McCain: Obama Will Take Away Your Crocs

For weeks, John McCain has been fighting off the notion that his presidency would be a third Bush term, even using a prime time address -- on the night of Barack Obama becoming the Democratic presumptive nominee -- to preemptively debunk the forthcoming attack.

But for all his efforts, the Senator has, on occassion, given Democratic opponents fodder to push the meme.

He did it again on Monday during his economic speech in Colorado.

Hoping to tout the benefits of free trade, McCain highlighted the success of Crocs, an outdoor footwear company that has benefited greatly from international sales. The problem, as several political observers were quick to note (first among them, Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic) is that President Bush himself touted Croc's business acumen during a free-trade speech back in November 2006.

Already, Democrats are pouncing. Making its way through opposition research circles is a video, splicing McCain and Bush speeches.

The idea behind the clip is self-evident and, on the surface, seems like just another effort in the litany of attempts to tie together the two Republicans. But for a McCain campaign that is trying to re-foot itself, these missteps end up being more politically irritating. They are distractions that take away from the Senator's focus on a coherent economic message.

Update: Chris Beam, over at Slate, has highlighted, perhaps, a more telling problem with McCain's use of Croc: the company has "blown up in the last several months."

Have a look at Croc's stock price. (Symbol: CROX.) It peaked at $75 back in late October, but since then has plummeted to one-tenth of that. It last traded at $6.91. Whereas footwear like Uggs managed to outlive its initial hype and become a footwear mainstay, Crocs appear to be what its investors most feared: a fad.

Comments

[mnash]

Is this guy for REAL?????

[sandtats]

For real! A few minutes ago, at his economic town hall, a gentleman asked him about the rising price of gas, saying that it's becoming increasingly difficult for him to cover the cost of his commute to work. Mc C suggested that he, that we all might consider changing jobs, citing the 1.5 million "gas lilberated" Americans who are happily sitting at home, making a living on eBay. Couldn't believe my ears.

[TheNuff]

: O

[emmaspeaks]

he needs those aides to do the thinking.

[joeyp404]

Juvenile title. Juvenile responses. Did anyone read the story?

[Tommygun264]

I read it - inane drivel and fear-mongering, which is all McSame has to offer. That's why the responses are as juvenile as the tile - because McSame and his fear-mongering on trade policies is a JOKE and should be treated as such.

[sociocanuck]

wasn't that all the story anyway?

no, really. if there's anything besides the text above on the page it links to, i don't see it.

[lincat]

He is as dumb as a rock.

[mypov123]

This is what the McCain campaign has come down to...."vote for me, I won't take away your Crocs"?? WTF??

[jubo]

Coming from McFrankenCain this is deep reflection.

[macbabe]

McCain is so out of touch with most issues...
In a town-hall meeting, a lady with a disability asked him if he would vote for the community choice act that would give people with disabilities more choices regarding home care and he responded by saying no. She said that she and others with disabilities were arrested when they tried to go to his office to discuss this bill.

[firewmn]

McWeekender is a bunch of croc..!! McWeekender doesn't even wear croc's .. he wears Flip-Flops.

Where is your Flag Pin...McWeekender...???


Yes WE Can.. Barack Obama 2008,2012

[southernfried]

McCain: i will veto every beer...................................

[bosshogg]

if this is his selling point wow ,media and repubs says obama has a cult following but if people vote for mcsame after this comment he has a cult not obama...............................

[TXfemmom]

In reality, those crocs are perfect for health care workers, as they can be dunked in a bucket of water with bleech and it kills anything and everything they may have come in contact with while caring for patients. As a fashion statement? but the world is entitled to what they see as beauty.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Txfemmom.....I thought the same thing as a new nurse a few years ago, but our hospital (in Denver, by the way) recently banned them because the static electric build up was causing problems with our equipment when we touched it (fetal monitors, Telemetry equipment, oxygen tanks, etc.). You wouldn't think that would even be a problem, but alas, there you go.

[FrictionSoul]

Funny you mention health care workers. Wonder how they feel when Mom and Dad show up to treat a kid whose foot got mangled in an escalator while wearing crocs? How about the kids to slip on wet sidewalks and swimming pool areas because crocs have zero traction when wet? They're a health hazard.

Take them away and give us real jobs making real products. Bring back our manufacturing jobs.

[Sp8z]

The only reason these hideous things ever caught on is:
a) The footwear manufacturing industry has been entirely sent off shore.
b) Most americans can no longer afford quality footwear.

[AdamND]

first he wants to veto all bears now he wants to make sure that crocs stay

[Meggie]

what a crocK.

[Grunty1]

Yup, I should have know that someone would beat me to it :-)

[Meggie]

it was too easy, but I couldn't resist.

[TXfemmom]

McCain is idiot enough to say such a stupid thing?

[leftoflennon]

Is this "candidiate" serious?!

[TheRebel82]

Is McCain a serious candidate? Sometimes I think the GOP just nominated him as a sacrificial lamb for this year.

[speedingpullet]

Me too, Rebel - I thought it was only me who smelled 'sacrifical lamb' on McC's pulse points....

[firewmn]

the GOP needed a war-person.. Somebody who can keep it going so Bu-sh looks like he was doing the right thing by invading Iraq.. McWeekender is a patsy for sure.. but considering the GOP choices.. somebody financially helped McWeekender's campaign after he was going broke from bad management skills.. because Mitt, Huckabee, Paul and others didn't fit the war-mold needed to keep the war going..
Questions of who dumped money into his campaign to jump start him should be asked but aren't.

So ya, in essence McWeekender is a scarifical war-lamb.


Yes WE Can........Barack Obama 2008, 2012

[LeftLeanWing]

I see him as their sacrificial Goat.