Hillary Clinton as a lifestyle brand?

[SecularMotion]

In Hillary Clinton’s latest push to activate female voters, the campaign launched Women for Hillary this weekend which, in addition to promoting an explicitly feminist platform, seems to try to position Clinton as more than just a presidential candidate, but a lifestyle brand.

Supporters are encouraged to hold house parties and volunteer for Clinton, but will also receive a “Thx Box” - a campaign version of BirchBox, the home delivery subscription where women get carefully curated beauty products sent to them once a month. In this case, though, supporters will get household products that Clinton likes and uses (as well as campaign merchandise of course). People who order a Thx Box will even get a bitmoji of a pink pantsuit.

It’s a shrewd move to connect with voters and humanize Clinton - especially in light of recent low poll numbers. But there’s an awful big difference between wanting to vote for someone and wanting to be like them. Do women really want to be Hillary?

I’m going to say yes. The constant barrage of sexist hate that Clinton faces will make young women voters more sympathetic to her, her cool grandma texts-from-Hillary online presence has been organic but smartly cultivated, and the female cultural icons of the moment - cough, Beyoncé, cough - are powerful. And what’s more powerful than the first female president?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/08/hillary-clinton-lifestyle-brand-dont-roll-your-eyes

[leftofcool]

1. She is the most admired woman in the world for 17 years in a row.

[Garrett78]

2. This is what has become of US politics.

As I pointed out in this thread, Team Obama won Ad Age's Marketer of the Year Award in 2008.

And he wasn't the first presidential candidate to do so. But it seems Camp Clinton has taken branding to a whole new (and disturbingly weird) level. So much for combating superficiality and image obsession. This isn't feminism. It's anti-feminism.

We are truly living in a Brave New World.

[Ron Green]

3. ...and precisely what has to be rejected.

Branding, image, marketing - these are staples of consumer capitalism, but dangerously inappropriate in governance.

Perhaps Bernie's counterintuitive appeal as an old guy with flyaway hair is a subconscious effort to rid ourselves of this shallow "selling-of-the-President" trend.

[Garrett78]

4. On top of that...

...it's antithetical to feminism. Household products, cosmetics and a pink outfit for one's avatar. Seriously?!? Will the package also include a barefoot, pregnant, frilly apron-wearing bobblehead doll? Consumer capitalism with a June Cleaver flair.

The only thing that can make this worse is if the various products are made by companies known for human and animal rights abuses. And, really, what are the odds that they aren't?

This puts her feminist supporters in an awkward position.

[beam me up scottie]

10. What self respecting feminist would defend such tactics?

If Bernie or a Republican had done that HC supporters would be furious.

[Garrett78]

12. I was really hoping I had been duped.

Neither The Guardian or USA Today are known for satire, but I was hoping some satirical outlet such as The Onion had duped those other outlets. And, in turn, duped me. But it would appear that this is all too real. https://www.hillaryclinton.com/signup/thx-box/

Perhaps, though, the boxes don't contain what they will reportedly contain. Because if you're looking to promote feminism, promoting gender stereotyping is not the way to go.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. Agreed.

I am thoroughly nauseated by this. Branding makes me want to vomit. I'd just as soon be branded as become someone's brand or accept someone else's brand. Is this something new and we called it something else before, or has it always been this way? Maybe I'm just getting older and I'm seeing politics more clearly now. It is wretched.

[Garrett78]

6. It's not new.

As I wrote above, previous presidential campaigns have been awarded marketing awards. I believe Reagan and Perot, like Obama, won Ad Age's Marketer of the Year Award.

But Clinton has taken it to a new (and disturbingly anti-feminist) level, which is really unfortunate. Because the best thing about her candidacy is/was the potential for it to boost (and not boot) feminism.

[LuvNewcastle]

7. I remember Reagan and Perot.

I think Perot was mostly sincere on his part, but I remember a lot of people buying fucking jelly beans after Reagan said he liked them. The jelly bean makers must have made a ton of money. I was young then, but even I saw how stupid that was. Perot might have won in 1992 if he hadn't dropped out. He dropped out and then he came back. The Bushes were threatening his family, if I remember correctly, or at least that's what Perot said. I thought the accusation was far-fetched at the time, but now I know the Bushes better. After last night, I hope nothing happens to Stephen Colbert.

[HereSince1628]

8. Clinton campaign adopts gift-giving practice of Oprah Winfrey show?

What?

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. The "Hillary Clinton Lifestyles" Collection -- coming soon to your local Walmart.

Future President or not, this politics thing can't last forever. Might as well begin prepping for a new career.

It's a Good Thing, as her soon-to-be rival would say.

[FlatBaroque]

11. As the famous quote goes...

Calvin Klein ain't no friend of mine
Don't want nobody's name on my behind

[HereSince1628]

14. No problem ain't no jeans with a Goldman-Sachs moniker anyway.

Still it's sort of an odd thing. Will the companies say this was a marketing expense or will they say it was a campaign contribution?

Campaign contributions are limited, I think the sky is the limit on marketing expenses.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Will Hillary endorsements of products follow. Hillary Waffles would be apt.

[Avalux]

15. Ewwww. No thanks. n/t

[hifiguy]

16. Attention campaign staff:

"NO LOGO" IS NOT an instruction or how to book.