Arizona’s Republican Governor Doug Ducey announced that he would seek to rescind financial incentives for Nike after the company ditched an American flag-themed sneaker design reportedly because Colin Kaepernick complained that it had racial overtones.
The sneaker, at $140/pair, had featured the ‘Betsy Ross’ flag, consisting of the traditional red and white stripes and 13 stars in a circle on the blue field to also represent the original 13 colonies.
“Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag,” a spokesman for the company stated.
The Wall Street Journal explained that it wasn’t quite that simple.
“[Colin] Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery,” they reported.
It took all of 24 hours for Ducey to retaliate against the move.
Nike has plans to open a multimillion-dollar manufacturing plant in Goodyear, Arizona, where the city council agreed to waive up to nearly $1 million in plan review and permit fees. They would also agree to reimburse Nike another $1 million for the 500 or so jobs that would be created.
“Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision,” wrote Ducey. “I am embarrassed for Nike.”
The governor channeled that disappointment into action, asking the Arizona Commerce Authority “to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here.”
Ducey added, “Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history.”
What’s the saying Nike uses in Kaepernick’s hyperbolic commercial – “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Ducey just sacrificed Nike. He refuses to kowtow to anti-American revisionist history.
Kaepernick’s commercial ends with the phrase, “It’s only crazy until you do it … Just do it.”
Ducey just did it.
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Very Happy to see an American Governor. I do not buy them because the price is stupid for anyone to buy. If you have that much money to piss away them use it to help some one that is trying to help them self' and could use a little help
NEVER like Nike, tried them on once and they sucked. I wear New Balance, and they have always been a great shoe; never had one blow apart like the nikes do!
https://newspunch.com/new-balance-president-trump-economy/
deer god black people are living in the past
Great job Governor.
Thought Lardass was going to leave....
THOSE people don't bother me at all ! I was thinking about people like RABID LIBERALS. People that threatened to leave the US, if Trump was elected, but of course they are still here. The REAL TRUTH is that Donald Trump is doing a GOOD JOB, and you LEFTISTS will never get over LYING Hillary losing the election !
A certain group in this country.. and their supporters want all Civil War Confederate statues, monuments and flags removed. Its all part of our Americans history. Yet, they want reparations for slavery. Trying to pick and choose which parts of history they want killed and which part they want to keep alive. And we gripe about a few Muslims who don't assimilate. The 'reparations' bunch have been a drag on this nation since the beginning.
Nike is extremely stupid to listen to this anti-American loser Kaepernick... Those were beautiful shoes... patriot... If Kaepernick doesn't like our flag, our national anthem, he needs to go find a country he likes better... There is NOTHING wrong with those shoes...
NIKE you've gone too Fu##ing far!
I totally agree with Ted, I believe we should Boycott Nike and let them go belly up. I truly appreciate Governor Ducey standing by his guns and doing what is RIGHT. Letting one person dictate what a company does is plain Stupid on Nike's part. God Bless the USA....