Obama Campaign St. Patrick’s Day T-Shirt Screws up Actual Symbol of Ireland
- Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:04pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Image source: barackobama.com
Less than one month out from St. Patrick’s Day, President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign seems to be hoping to cash in on supporters’ Irish pride with some special campaign merchandise: “O’Bama” T-shirts and pint glasses.
“Gear up for Saint Patrick’s Day in style with this fun O’Bama tee,” the Obama online campaign store says.
But the merchandise — $30 for the T-shirt and $25 for the two-glass set — isn’t sitting well with everyone: The O’Bama design includes a large four-leaf clover, which is different from the three-leaf shamrock, the actual symbol of Ireland.
Dave Hunt, a lifelong Democrat and the owner of the Irish saloon Coogan’s in Manhattan, told the New York Times he finds the design “kind of off”:
“That is my particular pebble in my shoe, when four-leaf clovers are interchanged with three-leafs,” said Mr. Hunt, 62, whose restaurant wall features a poster of John F. Kennedy adorned with (three-leaf) shamrocks. “People do it all the time. But if they were going to go to the trouble to do a T-shirt with the O and the apostrophe — which I think is very clever – someone on the staff should have gone to the trouble of finding out how many leaves to put on the clover.”
During Obama’s visit to Ireland last year, he joked to a Dublin crowd: “My name is Barack Obama, of the Moneygall Obamas, and I’ve come home to find the apostrophe we lost somewhere along the way.”
Image source: barackobama.com
Hunt isn’t the only one to take issue with the added clover leaf: A comment left on a Politico report about the new merchandise pointed out the same problem.
“How ignorant of the Irish history is [Obama] when a four leaf clover is placed as the logo when the three leaf shamrock represents the faith of St Patrick’s teachings? Tells you volumes about the man,” commenter Julia Connolly wrote.
But Kevin O’Neill, a professor of Irish History at Boston College and the cofounder of the school’s Irish Studies program, told the Times he doesn’t see a real problem.
“I think that’s creative license,” O’Neill said. ” If you can add an apostrophe, why not a leaf.”
Hunt told the Times he fired off an email to the Obama re-election campaign about the error. He received an auto-reply in return. Asked about the logo by the Times, a campaign spokeswoman said she would check it out.
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Comments (169)
kevinUA
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:57pmHA! what fools. now he identifies with the Irish?!
Report Post »PPMStudios
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:14pmActually, his Mother’s side if from Ireland. I did a tour about two years ago and the Irish were very proud (for some inane reason) to point out the village where Odumbo’s family comes from….
Report Post »mils
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:31pm“O’shameahsee” is more like it.
Again, unless the republicans get their poop together..he will win ..again…
Report Post »Kathleen3
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:11pmIt’s another Obama sell-out. Schumer, Scott Brown, and Kirk have introduced legislation that would allow 10-15,000 Irish workers to enter the U.S. – each year! – and the shamrock shirts are just a subtle reminder of the quid pro quo. 15 million unemployed Americans, and those who would be displaced by the Irish workers can’t afford a t-shirt.
Report Post »Uranium Wedge
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:24pmThey did the four leaf because they’re gonna need all the luck they can get.
Report Post »FormerLib
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:32pmSimple to understand. Like any good delusional narcissist, he just added himself to the Trinity, hence the four leaf clover.
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:32pmI guess he could start his own 4-H organization.
Report Post »Two Sheds
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:51pmMade me laugh out loud like on Mary Poppins; PAH! What a goof bean. You would think the most brilliant man in the world would have a better executive staff. I might have to buy one to add to my collection; I have a Perot hat and a Hillary nut *******….
Report Post »Miami
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:27pmWhat are they going for,… the IRA…?
Report Post »Wat Tyler
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 6:09amThis article is making a lot of assumptions. Like how do you know it’s meant to be the symbol of Ireland? Maybe it’s just meant to be good luck, deviating from Ireland’s symbol.
I think “O’Bama” is quite clever. I’m no Obama fan, but I don’t let that cloud my basic sense of fairness.
