West Virginia Governor Offended by T-Shirt, Seeks Halt of Sales

AP ^ | 3-22-04

[Indy Pendance]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Gov. Bob Wise sent a letter to Abercrombie & Fitch on Monday demanding that the clothing retailer stop selling a T-shirt that spoofs the state with the slogan, "It's All Relative in West Virginia."

Wise said the T-shirt depicts "an unfounded, negative stereotype" of the state.

"I write to you today to demand that you immediately remove this item from your stores and your print and online catalogues," Wise wrote. "In addition, these shirts must be destroyed at once to avoid any possibility of resale and proof be given thereof."

Abercrombie & Fitch spokesman Tom Lennox declined to say whether the New Albany, Ohio-based company would comply with the governor's request. He said the T-shirt, which features the slogan on an outline of the state, has been selling well at $22.50.

"Abercrombie and Fitch was born and raised in the USA, and we honor all 50 states in the union," Lennox said.

West Virginia is not the only state that is spoofed on an Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt. Another shirt's slogan is "New Hampshire. 40 million squirrels can't be wrong."

[aruanan]

"I write to you today to demand that you immediately remove this item from your stores and your print and online catalogues," Wise wrote. "In addition, these shirts must be destroyed at once to avoid any possibility of resale and proof be given thereof."

Hey, Gov. Bob Wise: BIOYA

[HungarianGypsy]

I misread. At first instead of HALT of sales, I thought it said HALF of sales. What a difference a letter can make.

[Willie Green]

Wise is simply concerned that Arkansas will sue for infringement of copyright.

[NCjim]

Typical Democrat who thinks he's in charge of the free speech department and who can say what... gimme a break!

[Drango]

Ouch...gratuitous West Virginia slamming...

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Wise must be a 'Rat.

[microgood]

The word offended offends me greatly.

[DirtyDoc]

12 Million people and 7 last names. As a resident of West Virginia I do not take the shirt as an insult, the governor on the other hand is one. DD

[76834]

Mr Gov Wise
Go pound sand//////

[Rich_E]

>i>Wise said the T-shirt depicts "an unfounded, negative stereotype" of the state.

And Cousin Robert Byrd, thinks so too...

[azcap]

Perhaps the governor would prefer this slogan "West Virgina! Only half our senators are Klansmen."

[observer5]

Maybe the guy read "Mein Kampf" too many times...

[H2dude]

I think thats f***in hilarious!

[mountaineer]

Perhaps the governor would prefer this slogan "West Virgina! Only half our senators are Klansmen."

The other half are morons. A rich moron, but a moron all the same.

HG - actually, it would be a good thing if Gov. Hot Lips Wise did get a commission on sales on behalf of the state. Thanks to him and his Ruling Party, we're looking at a $120 million deficit this year.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

ROTFL (Pinging Chad...)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Another shirt's slogan is "New Hampshire. 40 million squirrels can't be wrong."

As a Na Hampsha native, born and raised, I would wear that shirt proudly...

The Governor of West Virginia can kiss my rosy red butt... just a typical liberal trying to destroy good-natured humour...

[mountaineer]

just a typical liberal trying to destroy good-natured humour...

What our reptilian governor should have done was turned the phrase "it's all relative" into a positive, telling people to visit wild, wonderful West Virginia because we're so darned nice here we'll treat you like family, or some such thing. Instead, he's making a laughing stock of himself and his constituents.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Exactly.

Of course, I'm also guessing that Herr Governor is also not a native West Virgian, either. I could be wrong, but I'm betting he's not.

[bayourod]

What humor?

When I was there last summer I saw several night clubs that had "Father Daughter Night"