Urban Outfitters is the kind of
place where you see a lot of young, idealistic progressive types both
browsing the racks and standing behind the cash register. Young
Republicans, not so much; for khaki pants, bow ties and pin-striped
blazers, you’re better off heading to Brooks Brothers.
In
2008 the company sold all kinds of Obama T-shirts, including one that
featured the now-famous Shepard Fairey illustration of the Democratic
candidate, and no one batted an eye. College kids and hipsters wanted
Obama T-shirts! Many of them would probably buy one today.
Which raises the question: Why on earth is Urban Outfitters now selling T-shirts featuring Mitt Romney?
There
are a few reasonable explanations for why the Urban Outfitters Romney
tees exist, actually. For one thing, Urban Outfitters (which also owns
Anthropologie and Free People) is owned by a far-right conservative,
Richard Hayne. All that youthful, vaguely hippie-feeling merchandise in
his stores?
That’s just a way to make some dough – dough that Hayne, in
turn, gives to right-wing politicians like Rick Santorum. For Hayne, the
young people and lefties who shop in his stores are just chumps to whom
he can sell $69 peace-sign tank tops while supporting conservative politics.
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