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Let’s Go Brandon’ merchandise at Alaska exchange crossed AAFES’ line on vulgarity
Stars & Stripes ^ | January 3, 2022 | Wyatt Olsen

Posted on 01/03/2022 8:30:25 PM PST by DoodleBob

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is emphasizing a ban on the sale of lewd or profane products in its stores after a vendor in Alaska sold figurines carrying a crude catch phrase aimed at the commander in chief.

In the days leading up to Christmas, a temporary vendor at the exchange on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage sold wooden bear figurines fashioned to resemble former President Donald Trump and holding signs reading, “Let’s Go Brandon,” according to the Anchorage Daily News, which first reported the sales.

The foot-tall bears sported long red ties and slicked-back blond hair in Trump fashion, the newspaper said.

“Let’s Go Brandon” serves as code for some who oppose Joe Biden’s presidency. Pro-Trump crowds routinely chant the phrase during rallies, and it now adorns T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs and a host of other merchandise popular with conservatives.

The cipher emerged Oct. 2 as code for “F--- Joe Biden” during a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Race-winner Brandon Brown was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter, and the microphone picked up a nearby crowd chanting the crude anti-Biden phrase.

Video of the reporter suggesting that the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Brandon” went viral.

Biden is undoubtedly familiar with the phrase after a member of a military family tossed it at the president during a traditional White House holiday phone call on Christmas Eve.

A father from one military family hung up on Biden after telling him, “Let’s go Brandon,” Bloomberg reported.

The independent vendor’s short-term stint at the Alaska base had already ended by the time the agency learned of the prohibited merchandise, AAFES spokesman Chris Ward told Stars and Stripes by phone on Monday.

“The exchange routinely reviews products to determine their compliance with the Exchange’s prohibition from selling items that are illegal, promote the use of drugs or alcohol, contain racial or ethnic slurs, promote racial or ethnic supremacy, or include words, symbols, or scenes that are lewd, profane or vulgar,” he said. “If the product is determined to be in violation of restrictions, the exchange takes immediate corrective action.”

The exchange reviewed the product after the vendor had left, and it was “determined to be outside their established parameters for resale,” Ward said.

Moving forward, the exchange will place greater emphasis on communicating the existing policy with vendors “so that they’re aware with what is acceptable for retail in military installations,” Ward said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aafes; fjb; lgb

1 posted on 01/03/2022 8:30:25 PM PST by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

I remember a few decades ago, AFEEs tried to ban Hustler and Playboy. As I recall, the ACLU came to the aid of Hustler and the magazine could not be banned. Stay tuned …


2 posted on 01/03/2022 8:34:13 PM PST by 11th_VA (Stolen elections have consequences.)
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To: 11th_VA

My bad on the outcome, Playboy survived but Hustler was banned - had to do with an existing law. This will probably go to court …


3 posted on 01/03/2022 8:37:38 PM PST by 11th_VA (Stolen elections have consequences.)
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To: 11th_VA

We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won’t allow them to write “f***” on their airplanes because it’s obscene!


4 posted on 01/03/2022 8:37:44 PM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

“”Let’s Go Brandon” serves as code for some who oppose Joe Biden’s presidency””

How? The MSM told us the crowd chanted “Let’s go Brandon”. Are they saying the MSM lied? Blasphemy! We just want to support Brandon Brown. Even Joe Biden said “let’s go Brandon, I agree”.


5 posted on 01/03/2022 8:39:59 PM PST by packagingguy
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To: DoodleBob
??

POTUS Plugs approved it...

"Let's Go Brandon. I agree."

6 posted on 01/03/2022 8:40:25 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: DoodleBob

Remember when they used to accuse DJT of being the one with thin skin?


7 posted on 01/03/2022 8:41:08 PM PST by Dr. Pritchett
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To: 11th_VA

More on the Playboy Vs Military exchange suite:
https://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/07/playboy-penthouse-and-pentagon/67706/


8 posted on 01/03/2022 8:46:23 PM PST by 11th_VA (Stolen elections have consequences.)
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To: 11th_VA
This will probably go to court …

Not anytime soon..

The independent vendor’s short-term stint at the Alaska base had already ended by the time the agency learned of the prohibited merchandise,
9 posted on 01/03/2022 8:48:54 PM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: All

> ??

> POTUS Plugs approved it...

> “Let’s Go Brandon. I agree.”

imho This is ripe for a 1A challenge in any public school or college in the nation.


10 posted on 01/03/2022 8:57:28 PM PST by SteveH (.)
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To: DoodleBob

LGB....How can they say anything about that. :-)


11 posted on 01/03/2022 9:20:53 PM PST by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Sacajaweau

NASCAR wont even let Brandon have the new sponsor for next season that is a new crypto called LGBcoin


12 posted on 01/03/2022 9:38:36 PM PST by AzNASCARfan
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To: DoodleBob

Let’s Go Brandon is neither vulgar or crude. Not one of those three words meets the definition.

It’s like a modest person uttering “Darn!” if he banged his toe on a chair. He REFRAINED from vulgarity and should be admired.


13 posted on 01/03/2022 9:43:50 PM PST by oldplayer
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To: DoodleBob

I think it’s ballsy and funny, but really, you can’t be selling merch that undermines the chain of command inside the PX, no matter who he or she is or what you think of them.


14 posted on 01/03/2022 9:57:12 PM PST by jz638
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To: jz638
...you can’t be selling merch that undermines the chain of command inside the PX, no matter who he or she is or what you think of them...

They better take all of the crayons and Sharpie markers out also. They could be used to write "Lets Go Brandon" in many places.

15 posted on 01/03/2022 10:11:29 PM PST by CurlyDave
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To: jz638
I don't disagree.

That said, how much cheeky merchandise poking fun at prior Commanders was sold without fanfare?

If this is a strictly enforced standar, then this is a fair ruling. Otherwise...

16 posted on 01/03/2022 10:45:52 PM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: 11th_VA

In the 70s Playboy was under the counter at the BX and soldiers had to ask for a copy ...


17 posted on 01/04/2022 2:25:05 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: DoodleBob

How about “Let’s Go, Milley!!” merchandise in the PX?!?


18 posted on 01/04/2022 4:58:52 AM PST by Carl Vehse (A proud member of the LGBFJB community)
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