The really big tent
Gotta love the independent ecommerce site Democratic Stuff. While their collection of hundreds of buttons for affinity groups includes some of the typical ones you’d see on any similar site (Teachers for Obama), it also features some that are downright loopy. Many reflect musical interests, including—I am not making this up—Thereminists for Obama. Others options for microcultures include Mullets for Obama, Avant Garde for Obama, and Bug Enthusiasts for Obama. Of course, since it’s all print-on-demand, the Dem Stuff folks can be as creative as they want, since it really doesn’t matter if they actually sell any Breakfast for Obama buttons. Still, the fact that they took the trouble to design and market these speaks to the diversity that really does exist within the Democratic Party. Somehow I can’t imagine anyone on the other side trying to reach out to mathematicians, moon walkers, trekkies, roller girls, recyclers, surfers and, of course, community organizers. They appeal to a segment of the population that defines itself far more narrowly, and one that doesn’t embrace the huggers, beards, punks, environmentalists and LGBT found on Dem Stuff. Though if they want the mullets, they can have them.
