A CNN reporter was detained in China the other day after a “scuffle” with security guards as she was holding up a t-shirt customized with a picture of Barack Obama dressed as former Communist dictator Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. The ObaMao logo shirts had recently been banned by the Chinese government in anticipation of the American president’s visit, as they claimed the design might offend him. The television reporter, Emily Chang, managed to hold on to the shirt despite being held with her colleagues for two hours for questioning by security and police. She claims that upon her return to the United States, jealous White House officials and CNN colleagues tried to bribe her for the shirt, but that she held on to it. American t-shirt manufacturers are no doubt running their own screen-printers full-time in order to make more of these for the domestic audience…

The power of political apparel is much greater than one might think, apparently. This ObaMao design was also featured on bags and patches, judging from other photos of the market I have seen…I wonder if she would have gotten in trouble for holding up a flimsy little bumper sticker or pen?

Posted on November 20th, 2009 by PoliticalSchwagCollector
Filed under: Uncategorized