Et tu, Merch Guy?
Submitted by jstudent on Thu, 2008-04-03 16:24.
One might be inclined to tout Darrin Dibisceglie’s foray into political activism - and capitalism - by noting how refreshing it is to see someone of his young age get involved in the process of democracy, while along the way admiring his interest in the landmark Democratic campaign which will provide the first major party female or African-American nominee to run for the presidency.
Oh! the stories he will be able to tell.
But then one looks closer…
… past the tie-dye buttons,
past the overgrown chin strap,
past the puka beads, and discovers…Darrin Dibisceglie is a flip-flopper!
The evidence:
On Monday, when Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) made her way to Falls, the photo below was taken.
Its caption: Darrin Dibisceglie sells Hillary Clinton merchandise to supporters filing into the Keystone Industrial Port Complex on Monday night. (Art Gentile/ Courier Times Photo)
BUT then this COPYRIGHT PROTECTED PHOTO!!! was taken the very next day in Wilkes-Barre prior to a rally for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Its caption: Darrin Dibisceglie, a vendor from Tampa Florida (left), shows his selection of campaign buttons to Amanda Webb, and Renee Daniels who holds her niece McKenna Golembeski (1) as they wait for the arrival of presidential candidate Barack Obama at the Wilkes University gym Tuesday morning. (Don Carey/Times Leader Photo)
/sighs…dies a little inside…/
Now we see how it is; how ‘tied’ to their beliefs these campaign workers truly are.
Everyone’s loyalties are available… at a price.
The seedy, unsavory underside of the world of political tchotchkes is a cartel of plastic buttons, screen-printed shirts and big twisty balloons orchestrated in front of a red, white and blue curtain of deceit. All this talk of change is hooey.
In short: “Do you want the fucking Barack O-binky or not, kid?”
Pennsylvanians… neigh, Americans, remember this painful, innocence-losing lesson as you weigh the campaign promises you are sure to hear for the next three weeks, and the more than six months after that ‘til the November election:
It’s not about hope, the war in Iraq or even the economy.
It’s about whose cash-and-carry swag you are willing to buy today.
