Bush campaign gear made in Burma

newsday.com ^ | 3/18/04 | LAUREN WEBER

[Rebelbase]

The official merchandise Web site for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign has sold clothing made in Burma, whose goods were banned by Bush from the U.S. last year to punish its military dictatorship.

The merchandise sold on www.georgewbushstore.com includes a $49.95 fleece pullover, embroidered with the Bush-Cheney '04 logo and bearing a label stating it was made in Burma, now Myanmar. The jacket was sent to Newsday as part of an order that included a shirt made in Mexico and a hat not bearing a country-of-origin label.

The Bush merchandise is handled by Spalding Group, a 20-year-old supplier of campaign products and services in Louisville, Ky., that says it worked for the last five Republican presidential nominees.

Ted Jackson, Spalding's president, said, "We have found only one other in our inventory that was made in Burma. The others were made in the U.S.A." He said the company had about 60 of thefleece pullovers in its warehouse, and that a supplier included the Burma product by mistake.

[Rebelbase]

The President says he supports a global economy, so this should be no problem.

[Rebelbase]

Date error, should be 3/18/03.

[Rebelbase]

Excerpt screw up, please repair.

[Admin Moderator]

Done. Thanks.

[AM2000]

We've put trade sanctions on Burma, haven't we?

[MCRD]

Like President Bush hasn't got more important things to do than check where his campaign is ordering things from. Wow what a scandal. What did he know and when did he know it. I smell a Pulitzer for Lauren Webber.

[HarryCaul]

Didn't matter in 92 when Carville wanted to make an issue of Bush campaign signs being printed in Brazil (see the fascintating documentary "The War Room"). And it doesn't matter now.

If Kerry's people are trying to drag this up, they're desperate as well as unoriginal.

[the Real fifi]

Perhaps we should check the reporter's closet. Clothes are cheaper than ever, and I do not think there is anything I bought in years which was actually made here. Nevertheless, the designers, marketers,retailers, advertising execs and stockholders are here and making dough.

[AM2000]

The Kerry merchandise was made in the United States, according to Mark Weiner, the president of Financial Innovations.

Isn't that special.

[Reagan Man]

A short time ago, 90% of what LLBean sold was made in the USA. The same for WalMart. After all this is the 21st century. No BFD.

[MrB]

I hope they got a good price, that way they can spend their money effectively to keep DemocRats out of office.

[Howlin]

By union workers.

Of course, that is their story THIS week; stand by for redactions.

[Howlin]

The campaign doesn't get any of that money.

I've bought a lot of stuff from the Spaulding Group; in fact, I got something from them today. It's all good quality stuff.

[anotherdubya]

I smell a RAT...sounds like a set-up to me.

[Last Visible Dog]

This is a non-issue - it was a mistake by the vendor:

Ted Jackson, Spalding's president, said, "We have found only one other in our inventory that was made in Burma. The others were made in the U.S.A." He said the company had about 60 of thefleece pullovers in its warehouse, and that a supplier included the Burma product by mistake.

[GailA]

where's hanoi john's made?

[hedgie]

I am wearing one of the last mens button down shirts made in the USA as I write this. Supposedly the factory closed after they ran off the batch. Purchased at J. Press in New York 18 months ago. Good luck finding made in USA clothes that aren't custom tailored or BDU's...

[BykrBayb]

Wrong again. Should be 3/18/04. Could the Moderator fix it?

[JesusIsLord]

Outsourcing is good for America.

[swarthyguy]

Neglects to mention whether children were the laborers.