Even Bush campaign gear is outsourced. And not to China, either. Apparently, that nation is not repressive enough for GOP sensibilities.
Rather, the gear is made in Burma.
A "Bush-Cheney '04" campaign jacket sold on the Internet has stirred controversy because it was made in Myanmar, whose imports have been banned by the United States.
Although the company that shipped the fleece pullover, Spalding Group of Louisville, Kentucky, has said it did so in error, human rights groups blamed President Bush's re-election campaign staff for not taking a more careful look at the origin of the products being sold in its name.
The Bush administration has had sanctions in place since September against Myanmar -- also known by its colonial name Burma -- in an attempt to punish the government over human rights violations.
"Burma is one of the most repressive, brutal dictatorships in the world," said Charles Kernagan, head of the National Labor Committee, a group that seeks to combat sweatshops internationally. "The Bush-Cheney campaign was putting money into the hands of dictators with that purchase."
Anyone know where Kerry gear is made?
Update: Kerry gear is made in the U.S. Also, check out this email correspondence from the Bush store with a dKos reader:
Subject: RE: where are your products made?
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:06:57 -0500
From: Eric Phelps
Reply-To:
To: AR
Mr. R,
Thank you for visiting the George W. Bush Online Store and for taking the time to contact us. We go out of our way to source American-made products for the website. As a result 99% of the merchandise is 100% American-made. For various reasons, there are instances when a component of a particular item may not be 100% American-made. This is the case with several of the t-shirts we offer on the site. When not using a 100% American-made t-shirt we do use American companies such as Hanes and Fruit of the Loom, and some of their t-shirts are constructed elsewhere of American-made components. I hope this answers your question. If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
J. Eric Phelps
Spalding Group
800-388-8755
ericp@spalding-group.com
-----Original Message-----
From: AR
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 8:58 PM
To: service@georgewbushstore.com
Subject: where are your products made?
Hi-
Just wondering where your clothing products are manufactured.
Thanks, AR
Man, with the GOP, even their contractors lie.