Posted on 01/14/2005 6:50:55 PM PST by KStorm
Anti-Bush Bracelets Say, 'Count Me Blue'
NEW YORK - After spending 10 days in London with friends who were outspoken about their disdain for President Bush (news - web sites)'s policies, Berns Rothchild came home wishing she had a way to show the world she didn't vote for him.
"I sort of felt ashamed, and didn't really want to be associated with being an American," said Rothchild, who lives in New York City and voted for John Kerry (news - web sites).
Her mother had a suggestion: bracelets, inspired by the Lance Armstrong Foundation's popular "LIVESTRONG" bands, that would signal opposition to Bush.
Thousands of miles away, two women in Idaho had the same idea. So did a woman in Kansas. The result? At least three separate bracelet ventures targeting left-leaning citizens who want to wear their political affiliation on their wrists — and at least one competitor bearing the opposite message.
Rothchild, 35, is selling blue bracelets that say "COUNT ME BLUE," while Laura Adams, of Fairway, Kan., offers blue bracelets that say "HOPE." The McKnight family, of Moscow, Idaho, is even more direct; their black bracelets proclaim: "I DID NOT VOTE 4 BUSH."
"It's kind of like saying, 'This is my tribe,'" said dams, 43, a Kerry supporter, who was inspired by her 14-year-old stepson's yellow Lance Armstrong band.
It's unlikely the wristbands will ever have the widespread appeal of the bands created by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which have sold about 31 million so far to raise money for cancer research. Brenda McKnight, 40, said her family has sold roughly 4,000, and Adams said she has sold about 3,300. Rothchild has sold about 500 since her Web site launched Monday.
But all three ventures also have the aim of raising money for a variety of organizations.
Rothchild, who is selling the bracelets on the Web in packages of 10 for $20, plans to give part of her profits to UNICEF (news - web sites), and Adams has donated money from the sale of her $3 bracelets to Save the Children and Habitat for Humanity.
The McKnights are auctioning their bracelets on eBay and selling them for $3 each on their Web site, where buyers can vote for one of six organizations that will receive a portion of the proceeds.
So far only McKnight said she has received e-mails criticizing the bracelets as unpatriotic. But Rothchild said her venture has spawned a counter-protest — from her Republican father.
John Rothchild, a Miami Beach, Fla., resident who voted for Bush, has invested in 5,000 "COUNT ME RED" bracelets.
He has hired his daughter's boyfriend, who created her Web site, to create his, which he launched this week.
"Now we're sort of having a father-daughter competition to see who can sell more," Berns Rothchild said.
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On the Net:
http://www.ididnotvote4bush.com
http://www.countmeblue.com
http://www.hopebracelet.com
http://www.countmered.com
If they're gonna steal from Lance's Foundation; they should go all the way.
"LeaveStrong"; take your whiney shame to france.
For God's sake, where will it end? We've had decades of Presidential elections without this whining and crying by the losers. When will these people get over themselves?
People, this is all for the good. Now we know how to prioritize lifeboat spaces.
Get one of these and try not to gloat.
Dang it!... gotta get me one of those rubber keyboard protector thingies...
exceptional! Best one I've seen today!
We need red bracelets and red neckties... hehehe
Don't. I looked at the red bracelet website and noticed that he's donating the profits to the United Nations just like his "blue" daughter. Not a particularly bright conservative, that one....
Is it my imagination or are there lots of Kerry/Edwards stickers still on cars ?
COUNT ME RED
Oh, please, just a good ole' gimmick from a smart father and daughter team!
Those are pillhead eye bags, no joke.
Always a catch unfortunately.
I'm not certain why other pro-Bush/pro-GOP/pro-conservative sites haven't jumped on the novelty of the wristband craze actively. I've seen a few, but given the market it's odd they haven't caught on. Just the standard bumper sticker, shirts, and hats.
I saw one failed attempt today. The Kerry/Edwards sticker was to hard to get off and it was kinda shredded but you could still tell what it was. I also saw a dirt mark where the "Support our troops" magnet was REMOVED. No need to act anymore the election is over.
now the traitors can out themselves
No. Says it all!
The Blues don't need to identify themselves, it is there in their eyes, with that: "the lights are on, but nobody's home" look. They are an eerie sight to behold.
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