As you might recall, the Romney-Ryan campaign has recently taken to using the phrase "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. (America) Can't Lose!" as its semi-official slogan.
As you might also have heard, this slogan was actually "borrowed," word for word and without permission, from the television program, Friday Night Lights (video link), in which the high school football team would chant "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose!" as a rallying cry.
As you might imagine, this did not sit well with the show's creator, Peter Berg. In fact, Berg was so upset that he penned an angry letter to Mitt Romney, accusing him of plagiarism, saying that his campaign's values were antithetical to the themes of the show, and demanding that the campaign stop using those words and instead come up with its own, original slogan.
You might then assume that the Romney-Ryan campaign, out of embarrassment and to prevent additional bad press, would stop using the plagiarized slogan.
But you would be wrong.
Instead, the Romney-Ryan campaign has doubled down on using the pilfered slogan, and has even started selling merchandise emblazoned with those words. In fact, just this evening, the campaign sent out an email blast to its supporters, with the subject line "Get Your 'Clear Eyes' Bracelet" and signed by Ann Romney, stating the following:
Contribute $10 or more right now and we'll send you a "Clear Eyes" bracelet -- so you can show the world where you stand.
And prominently featuring this image of the "Clear Eyes" merchandise:
For the campaign that claims to be the champions of private enterprise, it's pretty ballsy to appropriate one business's creation for your own use without requesting permission, and after being asked not to do so.
For the full text of tonight's email, see below the fold.
Friend,
Everyone who knows Mitt well knows that he's the man you always want to have in your corner when times are tough. Now I'm asking you to stand in his corner by helping us secure a Republican victory on November 6th.
Contribute $10 or more right now and we'll send you a "Clear Eyes" bracelet -- so you can show the world where you stand.
Barack Obama and his liberal allies won't give up this election without a fight to the very end -- that's why your support during this final stretch is critical.
With your help, I know we can get there -- America will recover.
Please contribute $10 or more now to get your "Clear Eyes" bracelet -- and help us get to the finish line.
Thank you,
Ann