Market research

The cartoon below is the creation of myself (the “idea person”) and my brother-in-law Bob (the artist).

Race for the White House

We’re thinking of selling a “Runners for Obama” t-shirt featuring this design or something similar. The cartoon would be silk-screened onto a white or light-colored “technical-fiber” shirt with short sleeves. The price would likely cover the cost of materials and shipping plus an additional fee to be donated to the Obama campaign.

At this point, a couple of questions are on our minds:

(1) Would runners who support Obama (or who just like the cartoon) buy this shirt?

(2) Would large numbers of non-runners (or McCain supporters) be upset by this shirt?

Regarding #2, I’m confident that any reasonable person who understands the shirt would find it harmless, if not downright funny. Nevertheless, if the shirt caused more resentment among people who don’t get the joke than laughter among people who do, it wouldn’t be serving its purpose.

Your comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance!<

34 responses

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Cool. I want one.

    Reply
  2. Alison Avatar
    Alison

    Nice job. I can definitely imagine runners buying these, and can't imagine them offending non-runners or McCain supporters too much. (If they're offended, they probably weren't going to vote for Obama anyway.) I'll expect to see tons of people wearing these shirts at races soon!

    Reply
  3. ronner Avatar
    ronner

    You should put a cig in Obama's mouth.

    Reply
  4. grainger Avatar
    grainger

    Any time that I see spikes on the heels of running shoes in a cartoon, I know that whoever drew it knows absolutely nothing about running.

    Reply
  5. John Avatar
    John

    What you never heard of spikes and running?I'll be wearing spikes this sunday in a track meet and I run about 3 XC meets a year in spikes. Oh yeah I'm 53 YO so no young dude here.

    Reply
  6. Lora Avatar
    Lora

    I want one too! Hurry!! Race season is upon us!!

    Reply
  7. brajuf Avatar
    brajuf

    grainger you should really look at the placement of spikes on yours

    Reply
  8. daniel andrews Avatar
    daniel andrews

    If Obama wins in November he will be one of the least athletic presidents in recent memory dating back to Richard Nixon.

    Reply
  9. J. Howard Avatar
    J. Howard

    yeah, the rear spikes have to go. But I'd love to have one before my 100 miler Mid-July.

    Reply
  10. Rob Leder Avatar
    Rob Leder

    It's a clever idea, you should go for it.I plan to vote for McCain, and don't find this offensive at all. If some extremely thin-skinned person somewhere takes offense, who cares? It's nice to be considerate, but you can't go through life trying to please everyone.Personally, I'd be surprised if either of those guys could finish a flat 5k in 30 minutes…

    Reply
  11. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I am offended… just because nobody else was. BTW, I think some Chinese or Japanese may take offense to O's charicture.

    Reply
  12. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    I'd buy one. Please make sure they're available to us running expats in other countries!

    Reply
  13. dash Avatar
    dash

    i'd buy one

    Reply
  14. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I'd buy one…or two or three!

    Reply
  15. Jem Avatar
    Jem

    I'm with Rob Leder–it's hard to see how anybody could find this offensive, and if anyone does, the shirt isn't the problem. The shirt is cute–sell away!

    Reply
  16. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    I find the general concept offensive. Maybe I'm being overly PC, but this is following along with the stereotype of african americans or africans in general being athletically superior to white people. The whole "kenyans are fast" thing is just another version of the stereotype when its presented in this fashion. I could go on, but thats the gist of my two cents

    Reply
  17. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Will it come in a singlet?If OB had rabbit ears and JM a tortoise shell would that make it PC for you Jem?

    Reply
  18. Jem Avatar
    Jem

    Names appear below the comments, Matthew, not above. It's Joe's comment you're responding to.

    Reply
  19. Rob Leder Avatar
    Rob Leder

    "Maybe I'm being overly PC, but this is following along with the stereotype of african americans or africans in general being athletically superior to white people. The whole "kenyans are fast" thing is just another version of the stereotype when its presented in this fashion." – Joe8 of the top 10 current male distance runners in the world are Kenyan, according to the rankings in this month's issue of Running Times. Can you name another country where a 2:05:49 marathoner (William Kipsang) is not fast enough to make the Olympic team?It's hard to see how referencing the fact that a small population hailing from the Rift Valley produces a freakishly disproportionate number of the world's great distance runners stereotypes black people in general. In fact, I think if anyone is stereotyping it's the person who interprets the reference as such. If someone said "Italians are [fill in the blank]", would you take them to task for stereotyping whites?

