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Obama Now Brought to You by Abercrombie & Fitch

Both Towleroad and Gawker noticed this too: last night, during Barack Obama's Pennsylvania concession speech (in Indiana, naturally), there was a bit of surprising, shall we say, product placement. Three fine-looking young collegiate bros, placed directly behind the candidate, each wearing a clearly-branded Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt. First of all, what are the chances? I can imagine two frat boys leaving the frat house with their A&F shirts, but once a third joins them, you'd think one of them would go back and change. On the other hand, it seems unlikely that this is, as Gawker suggests, "a plot by the Obama campaign to win back the gay community, which has something of a taste for the youth clothing retailer and, especially, its catalogs, but whose vote is basically owned by Hillary Clinton." So true, and oh, the shame. Don't let anybody tell you the gays always have good taste.

So what's going on? Did A&F dispatch a trifecta of models to the arena, hoping for some air time? Or is this an inside deal, with the Obama campaign getting a cut (and maybe some boxer briefs)? If so, you'd think they'd be more about United Colors of Benetton, especially since A&F are well known for, er, marketing group sex to teens. Whose shirts can we expect to show up behind Hillary during her North Carolina concession speech, Polo by Ralph Lauren? Well, I don't care if these speeches turn into runway shows, I just want this thing over.

After the jump, watch the Obama speech and amuse yourself by imagining what each of our Abercrombie boys are thinking at any given moment.

Comments

Abercromie & Fitch is not fratty and never will be. If they'd been wearing some Brooks Brother's polos, however...

That said, Indiana welcomes Sen. Obama!

Posted by: Kate on 04/23/08 at 11:11 AM Respond

A&F is as "not fratty" as you are "down with what the kids wear." LOL. I highly doubt Obama, considering the pressure on him, would bother "getting into bed" with retailers on a per-speech basis. More likely, A&F saw a good opportunity, and took it.

Posted by: Justin on 04/23/08 at 11:57 AM Respond

Any guy that wears A&F clothing has no sense of personal style. Add a puka shell chocker/necklace, a baseball cap and you've got yourself a frat boy. People that shop at A&F are so easy to spot and unfortunately all tend to be the same in style and personality. I hate to generalize, but it's true. I live in an area where cargo shorts, polos, flip-flops and A&F style clothing is often seen on guys in their young to mid 20's. All are self obsessed, arrogant loud mouths that think they’re the coolest. Right after they grab their starbucks they hop into the BMW and listen to some gangsta rap thinking their hard.

Go obama!!

Posted by: J on 04/23/08 at 12:10 PM Respond

Who knew the most controversial thing in this post was the accusation of close ties between A&F and frat boys. Are you commenters defending A&F against frats, or frats against A&F? I can't tell!!!

Posted by: Party Ben on 04/23/08 at 12:22 PM Respond

Party Ben,
If you're the Party Ben DJ from SF, wassup!?!? When are you going to post some new mashups on your website. I miss the old six mixes.

Posted by: Jon on 04/23/08 at 12:50 PM Respond

Any self-respecting fratdaddy wouldn't be caught dead in A&F.

Posted by: Angie on 04/23/08 at 4:13 PM Respond

This just proves Obama supporters are as milquetoast, unimaginative, and out-of-touch as their candidate.

Posted by: Colleen on 04/23/08 at 4:35 PM Respond

At a recent campaign appearance, Obama dusted his shoulders off (a la Jay-Z, Black Album). If that's not in-touch, I don't know what is.

Posted by: Kelly on 04/23/08 at 4:42 PM Respond

Ah yes, referencing a song released 5 years ago. The epitome of Hip.

Posted by: Сщддуут on 04/23/08 at 4:45 PM Respond

If Barack is short on hipster cred, perhaps its because he has been busy saving the world.

Posted by: Kappa Alpha Tau Epsilon on 04/23/08 at 4:49 PM Respond

Because everyone knows repeating the word "change" over and over to the point of meaninglessness is how Armageddon is delayed. Kinda like inputing the numbers into the computer in Lost.

Posted by: ئخممثثر on 04/23/08 at 4:57 PM Respond

Change may be the numbers, but "hope" is the key Desmond uses.

Posted by: -- on 04/23/08 at 5:01 PM Respond

I "hope" Obama gets unstuck from time and is unable to find his Constant. [=<

Posted by: ee on 04/23/08 at 5:03 PM Respond

If that's a reference to this season, I haven't been watching.

Posted by: cummings on 04/23/08 at 5:04 PM Respond

Yeah, The Constant aired a few months ago, and was the best episode ever

Posted by: LostFan85 on 04/23/08 at 5:06 PM Respond

Spoiler alert!!

Posted by: Doctor Jack Shephard MD on 04/23/08 at 5:09 PM Respond

Oh I didn't give anything crucial away, and it is impossible to not enjoy that episode.

Posted by: donsguns.com on 04/23/08 at 5:11 PM Respond

I'll be sure to czech it out.

Posted by: Claire on 04/23/08 at 5:19 PM Respond

Obama has been busy saving the world? I wasn't aware that chanting hope, peace and change was all it took. Guess it WAS the hippies that ended Vietnam huh. I would love to see your list of just how Obama has "saved the world" so far? Taking money from negligent corporations so that other candidates won't have to face that evil? Calling Clinton negative in every sentence so that we can see a "good definition" of negative? Or just teaching himself to talk like Kennedy?

Posted by: Justin on 04/24/08 at 7:43 AM Respond

Just know that with Barack's wisdom and judgement plus what he has done since college will prove he will be wise when he chooses his cabinet. They will be THE BEST OF THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE to serve. I believe we will work together for the first time in years.And if you don't have hope to end all this hate we are lost.

Posted by: Zola Daniels on 04/24/08 at 8:03 AM Respond