New Balance Says It Likes Gay People More Than Mitt Romney

[William769]

No matter what you've heard about New Balance's chairman giving money to Mitt Romney's campaign, the shoemaker wants to assure gay people it's on their side.

CEO Rob DeMartini posted a letter today that put him in the odd position of distancing the company from its chairman, Jim Davis.

"Let me be clear that this was a private donation and not a contribution from New Balance," DeMartini wrote. "We typically do not comment on private political donations; however, this situation is different."

What's different this time is the $500,000 donation by Davis went to a candidate who signed a pledge from the antigay National Organization for Marriage, which also attracted the backing of Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Santorum. The ensuing uproar was encapsulated in a petition posted on Change.org, titled "Tell New Balance: Stop Supporting Anti-Gay Politicians."

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/10/New_Balance_Says_It_Likes_Gay_People_More_Than_Mitt_Romney/

Public relations nightmare?

[Firebrand Gary]

1. I like those Rainbow shoes.

As long as NB is not kissing my gay ass right now I think I need that pair of shoes. FYI": I just purchased 2 pairs of the 801's a few weeks ago. I hope New Balance is staying out of this.

And I am glad the 801's are back.

[William769]

2. Oops, sorry I missed this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x183651

:blush:

[Firebrand Gary]

3. Sorry CEO DeMartini, no can do. The guy is your current chairman.

I am unfortunately going to send (after washing them) to Rachel Maddow, she can show the world that people who once supported New Balance no longer does.

Its sad because I loved my 801's

[rurallib]

4. I am confused. If the contribution limit is $2,600 (or so) How

can this guy give Romney $500,000?
Well fuck, I really liked New Balance.

[Unvanguard]

5. He gave it to a PAC supporting Romney's campaign. n/t

[RetiredTrotskyite]

6. God...

Figures that it would be a brand of shoe I really like. Wish they really had a rainbow shoe like that.