He’s no worse than neo-con, war mongering Bush (both of them). In fact, there’s not a whole lot of difference.
They’re all puppets of the Hollywood/Wall Street Axis Zionist Illuminati.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 10:09amWhen you consider the vast amount of typos and inaccurate comments made by this website, it’s quite funny that this is posted here.
Hey Blaze writers, if you‘re going to point out others’ mistakes, you may want to begin with proofreading your own articles, then point fingers.
Report Post »Callie369
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 2:34amNah. He is still a closet islamist. His knowledge of anything and everything is so pathetic it is unreal. The Saudi that bought Obama’s way into Harvard and then paid to keep him there was badly cheated!!!!
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 2:18pmOf Irish herritage and find it offensive to have O’Bama pint glasses. Do we have obama crack pipe on mlk day? Do we have wire cutters on cinqo de mayo? I can’t say grass hopper about lin, but you can toss out every insulting stereotype about Irish in a presidential campaign?
Report Post »1776ARTOFWAR
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:58pmNo, I’m Irish and he needs to stay away from us… LOL
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:51pmWhat a jackass.
Report Post »spotcoon
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:02pmThose ignorant Irish Catholic (eg.Notre Dame et al.) should be utterly ecstatic with just the thought of a Real Irish Jig.
SoupSandwich
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:44pmNot too many in the 4H would give him the time of day. Busy working and such. Who said real Irish Jig? That was not funny. Frickin hilarious.
Report Post »BarackStalin
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:34pmThat one made me laugh out loud.
Report Post »auntbea
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:51pmMy God! He truly has no shame. He ripped of the 4H Clubs of America!
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:52pmSpotcoon, I get it. And for your information, America is full of yella & brown Irish jigs.
Report Post »nosycophant
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:50pmYou can be sure it is intentional.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:24pmThat is the 4-H symbol .. only thing missing are the H’s in each leaf ….
Obama wouldn’t last one day working on a FARM!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:21pmShoot — I can’t remember the 4-H pledge.
Report Post »Hands, Head, Heart & Health, though. Right?
CatB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:57pmAs a true 4-H member, I pledge…
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living
for my club, my community,
my country and my world.
My world was added in 1973
Report Post »83plus
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:50pm@CatB Could let him try the job I had in 2010. I worked general labor in construction, 10 hour days starting at 6:00 AM.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:46pmRemember – Obama sees himself as a messianic figure; so why should we not expect him to remake the day of St Patrick into his own image? One more example of how insane he truly is.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:37pmYou are correct SNOW when you use the word insane … scary that others including the lamesteam media can’t / won’t see it. Here is just the tip of the iceberg …
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcissistic-personality-disorder/DS00652
Report Post »db321
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:37pmSnow – It certainly appears so – I pray for the day when God takes Obama down a peg or two.
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:48amHe’s Hitleresque, screw him I say!
Report Post »AmericanLass
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:45pmAs an Irish woman, I am offended, I demand an apology, or a lawyer. Its insulting to all Irish folks.
Report Post »SoiledDove
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:04pmA lawyer? Really?
I can also assure you that it does not offend ALL Irish folks.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:38pm;-) go get him.
Report Post »vickiw
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:57pmI’m offended! and I can tell you my Irish born grandparents are LIVID!
Report Post »SERUM
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:22pmWas it the drinking glasses referring to the way the Irish drink or the misrepresentation of the four-leaf clover..eyy?
Report Post »Choose wisely…
SERUM
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:44pmPart Irish…fully offended.
Report Post »WestBellevillian
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:40pmCan we wear this to the groundbreaking of the National Irish American Museum?
Report Post »baldeagle
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:38pmWhat else would you expect from an Affirmative Action Administration??? This bunch screws up everything they touch. They have no concept of history, geography, english, etc. What is even worse is that 50% plus of the populace is just as clueless.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:33pmI can’t look a that clover without drawing the lines of a swastika in my head…
Report Post »ICOSAHEDRON
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:14pmMe too…
Report Post »cristo52
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:31pmThe WH also moved the traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration from march 17 to March 20 to accommodate the Brits.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:31pm…
Report Post »The four leaf clover design was on purpose. A four leaf clover supposedly brings good luck.
