President Obama cashing in on gay marriage stance, selling LGBT merchandise on BarackObama.com

[iatrogenicmyth]

President Obama is banking on his endorsement of gay marriage to fill his campaign coffers.

His team is selling a slew of LGBT merchandise on BarackObama.com, just days after his historic backing of same-sex couples tying the knot.

The items include “I'm out for Obama" T-shirts, beer koozies that read "LGBT for Obama" and even baby onesies with

Comments

[fofomazuzu]

Hasn't he always been selling merchandise towards the LGBT community, since the first campaign? Doesn't seem much different from then besides more material to go on.

[baked_goldfish]

I know a couple of these items existed prior to Biden's MTP appearance, but I don't recall the store having an entire category. Although now I think about it, I'm not sure they broke anything down by category anyway during the 2008 election? I can't remember.

[iatrogenicmyth]

They didn't.

And they didn't really have specialized shirts and everything for different groups, only pins.

I remember this SPECIFICALLY because during the primaries, Obama had an "Arab Americans for Obama" button written in Arabic alongside an "Israeli-Americans (or Jewish Americans?)" button written in Hebrew. Hillary only had the Hebrew one.

And then Obama removed the Arabic language one from his website when he got the nomination. I was SO pissed about it. And now the only trace of that button I can find is from an expired ebay auction.

[iatrogenicmyth]

He never had an entire LGBT category like this (http://store.barackobama.com/collections/lgbt-for-obama.html)

At present, the "collections" are:

- Classic
- Runway to Win
- Women for Obama
- African Americans for Obama
- Hispanics/Latinos for Obama
- AAPIs for Obama
- LGBT for Obama
- Nurses for Obama
- Environmentalists for Obama

[eversofar]

i'm feeling a bit iffy about this. i know that there's always merchandise for different groups like women, poc, vets, etc., but i think the 'out for obama' and 'obama pride' are kind of eh.

[baked_goldfish]

They need a premium Biden collection that has the BFD shirts. Both the original one and the new "still a BFD" one. I love my BFD shirt.

I wonder if Romney's merchandise will ever get interesting.

He should sell oven mitts, if he doesn't already.

[jessyryan]

LOL @ Oven Mitt's. Also Mittens.

[iatrogenicmyth]

Nope.

Romney has .... this: http://www.mittromney.com/store/romney-fleece-pullover

Don't even tell me that doesn't look like some sketchy-as-hell hedge fund logo. Right?

And it says "when you're out showing your support this winter" ... so I think it is referring to the primary season ending now and he just hasn't updated anything yet.

Bizarre that Ron Paul had the best Republican gear, though.

[ladypolitik]

Yeah, this article is misleading. The Obama campaign has always sold LGBTQ-themed swag, along with other merch that directly appeal to specific voter demographics/minority groups (people on this comm were sporting "Women for Obama"/"Students for Obama/"Afro-Americans for Obama"/etc. icons based on such merch, 4 years ago). This marketing formula is 5 years old.

Really, the issue should concern whether you've always had beef with the campaign market formula of marketing to marginalized groups (and plenty of people have). Obviously last week boosted sales of LGBTQ merch, but it'd be delusional to believe said merch wasnt already sitting in Obama 2012 warehouses for weeks, and wouldnt have appeared on the official campaign website even if Biden had said nothing, and Obama remained in a state of Evolution™.

[fishphile]

Truth. I remember all the Moms, Women, African American, Latino...stuff and I'm pretty sure there was LGBT stuff then too as well as groups that one can join to talk about the issues of that group. I still get regular e-mails from the Black/Latino group.

The merchandise has been around for awhile. Unless they've gotten new stuff just this week than this is weak at best.

This: His campaign staffers also have been sending out emails asking for donations and touting Obama's "direct answer" to the question of same-sex marriage. This is a little more sketchy to me.

[ladypolitik]

This: [His campaign staffers also have been sending out emails asking for donations and touting Obama's "direct answer" to the question of same-sex marriage.] This is a little more sketchy to me.

I totally missed this burb. See, *that's* actually tasteless in the context of the timing issue.

I mean, I get how politics work, but this approach would only REALLY work as an evil-brilliant campaign finance scheme if there was a concrete policy reform on the table. The "direct answer" his staffers are referencing wasnt even that! Your Baby Boomer Father might have admitted he no longer has a problem with two dudes or two women holding hands, but how you gonna roll out a line of coffee mugs based on that? LOL

Even if the unspoken implication is that the "direct answer" on Obama`s personal views translates into marriage equality policy reform? Dont sell t-shirts and mugs about it until that actually happens.

[fishphile]

Your Baby Boomer Father might have admitted he no longer has a problem with two dudes or two women holding hands, but how you gonna roll out a line of coffee mugs based on that? LOL

This has me rolling for some reason.

Anyway, yeah, this would be a lot less awkward if it was bookended by "contact congress and let them know you support marriage equality too. here's my proposal:..."

[bnmc2005]

I'm willing to support him for issuing the Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. Among other things

[tabaqui]

This.
This administration is not perfect but compare to Bush. Compare to a Romney admin, or Santorum, ffs. I wish this would all happen faster, smoother, more easily but at least it's *happening*.

I'm an optimist, too, and i think if/when he gets a second term, we'll see the pace and scope of things quicken and widen.

[bmh4d0k3n]

Yeah, I'm with you. I'd rather Obama get reelected with help from sales of obnoxious merchandise than lose to Romney because of people getting turned off to this sort of stuff. Not that they don't have legitimate reason to be annoyed, but ... given the options ...