The desire to own a piece of history has spawned a $200 million market for Obamabilia, and there are still two months to go until the inauguration. The New York Times explains that independent vendors have cashed in on the sophisticated branding Barack Obama cultivated during the campaign.
So what's for sale? Posters, books, and mugs with the President-elect's face on them, not to mention print media, which Obama has helped prop up thanks to commemorative newspapers and magazines. NYTimes.com/obama has brought in as much as $2 million for the New York Times since Obama's victory, and Time magazine has published an actual book all about Obama's path to the White House. Have you shelled out for a piece of the Barack?
Princesse Tam-Tam
Aminaka Wilmont
Fantasie
Ha...in this economy can barely afford my liberal elitist latte or tea I drink at my favorite study coffee shop.
In four years maybe I'll buy a coffee mug or something.
1I ordered the Chicago Sun Times from when he was elected.
2Agreed with Jessiebanana. I really wanted a t-shirt during the campaign to show my support since I live abroad (though I probably would have been spat at if seen wearing it in my hometown in the US), but I never really got around to buying one and it's not that important to me. Sometimes people wear things for the cause, which is great, but when it becomes a trend, it really annoys me. Anyone remember the LiveStrong bracelets and the 1,000s of lookalikes that came after? Or Anya Hindemarch's patronising "I'm Not a Plastic Bag"? Funny ... I haven't seen either of those items for a while ...
3Is it me or is obama wearing eyeliner there in that bobblehead?
4I haven't bought anything and I probably won't, but some of the stuff (like the commemorative newspapers) is cool, especially for Obama supporters. However, some of it is just tacky! I CANNOT STAND shirts with people's pictures on them and I cannot even count the number of them that I have seen in stores/being sold by street vendors in the last few weeks.
5I have some magazines, buttons, and volunteer paperwork and things that I have kept over the course of the campaign as mementos of something that I was a part of. I have my little folder for registering voters with the guidelines and rules stapled to it that says, "Obama 08" across the top. Maybe my grandkids will think it is interesting.
6I had a button, but I lost it. I'd like to get something else but I'm not sure what.
7Now is definitely not the time for most people to buy stuff they don't need. Not that that will stop many people. My mulla is going towards gas, food, and my medications. Once in a while, I can indulge. Maybe in a year or two I'll get something off of ebay.
8Jill, I always keep my stuff from campaigns I work on/volunteer for. I think it's interesting, whether your candidate wins or loses.
9It's really interesting (to me, at least) to see how campaigns are organized/how well they're organized, and how that relates to results.
10I have a poster from the campaign, but it was free.
The top says "I registered because my generation is this country's future."
It has in small writing at the bottom the Obama logo and website, so I set it up like this with other pictures in front of it so it would be a bit more subtle. I'm planning on this being a permanent part of the décor in my home.
I also just got this super neat historical print from the 1908 DNC in Denver and have that up in a big frame.
I just decided I'm going to take the sign down from the yard but leave my magnet on for a little while at least. But the "Yes We Can" sign looks funny with the Christmas decorations I put up.
11I bought obama panties...
12I have the newspaper from the day after the election. The other "stuff" is just going to collect dust, and eventually get broken by my kids. Such good kids...
13Nah, I haven't bought anything.
14No, but i wouldnt have bought anything McCain related either
15I bought some of the "Yes We Did" stickers from MoveOn when they came out. Haven't received them yet, and I'll also order one of the larger poster prints. This was the first time I voted for a winner in the presidential election and Obama was elected on my birthday. If all of the stickers didn't have my birthdate on them, I probably wouldn't have bought any, but it just made the day even more meaningful for me
16obama panties?
17this is ridiculous. apart from buying historical newspapers, which I understand, who is spending money on Obama pez dispensers? ugh.
18Couple of t-shirts and buttons (I have a decent collection of buttons from past campaigns). A friend who runs a print shop made us a wall-size, cloth map of the U.S. with Obama/Biden on top. we filled in the states Obama won election night and I had my daughter sign and date it - now we put it away for my grandkids to roll their eyes at some day.
19Have you seen the garish coin collections on HSN? ghastly.
20
@ Obama panties.
21I have stickers, buttons, a t-shirt and I still have up my endorsement sign in my front yard.
TrueSong , how did you embed your picture in your comment?
Maaagic!
Just kidding. Just the regular html, img src=
22I think Obamabilla is kinda creepy. Also if the money isn't going to assist the President Elect, our government and us in getting some of the programs that are truly needed then what is the point. Can you say RIP OFF!
23Our car magnets are still on our cars. I'll take them off soon and keep at least one of them. That's it.
24my husband accidentally recycled the newspaper from Nov. 5. I couldn't really be mad since I'm so proud of him for recycling
25Nah.
26Eugh, if you think about it, people who can't afford to pay bills are paying for this stuff. That's disgusting.
27I'm hanging onto some magazines. And there's always my McCain action figure... I used to have play battles at work with my coworker who has the Obama one.
Yes, I have the brain of a five year old.
28I'm hanging on to some of the Newsweeks featuring him...but I didn't buy any Obamabilia. I did want to get one of the T-shirts with that cool street pic of him, though....or maybe on a tote. But then again, it's not exactly safe to display who you voted for around here...unless you want some seriously unpleasant threats to your person. My state may have switched it's colors this time, but that was mainly due to all the college aged voters here...the older folk get kinda mean.
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