    Reply
  20. crowther Avatar
    crowther

    Grainger: Good catch on the placement of the spikes. We can fix that.Daniel Andrews: Obama was and apparently still is a decent basketball player. Details are at: msnbc.msn.com/id/25186897/Kris: No problem!Joe: Thanks for your honesty. There is a generalization implicit in this cartoon, namely, "Kenyans are fast runners," which is not 100% true. (Not ALL Kenyans are fast….) But I'd like to think this is pretty inoffensive as generalizations go. More to the point, the cartoon is designed to poke fun at voters' (and the media's) focus on certain traits such as ethnicity, gender, age, etc. In this hypothetical running race, just as in the real-life presidential race, shouldn't we care most about the candidates' "training" and "fitness" for the task at hand?Matthew: Sorry, we have no plans to offer a singlet.

    Reply
  21. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    Sorry if anyone thought that I was calling them out as ignorant, I meant it more as constructive criticism, but it didnt come out that way. Just a couple of points: 1. there are a number of factors or possible factors in why the kenyans (and ethiopians, eritreans, etc) have been so sucessful( genetics,elevation,lifestyle,economics, training methods, diet…). To joke about Obama being fast because of his kenyan blood is to single out the genetic portion of the formula.2. To those of us reading this blog, kenyan sucess in running is well-known. To the general public, probably not so much…What many people would see when they look at this cartoon is an african american that is stating that he has an advantage over his white counterpart because of his african descent.3. One can be aware of existing stereotypes without being in agreement with them.

    Reply
  22. crowther Avatar
    crowther

    Joe: Thanks for the follow-up. I think your point #2 is a legitimate concern with the general public. If we go ahead with this shirt, perhaps the shirt should list a website (like runners4obama.com) that, in addition to accepting online orders, would explain the whole Kenyan runner thing. Maybe enraged non-runners would visit the website and be mollified by what they read?

    Reply
  23. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    To those who know that Kenyans can be excellent distance runners and realize the race is not short, it is funny. But, in a way it suggests that you're choosing Obama because he's half Kenyan. Choice for President should depend on actual ideas and experience. Choice solely because of (either)ethnicity is REALLY stupid.

    Reply
  24. Darrell Avatar
    Darrell

    Greg, do your tee shirt and don't explain it. People are going to get it and people aren't. I feel sorry for those who don't. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. Looking foward to seeing you on a run one of these days!!! 😉

    Reply
  25. Darrell Avatar
    Darrell

    Greg, do your tee shirt and don't explain it. People are going to get it and people aren't. I feel sorry for those who don't. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. Looking foward to seeing you on a run one of these days!!! 😉

    Reply
  26. Darrell Avatar
    Darrell

    I like it!! Greg, do your tee shirt and don't explain it. People are going to get it and people aren't. I feel sorry for those who don't. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. Looking foward to seeing you on a run one of these days!!! 😉

    Reply
  27. Darrell Avatar
    Darrell

    I liked it so much I had to post 3 times!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  28. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    I agree with Joe's points 1 through 3.Do you happen to know any Kenyans/ African Americans that you could ask about this? A bunch of white people replying to your question might not be the sample you're looking for.

    Reply
  29. crowther Avatar
    crowther

    Erin: I do know a few African Americans. Perhaps I will ask them what they think.

    Reply
  30. Uli Avatar
    Uli

    Hi Greg,a few comments.1) I think it would be more funny if they were both running, Obama ahead and looking fresh, with a nice stride; McCain behind, working hard, barely keeping up.2) don't worry about those who think you're stereotyping, or read more into it than there is to it (like "vote for Obama because he's faster / because he's Kenyan, etc.)3) If Kenyans are known around the world for anything, it's running.Yes, not all Kenyans are good runners – so what?Not all Germans are good engineers, drive 200km/h on the Autobahn and drink lots of beer while watching or playing Fussball.And no, I don't get offended if someone uses those sterotypes.4) Given their age, I'd be shocked if Obama couldn't beat McCain in a 5k pretty handily.5) Folks, lighten up! This cartoon is funny. Compared to the insults, half-truths and outright lies that are common in political campains (hopefully this year will be more civilized), this is NOTHING.Greg, don't be deterred by the PC nazis. (and yes, I realize that some are offended by trivial use of the word nazi – tought s***. If it's OK for Seinfeld, its OK for me)

    Reply
  31. Joe Kulak Avatar
    Joe Kulak

    Isn't Obama an on again/off again smoker?

    Reply
  32. crowther Avatar
    crowther

    Joe Kulak: Yes, I believe he is. But putting a cigarette in his mouth (as suggested by ronner above) might make him seem a little TOO confident….

    Reply
  33. Joe Kulak Avatar
    Joe Kulak

    Then I think it'd be cool to have a cig. in his mouth, Mrs. McCain on his back, Michelle and John chasing, Bush shooting the starting gun and Bill and Hillary holding the finishing line tape.

    Reply
  34. runner_b Avatar
    runner_b

    Cheney needs to fire the gun, Bush needs to be yelling, "mission accomplished".

    Reply

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