Israeli Designs 'Who killed Barack Obama?' T-Shirts

[Purveyor]

Israeli fashion designer shakes up New York with T-Shirts, hoodies bearing this controversial message. Shirts are a hit, but designer receives death threats

Yaniv Halily

NEW YORK - The American political system sees its fair share of mudslinging, accusation and incendiary statements—especially during a presidential election campaign. An Israeli fashion designer residing in New York has, however, managed to stir up heated controversy in the city even in the midst of a hotly contested presidential campaign.

The brouhaha began several weeks ago, when the American press began to examine the possibility that Senator Barack Obama might be a target for assassination should he win the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency. Obama is believed to have a real chance at becoming the first African-American US president, but many American are less than thrilled by this likely scenario.

Doron Braunshtein, an Israeli fashion designer and owner of the Apollo Braun fashion boutique in New York, decided to capitalize on this sensational Obama story by creating his own line of T-shirts bearing the logo “Who killed Obama?”

In creating this controversial clothing line, the designer had hoped to wed the political and fashion scenes, and comment on various societal phenomenon surrounding the heated election campaign. The “who shot Obama?” slogan is a throw back to popular 80’s TV show, Dallas, which featured the immortal line “who shot J.R.?”

What was supposed to be a limited clothing line for New York’s youth soon caught fire, however, and became a fashion phenomenon all throughout the United States. With success came fierce debate and public scrutiny, as millions of Americans saw the shirts as blatant incitement against Obama and as a call for his assassination.

---EOE---

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3527989,00.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. that's just sick

and I'd say the same for whatever name of a living person were there.

[Frustratedlady]

3. I just told a friend this morning, that nothing had better happen to him...

or the people would be marching on the WH. How sick.

[Purveyor]

6. Indeed it is. This is the first I've heard of it. eom

[Buzz Clik]

2. I can see why it's a hit. I'm mean, what could be any funnier?

In case you just can't tell: my title is exactly the opposite of how I feel.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. How is that funny in any sense?

[Buzz Clik]

5. it isn't

I edited my post.

[Poll_Blind]

7. Is this illegal?

  I'm certain of one thing- it's in incredibly poor taste. However, does anyone who follows free speech issues know if this is illegal- probably under incitement?

PB

[Poll_Blind]

9. BTW, in a few articles I've seen they claim it's to "raise awareness".

  You roll a 0. Epic fail. Let me check in the Dungeon Master's guide for this one...Ah! Right here:

Your attack fails. So horribly, in fact, that the sword you use literally comes apart on striking your opponant. Secret Service agents surround you and present you with 1d4 subpoenas before taking you into custody.

PB

[awoke_in_2003]

25. "Is this illegal?"

Hard to say how the courts would interpret it. But one thing is for sure- Presidents and Vice Presidents, current and past, along with all serious presidential candidates fall under the protection of the Secret Service. That is a scary bunch to mess with.

[Poll_Blind]

26. Indeed! n/t

PB

[grassfed]

8. Unacceptable. Protest. Contact 212-726- 8075 [e-mail]

Demand the removal of these shirts from the store and website.

Apollo Braun aka Doron Braunshtein
[e-mail]
http://www.myspace.com/apollobraun

Store located at 193 Orchard Street (Corner of Houston), NY ,NY 10002

[MadAndy]

10. That's out-fin-rageous. The FBI should do a rectal exam of these morons for promoting assasination.

[Turner Ashby]

11. Did the guy start selling them on MLK day?

That would be the only way it could get any more tasteless.

[Judi Lynn]

12. It's an ugly spirit which hopes to enrich itself by desensitizing the public to someone's murder.

He's probably not worth more as a designer than he is as a human being.

It's an exploitive, crude, and unwelcome idea.

[drexel dave]

22. I live in one of the top 20 dangerous cities in America

and I hate to say it, but Americans here are already desensitized to murder.

[yurbud]

13. if this had been about Bush, the guy would be hanging by his nuts at gitmo already.

Not that I think that should happen in any case.

[Poll_Blind]

14. From New York Press: "Once It's on a T-Shirt, It Never Goes Away"

nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=8588589

  Even the alternative press is vomiting over this shit.

Today I received a package that seemed no different than many of the others that arrive every day. But instead of some DVDs, unknown musician's CDs or some random sampling of candy, it was a pink T-shirt that read: "Who Killed Obama?"

It gave me that sinking feeling. I read the press release and discovered it's the work of Doron Braunshtein, aka Apollo Braun, who has a shop down on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side. Then I showed it around the office: "Is that for real?" I had the same question so called up Braun and spoke to him about the line that he launched over a month ago and is attracting plenty of attention due to his window display.

--snip--

"Could you imagine if Obama were killed? They might blame me. Then I'd be take to jail and have to have prison sex." But Braun, a charming provocateur doesn't seem too worried about the prospect.

Sick asshole. That's him, btw, in his creation.

PB

[bbgrunt]

15. sick sick sick. "Doron Braunshtein" must be a typo--that

should be MORON Braunshtein.

[libodem]

16. Hummm, CIA or FBI

would be my guess, via a 'lone gunman', connected to nobody. I do fear for Obama, he reminds me too much to JFK. Young, smart, talented, and his own man. He may have the audacity to stand above the frey, therefore he is a target.

[Skittles]

17. ugly and offensive n/t

[LongTomH]

18. Really disgusting!

This is just another sign of the coarsening of American popular culture - and I'm not really certain who's more to blame.

[DangerousRhythm]

19. Wow, you know...

I must say very little, VERY little, offends me. I am not the type to get offended at most things others would find offensive. This though? Absolutely tacky, tasteless and disgusting. I don't even know what the hell I can say about it that wouldn't send me off into some tirade. Fashion phenomenon, really? Just wow.

[classysassy]

20. An Arab

designer that designed a "who shot mc cain" t shirt would already be in custody of the police.

[Poll_Blind]

27. I have no doubt that they would. n/t

PB

[bingowas-hisname-o]

21. I would never wear one of those

Number 1-It's offensive and a provocation that may cause crazy people out there to attempt to harm Obama.
Number 2-I would get probably get in trouble with the FBI or police.

[Divine Discontent]

23. what was the deal about the british (I think) production company

who made the movie where bush was assassinated? I think the GOPers were outraged by that, like a year ago. This is tasteless sensationalism - and people are doing this kind of thing more and more to get ANY kind of attention they can to promote their business and themselves.

[anitar1]

24. I want to say, "what a swine" , but that insults swine.

This is one Israeli who should go home and stay there.

[democracy1st]

28. Barack Obama makes everyone keep up with US politics

:kick: