Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski Shows Off His Nike Boycott
Illinois Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski showed off his Nike boycott to Twitter in light of the company’s decision to pull its Betsy Ross flag sneakers.
“I’m sitting here working. Notice I’m not wearing Nikes, nor will I anytime soon,” Lipinski tweeted Tuesday night along with a photo of his New Balance sneakers.
I’m sitting here working. Notice I’m not wearing Nikes, nor will I anytime soon. pic.twitter.com/MFZBau1DQV
— Dan Lipinski (@DanLipinski) July 2, 2019
Lipinski is of a dying breed of centrist Democrats; he is a member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition and is pro-life. He is known to have one of the more conservative voting records in Congress.
The Airmax 1 USA sneakers had stitched on the heel 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies, in the original American flag design of Betsy Ross. After Collin Kaepernick said he found that flag offensive Nike pulled the shoes and ask retailers who already had them in stock to send them back.
Kaepernick, the former NFL player who has a sponsorship deal with Nike, raised concerns that the Revolutionary War era flag was an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.
Other politicians has also groaned about Nike’s decision. Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey vowed to withdraw all financial incentives his state had offered the company to open a plant there, tweeting that he was “embarrassed for Nike.” He said that Nike “has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism.
Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike. 3/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019
Nike is an iconic American brand and American company. This country, our system of government and free enterprise have allowed them to prosper and flourish. 4/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019
Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism. 5/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019
[Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images]