Everyone knows, that Obama is going to need all the luck he can get, come November.
3monkeysmomma
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:47pmI hope you are right, friend, but NEVER underestimate the stupididty of the american voter.
Report Post »VigilantGuardShark
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 9:16amWho needs stupid voters when you can cheat better than anyone else?
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:09pmI am very nervous about the voting polls in Nov.. Can we trust out-comes of votes? Acorn will be out in force…I just don’t trust anything any longer from the current administration and “behind the curtains” Hopefully, there will be some honest people running the voting booths and will keep an eye out for fraud.
Report Post »gr8t2bfree
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:28pmStupid is as stupid does………
Report Post »little big man
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:33pmIf I was Irish I’d puke in my beer if I seen someone wearing that shirt in an irish bar
Report Post »mountainmover101
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:36pmDon’t you remember Valerie Jarrett said he was the smartest guy ever.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:25pmThis was probably done to stick a finger in the eyes of the Irish people…..this can’t be a mistake….it looks too deliberate!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:40pmThat’s the way muslims think. If you aren’t muslim, Obama just makes a mockery of you. The people just line up for the slaughter.
Report Post »Shenandoahvalleypatriot
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:41pmNo mistake, it’s just plain stupidity!!!!!!!!
Report Post »mtfunk
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:24pmMaybe they were trying to separate church and state, seeing how the three leaf clove represents the Trinity and the four leaf clover represents the luck of paganism. More likely though no one really cared enough to get it right.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:23pmThis president really hates God – doesn’t he?
Report Post »Americain
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:23pmSt. Patrick used the three leaf clover to illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity.
Report Post »That‘s not something that’s found in his Islamic beliefs.
IronSights
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:34pmI think the four leaf is appropriate here, cause he’ll be lucky if he gets re-elected and to do so Borak will need all the luck he can get.
Report Post »Americain
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:57pmLet’s hope so. There’s enough stupid people out there that could muck it up.
This is from an e-mail I received:
Report Post »“If you voted for Barack Obama to prove you’re not racist,
you‘re going to have to vote for someone else to prove you’re not an idiot”
Greenwood
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:05pmMichele O’bama did say we are going to have to change our history and traditions and the way we think………..
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:23pmWhat an idiot.
It is up to you people to get your neighbor out to vote this moron out of office.
In order to win – we have to outplay the liberals.
We need to offer the elderly rides to the election booths -
We need to put Republican signs in our yard and on our cars
If each of you were to convice only TWO people – and those two people talked to two people and so on… we will SEND A MESSAGE like no other. That we are SICK of this crap and we are not going to take any more of it.
So I am asking – please – start now. Talk to your friends – your co-workers – etc
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:19pmI can’t — it’s just —- Says it all
Report Post »Silversmith
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:18pm0bama is trying to catch up with Biden’s gaffe numbers. Or maybe he is borrowing another leaf to represent all of the money he has borrowed in the name of this country.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:16pmLMAO!! Cad ina amadán agus leathcheann. (What a fool and an idiot.)
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:14pmFile this under the same incompetence that gave a british PM, U.S. DVDs that can’t be played in the UK. Or the “Reset” button spelled incorrectly. O”Barry’s Keystone Kops administration.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:12pmIt’s the Symbol of Obama… Lucky… Green (Hippie Movement)… representing Hope, Change, & Peace… under Chaos!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:08pmBarry is trying to get the 4 H Club vote.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:11pm“Ignorant” is the hallmark of this administration.
Report Post »football lady
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:43pm4-H Club members even at 12 are smarter than that!
Report Post »JuanaDance
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:56pmYou NAILED it! It is the symbol that Obama STOLE! Instead of head, heart, health & hands, for Obama its humanism, heist, hypocrisy & hedonism.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:09amThe 4-H should sue .. copywrite infringement.
Report Post »Female
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:08pmO’blunder strikes again!
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:08pmHahahaha
Report Post »Rightwingredhead
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:06pmHe is going to need a 4 leaf clover to win, the thief and chief.
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