I'm not buying into the Obama hype...

Literally.

What's really up with all the Obama shirts, buttons, socks, headbands, window shades, couch covers, doggie sweaters, sneakers, turntable slip mats, etc.?! It's getting ridiculous. What's next...the Obama Condom? "Change your love life for the positive...with the Obama Condom!"

I first noticed the trend to get paid off of Obama's name with Rolling Stone magazine's commemorative edition. It even contains an Obama poster. You know...like Word Up! or your favorite teen or video game magazine. RS pretty much backed Obama from jump so I didn't see the reason behind this issue. Yeah, yeah...money. I get it. But when do we take a step back and start respecting what we believe in without having to make a buck from it? Beyond the understandable t-shirts and such, I think it's just too much as the example of product out there just hasn't slowed down. For example...

Hennessy Cognac has a limited edition "44" bottle available. Ummmm.....why? Won't there be enough Hennessy being poured on the 20th? The absolute need to cash in on this President is embarrassing. Don't get me wrong...I understand the popularity, potential and celebrity of this man...but his campaign was based on change. Wouldn't it have been cool if the advertising & marketing teams within these companies had paid more attention? Wouldn't it have been cool if the change that Obama spoke of started with our greed to get paid on everything we do during every breathing moment? As far as I'm concerned, it's greed that's gotten this country in the quicksand for which it finds itself. From The NY Times:

The maker of Hennessy Cognac, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is using numerology rather than language in its promotion, selling 180,000 bottles, priced at $30 each, bearing seals and labels on the front and back emblazoned with “44” and phrases like “In honor of the 44th president” and “In honor of the presidential inauguration.”

The company plans to make donations to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for each bottle sold, said Andy Glaser, senior vice president for Hennessy at Moët Hennessy USA in New York, with a goal of starting two four-year scholarships through a minimum donation of $50,000.

Nice gesture. The labels of the bottles will be emblazoned with phrases like “In honor of the 44th president” and “In honor of the presidential inauguration.” In my humble opinion, it would've been a true honor had all the proceeds gone to the College Fund. Even in this recession, liquor is doing just fine.

Again, thanks for reading...

One love,

Bigg Russ

P.S. Thanks for the original NYTimes.com article from which I first heard about this. You know who you are...