Democrats Use Blue Wristbands for Fundraising
Bizblogger passes on word that the Democrats are using a blue wristband, modeled on Lance Armstrong’s famous yellow wristband for cancer research, as a new fundraising gimmick.
Think Blue bands are a reminder that elections matter every day, and a symbol of the importance of electing candidates who support democratic values. There are more than 80,000 Think Blue bands on the wrists of people in all 50 states and more than 10 countries around the world.
ThinkBlue:
Compare to the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LiveStrong bands:
While I’m not sure this constitutes a “slap to cancer patients, survivors and supporters,” it does seem in rather poor taste.
Update (1113): A string of commenters point out that these wristbands are now so ubiquitous that Disney, sports teams, and all manner of other “causes” have adopted them as gimmicks. So, while the similarity to Armstrong’s band is indeed there, the connection is tangential at best.
As Rosanne Rosannadanna would say, “Never mind.”
In the midwest, wristbands are used for all sorts of causes and events. I’ve stopped trying to remember what color means what. I know I’ve seen different shades of blue that are for other things than being a Democrat. So at least around here they are late to the party.
No slap, no poor taste. They’re a fad now. You can get Jesus ones, patriotic ones, etc., etc.
But of course it’s bad when the Democrats do it.
When other diseases co-opted the popular AIDS ribbon, it was no big deal. But people would have raised a stink if one of the political parties or a corporation had done it.
I have a “Count Me Red” bracelet.
Indeed they are a fad now. I was in the Disney store the other day with my daughter and at the register they had a small bin filled with different colored, different sayings wrist bands.
It’s a pity that something once so great has been turned into a political ploy, a kids toy, and a profit maker.
Yep fads. You can find them for all sorts of causes and ideas.
I don’t see any offense to be taken here.
Brilliant! I wonder which hospitals use such bands to identify people as “no code”, or do not resuscitate.
Everyone is jumping on this bandwagon including college sports team.
Yep…a buddy of mine has a University of Texas wristband in burnt orange, as well as a support the troops wristband in camo. I’m actually surprised it took them this long to jump on the bandwagon.
Indeed. Before the start of this baseball season, the Cubs started selling “Believe” bracelets, in blue.
So, at least in Chicagoland, the blue dem bracelets will be as effective as the Cubs’ record.
Currently, the Cubs are a few percentage points below .500, which mirrors what Kerry got in November.
Whoa to Dusty’s team if he’s somewhat karmatically connected to Howard’s team.
And as mocked in a January 2005 OTB Caption Contest
In the office, we’ve resorted to just getting regular rubber bands and using an ink pen. Then we do something really old school – shoot them at each other…. painful way to do it, but it gets the point across…
Perhaps it would be good if every Dem bought a blue one and every Rep bought a red one — then we’d be able to tell who to avoid on the subway.
Reminds me of the old Irish prayer asking God to help with their enemies — “turn their hearts, but if you can’t turn their hearts, turn their ankles so we can tell them from their limps.”
It should read:
“I voted for Kerry in 2004 and all I got was this stupid bracelet”
Good one, LJD!
This is the best one I’ve found yet – http://www.thinkgreenband.com – a marjiuana bracelet!