a swanky cocktail-fundraiser in Manhattan last night, featuring colorful $85 tote bags by big name designers Vera Wang and Diane Von Furstenberg, a $75 version by fashion favorite Tory Burch, and a $95 Thakoon-designed silk scarf.
T-shirts by Marc Jacobs, Beyonce, Sean Combs and Jason Wu — who designed Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown — range in price from $45 to $55 apiece. Everything is “proudly made in America,” the Obama campaign says.
(An informal survey of merchandise for sale by the Republican presidential candidates found few products priced over $50.)
Actress Scarlett Johnansson and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour hosted the debut event at Theory, a trendy fashion boutique in Manhattan’s meatpacking district, according to an invitation obtained by ABC News. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina was listed as a special guest.
Contrary to some reports, it was not a formal fashion show, a campaign official told ABC News. But that didn’t stop Republicans from blasting the optics of the high-end display in a struggling economy.
In a web ad circulated Tuesday, the Republican National Committee showcased the designer Obama products with their price tags to the sound of cash register “cha-chings.”
“Watching the Obama Campaign host a ritzy New York City fashion show while 12 million Americans are out of work? Priceless,” the ad says in jest.
An RNC fundraising email also offered a take on the fashion show/super PAC push by the president’s with a spoof of “super PAC” flip flops, dubbed by the GOP as “performance wear for politicians determined to win at any cost.”
(Credit: Republican National Committee)
The money raised from the sale of Obama campaign-themed apparel and accessories in the “Runway to Win” collection benefits the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account of both Obama and the Democratic National Committee, according to the website.
The Obama campaign launched a similar collection in 2008 to raise campaign cash - then called “Runway to Change.”
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Was hoping to see an interview with Chuck Schumer about the Super Pac’s, he was quite vocal before, what does he say now? Where is Biden on the Catholics and Obamacare? Funny how the news media covers up for this administration.
Posted by: Freedom | February 8, 2012, 11:37 am 11:37 am
I wish he would just runaway. Then we would see the kind of change we really need in the White House.
Posted by: Seriously | February 8, 2012, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Anna Wintour? The Anna WIntour who published a glowing feature about Assad’s wife in Vogue?
And Beyonce, who put on a private performance for the Gaddhafi boys?
Yeah, these people have great judgement of character. I can see why any campaign would want o feature them.
Posted by: MayBee | February 8, 2012, 11:54 am 11:54 am
So it’s OK for conservatives to be free market capitalists but not liberals ? If the prices are too high people won’t buy the items anyway . At least everything is made in America . I’d bet most anything that all the RNC stuff for sale is straight from Walmart / Target / China , and marked up ~500% over wholesale to boot . Conservatives will always find ( or just invent ) something to complain about with this good and decent president no matter what , which shows exactly what kind of people they are as a group i.e. petulant whiners . I think there is some kind of a genetic mental flaw that makes a person turn out to be as hateful and regressive as conservatives indeed are , at least in general . There are a few notable excepts but ultra partisan vitriol and spite coupled with a low understanding and comprehension of facts / events make up 99% of what conservatives say / do anymore . I just ignore them as much as possible .
Posted by: davem | February 8, 2012, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
DAVEM | February 8, 2012, 12:01 PM, SAID:
“Conservatives will always find ( or just invent ) something to complain about with this good and decent president no matter what , which shows exactly what kind of people they are as a group i.e. petulant whiners.”
==========================
LOL! …. which is why I refer to right-wingers now as “right-whiners”.
Whine, cry, complain, nag…. LOL! …. that’s what the right has become.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | February 8, 2012, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Mr. Obama is 100% right to use super PAC $$ , although I don’t agree with the practice personally . He lobbied against them , but lost that argument to the Supreme Court . Now that they are the legally ordained “status quo ” of political fundraising thanks to the lackey right winger puppet conservatives in the Supreme Court ( 5-4 ruling ) it would be suicidal and stupid for Mr. Obama to not use them . In this case fire must be fought with equal fire. Conservatives represent the height and breadth of disingenuous sophistry when they complain about Mr. Obama using PAC money as this article describes . If they don’t want him to use PAC money , then the GOP / TEA whiners need to legislate to make Super PACs off limits / illegal to begin with as the Democrats and Mr. Obama have been pushing for since he was in the Senate . Otherwise what’s fair for the goose is fair for the gander And please quit whining like a bunch of sophomoric teens , is that all you people on the right know how to do anymore ?
Posted by: davem | February 8, 2012, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Hmm… Like, where was MY invitation to this party? We must investigate this! Great idea for the line AND very creative of the Republicans to design the flip-flop. Does anyone else ever wonder how they can get these things done so fast? I mean… the President just annouced his decision yesterday and you have the flip-flops on the market! WOWEE!!!!
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | February 8, 2012, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
FREEDOM | FEBRUARY 8, 2012, 11:37 AM….”Funny how the news media covers up for this administration.”….Other than a few independent thinking journalists probe for the truth rather than accept the Pablum spooned out. Many have agendas; few care about the truth – unless it furthers their agenda..
Posted by: deanbob | February 8, 2012, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Whine, cry, complain, nag…. LOL! …. that’s what the right has become.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | February 8, 2012, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
You’re whining about the right. Irony.
Posted by: Libs Are Hypocrites | February 8, 2012, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
“Conservatives will always find ( or just invent ) something to complain about with this good and decent president no matter what , which shows exactly what kind of people they are as a group i.e. petulant whiners.”
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Isn’t it true. And if they don’t have anything to whine about, they resort to juvenile name calling and insults.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
“Isn’t it true. And if they don’t have anything to whine about, they resort to juvenile name calling and insults.”
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Pot, meet kettle…
“That’s just your phony pretense to go along with your cro-magnon intelligence.
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2012, 10:36 am 10:36 am”
Posted by: Libs Are Hypocrites | February 9, 2012, 10:45 am 10:45 am
“An informal survey of merchandise for sale by the Republican presidential candidates found few products priced over $50.”
Talk about comparing apples and oranges! That’s because a) The Republicans merchandise is not designed by top name designers…because no top designers support them, and b) I doubt merchandising will be very profitable for Republicans, particularly this year.
Posted by: Jonah | February 9, 2012, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm