Obama ‘Slave’ Shirt Sparks Lawsuit Threat

[Purveyor]

JUL 17, 2008

When a 25-year-old Manhattan graduate student who was assaulted Tuesday night got dressed that morning, she probably didn’t anticipate that her T-shirt would provoke four teens into shoving her, pulling out her earphones and spitting in her face.

Then again, with a shirt sporting the slogan, “Obama is my slave,” it may have been wise to consider the possibility.

Now she’s suing the $69 shirt’s designer, Apollo Braun, for “all he’s got,” the designer claims.

But the Israeli-born Braun — born Doron Braunshtein — says what allegedly happened to his now-disgruntled customer isn’t his fault — and that his outrageous design reflects not his views but those of “ordinary WASPs.”

“For a lot of people, when they see Obama, they see a slave. People think America is not ready for a black president,” Braun told Metro from his five-year-old Orchard Street boutique.

Braun claims that after the customer — who did not return repeated calls from Metro — threatened to sue, he contacted his own lawyer, who assured him he was shielded by the
First Amendment from any legal action.

The ugly incident over the ugly shirt took place at 8:30 p.m. in Union Square, Braun told Metro, when four African-American female teenagers accosted the student, cursed at her for her shirt and pushed her. According to the designer, the student walked away, but the girls followed her, one pulling the earphones out of her ears, another spitting in her face.

Metro.us, NY: http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Obama_slave_shirt_sparks_lawsuit_threat/13001.html

[whistle]

1. "Obama is my slave"??? Just what the f*ck did she expect?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whistle]

16. I wonder how those of her ilk would handle a T-shirt that says...

..."The Holocaust was all Friendly Fire"

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Her ilk? I am guessing "her ilk" would probably wear it.

[exothermic]

2. Some speech is freer than others.

:eyes:

[devilgrrl]

3. What a classy guy.

:puke:

A jewish racist.... awesome!

:sarcasm:

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. So the Israeli blames American WASPs for making him (look at this one he made)

Print his stupid t-shirt?

OK!


Here he is with another one of his creations.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Where did you see "Israeli blames American WASPs for making him..

...Print his stupid t-shirt?"

Is he Israeli? Or is that a guess on your part too?

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. right here..... oh and you like his sweat shirt he did?

"Israeli-born Braun — born Doron Braunshtein — says what allegedly happened to his now-disgruntled customer isn’t his fault — and that his outrageous design reflects not his views but those of “ordinary WASPs.”

[IndianaJones]

11. where does it say he's Israeli? nt.

[TheWraith]

18. "Israeli-born Braun" nt

[IndianaJones]

22. my moms Korean born...she's been an American for 40 years. nt.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. So is McCain Panamanian?

You do understand that being born in Israel doesn't mean he is necessarily Israeli? He could be American, American-Israeli, or Israeli, the article doesn't specify.

"oh and you like his sweat shirt he did?"

I find it repulsive, don't you? Perhaps it is not as repulsive to you because it can be used for other forms of 'acceptable' bigotry?

You still failed to prove where he "blamed" anyone for making him print his shirt. He is not blaming anyone, the only one placing blame is the idiot who spent $69 on a crappy t-shirt with a racist slogan.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. He's an israeli immigrant...............

And he hates Obama now, you want to say something else that's not true?

NEW YORK, May 24 (UPI) -- An Israeli immigrant says he has received death threats since he began selling "Jews Against Obama" T-shirts at his store in New York.

Doron Braunshtein, who operates a boutique on the Lower East Side, told the New York Post he changed his mind about U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., because of the flap about the Democratic presidential candidate's former pastor and having discovered Obama had visited Pakistan.

A T-shirt in the window of his store, Apollo Braun, has on it a yellow star with the word "Jude" inside, a checked scarf or keffiyeh like that worn by Yasser Arafat, a belt of bullets and a copy of "Survival In Auschwitz" by Primo Levi. Braunshtein said he wants to remind Jews of what can happen.

"You open the door for Obama, you have no idea what can come your way," he said.






http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/05/24/Store_sells_Jews_Against_Obama_shirt/UPI-86401211665568/

[Behind the Aegis]

24. I didn't say anything untrue.

I said how do you know he is Israeli. You had to find another article to show he was an Israeli immigrant. Therefore, the conclusion is he an American-Israeli.

[devilgrrl]

23. If he was really an Israeli would that make him less of an asshole?

:crazy:

That article is race baiting bullshit, plain and simple.

[Behind the Aegis]

27. No.

Assholes come from all nationalities, religions, political backgrounds, and any other descriptor you can dream.

"That article is race baiting bullshit, plain and simple."

I agree; in more ways than one. Too bad that isn't obvious to some.

[devilgrrl]

29. Oh, it's obvious - believe me.

:-(

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. Here is another shit he made for $250 from his store.

“I am a true anti-Obama New York Jew. The word on the street is that New York Jews will vote for McCain anyhow. The majority of the Jews – at least the ones that are proud of their religion and practice it – like me, don’t want to see Obama – a man who’s middle name is Hussein, and his family from his Kenyan father’s side is Muslim, as the leader of this great country.

More than that, after Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright honored Louis Farrakhan – definitely one of the most racist and anti-Semitic people alive – Obama lost us Jews totally. That made me start this political movement in the first place.”


from his store:http://apollobraun.com/store/store.cfm?prodnum=553

[Behind the Aegis]

17. And?

He has a right to create trash and try to make a profit off it. He is simply exploiting bigots and the politically ignorant.

He has a right to say whatever he pleases, he can even pretend to be the spokesperson for New York Jews, though recent surveys would show he doesn't know his elbow from his asshole. He displays the Islamaphobic characteristics of many people who are voting for McCain because the "Muslim charge."

[Ichingcarpenter]

21. He's a bigot, racist asshole!

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ichingcarpenter]

30. What the hell are you really saying IndianaJones?

Just spit it out! Go ahea,d everyone got that slur you just did.

[IndianaJones]

34. your obsession with him being either Jewish or a so-called Israeli is as obvious as the t-shirt. nt.

[Behind the Aegis]

28. Did I say he wasn't?

[leftynyc]

32. This New York Jew thinks he's full of shit

The vast majority of us will vote Dem - just as we always do. The very conservative (a small percentage) will vote puke - just as they always do. It has nothing to do with Sen Obama.

[Dollface]

12. Honestly, I do fear for Obama's life. After all, it is the duty of repuke neocons to kill hope.

[LSK]

35. what the hell is a WASP???

I thought it was an insect?

:shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

36. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.

[tpsbmam]

6. So I guess that Braun held her feet to the fire......

and made her buy that disgusting shirt. No excuse for what happened to her.....but no sympathy for her lawsuit either. Own it, baby, you don't deserve violence for wearing that shirt but you do deserve scorn for that.....and for your inane lawsuit.

[Dollface]

10. Is it ok to spit? It would be hard not

[tpsbmam]

26. LOL......understood but spitting is considered assault.

http://www.metnews.com/articles/2007/lewe030807.htm

[Dollface]

31. Rats. I guess that leaves stern language and/or derision. I can work with that.

[aspergris]

9. another dumb lawsuit

fortunately the first amendment should win out

[Sheets of Easter]

14. This may not be really progressive of me,

but I kinda don't feel sorry for her.

edited to add that the t-shirt designer is a fucking moron.

[Mike L]

33. Would the 4 teens have been confused if the shirt said......

"Obama is my nigga"?

[brentspeak]

37. Has this alleged assault been confirmed?

The article's only source concerning the incident is the "designer" himself.

Sounds like viral marketing - peddling a phony story to gain notoriety.

[notadmblnd]

38. I was just telling a friend of mine today...

if we don't teach our kids that racist behavior and bigotry is wrong. Then someone else will. I hope they both learned a lesson.