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Since Nike Pulled US Flag Shoe, Arizona Might Pull Plug on New Nike Plant
It’s been a busy 24 hours for Nike. The day began with great news: They unveiled plans Monday for a multimillion-dollar manufacturing plant outside of Phoenix in the city of Goodyear, AZ. This would be Nike’s third manufacturing facility in the US.
The expected 500-plus jobs motivated city leaders to waive nearly $1 million in plan review and permit fees, and reimburse Nike another $1 million for the jobs created. “We are delighted to welcome Nike to Goodyear,” Councilwoman Wally Campbell said. “We look forward to a long-lasting relationship.”
That was before another story hit the athletic apparel giant. Later on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Nike pulled a sneaker featuring a Betsy Ross American flag because company pitchman Colin Kaepernick decided it was offensive.
The Air Max 1 USA was designed to celebrate Independence Day and was to go on sale this week. But Nike suddenly asked for all the shoes to be returned without explanation.
“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 Nike spokeswoman said. Kaepernick claimed to take offense because that flag was designed during the slavery era.
Arizona’s governor was not amused. Taking to Twitter in the wee hours of Tuesday, Republican Doug Ducey said the following:
Today was supposed to be a good day in Arizona, with the announcement of a major Nike investment in Goodyear, AZ. And then this news broke yesterday afternoon.
Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike.
Nike is an iconic American brand and American company. This country, our system of government and free enterprise have allowed them to prosper and flourish.
Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism. It is a shameful retreat for the company.
American businesses should be proud of our country’s history, not abandoning it.
Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. I’ve ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here.
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.
And finally, it shouldn’t take a controversy over a shoe for our kids to know who Betsy Ross is. A founding mother. Her story should be taught in all American schools. In the meantime, it’s worth googling her.
Nike still hasn’t decided on a facility in Goodyear. “The company is in the final stages of a real estate transaction,” city spokeswoman Tammy Vo said. “So nothing final yet on a location.”
Now Nike and Arizona have to decide if it’s a partnership worth having.
Published in General
I would really like to see Constitutional Amendments (at both state and federal levels) forbidding the government to give these kinds of incentives to businesses. It’s anti-capitalistic and it encourages massive corruption.
This is the Battle of the Virtue Signals. The idiocy of Nike’s decision is surpassed by the silliness of the Governor’s.
The governor is fighting back with the tools at his discretion.
Why do you think that’s silly?
Do conservatives have any principles beyond the dollar? Or do we only talk a good game?
This is a very brave move by Governor Ducey, but I am not sure if it is not a case of cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. It most certainly will cost Arizona way more than it will irritate Nike. For that one must say the Governor is putting his money where his mouth is and standing up for his principles at a definite cost. Nike, otoh, typically shows it’s lack of spine.
Way to go Ducey. Anyway Nike would surely be more comfortable using slave labor in another country.
Virtue Signaling
Amen. At least the governor isn’t actively trying to prevent them from locating in Arizona, a la Chick-fil-A on college campuses and Democrat city airports.
If there is any silliness going on, it’s Nike taking business advice from an unpatriotic clown like Kaepernick . . .
A Republican governor, in a mostly center right state, opts to smack around a multinational sneaker company, for trashing a historic patriotic icon, around the 4th of July.
I wonder how that polls?
I’d describe that as foolish. But then I’d never pay $200 for a pair of sneakers.
I guess we will find out when Nike breaks ground on a US sneaker factory. Which I imagine will be located in Arizona.
I hope it polls well for the Governor.
The day to day concerns of most people often involve the dollar and very rarely involve this kind of culture war posturing. What Nike is doing here is ridiculous, but it’s not like they’re funding ISIS or illegal immigrant caravans. If it made good economic sense to bring Nike in, then I see no reason to let this spat derail it. Arizona should go for the dollars.
Arizona is somewhat different than Oregon, where Nike has it’s headquarters. Corporate employee’s that are metaphorical bomb throwers are encouraged, and tolerated in Oregon. Arizonans are more low key and don’t have the same regard for bomb throwers. Arizona will not have too many problems finding another business to move into Arizona. Housing to include rentals are less expensive in Arizona, and taxes are lower than in a state like Oregon. Nike will not be missed.
It is Virtue.
Probably very well!
I wonder why we have heard nothing from Mitch McConnell and the CoC. Don’t they support our flag or are they with Colin Kaepernick and Nike?
Which is why we always lose. We truly will sell the rope that hangs us.
This is why we have Mitch McConnell leading the Senate. It’s always the $$.
This is also why President Trump gets so much resistance to his efforts to keep the world out of military conflict.
Is there a time to stand for something other than money?
We know Kaepernick has this wrong.
I think Donald Trump proves conservatives have no principles, and this proves they are also stupid. Can’t wait to hear more conservatives complain about lack of manufacturing jobs, after deciding some manufacturing jobs are insufficiently patriotic.
Ha. Hope Niki outsources the whole thing to Mexico now.
Stad,
What a useless trouble making clown Kaepernick really is. He just won the MVC award. Most Valueless Creep.
Regards,
Jim
Do you think Nike is the only manufacturer to make sneakers? We have some committed to America. Nike blew this a year ago when they signed Kaepernick. And Kaepernick blew one of the greatest individual opportunities of all time. I hope he’s having fun.
Ha. I do too, if they don’t reverse this decision. And I live in Arizona. Arizona might not need as many jobs now if we get a handle on controlling the border.
Since you brought up stupid here, I would say there is plenty of that in your final statement.
Right now we have a bunch of Communists, posing as Democrats, and working toward occupying the White House. They work diligently to tear down edifices and reputations honoring those who have created and defended the greatest country ever in the history of the world. That is virtue signaling where there is no virtue.
First, as an Arizonan, I am very pleased with the stand taken by Gov. Ducey.
Second, the comments present such an interesting contrast.
Steve C. considers the move silly because it is “virtue signaling.” Valiuth considers it unprincipled and stupid, because it may have an adverse economic consequence to Arizona. These attitudes seem quite representative of the anti-Trump right. It’s hard to put a specific label on this group, as it may include several related groups — libertarians, “classic liberals,” the GOP establishment, the Republican “globalists.” I think that it’s mostly libertarianism, in various degrees.
I’m not sure if Steve C. falls into this general group on other issues. I know that Valiuth does. (By the way, I’m glad you guys are here at Ricochet, even though I disagree with you about much of this).
Most others commenting above appear to join me in supporting Gov. Ducey’s action, because we recognize that we are in the midst of a serious culture war. Most of the media, and most of the Democratic Party, actively support blatant anti-Americanism, and heaps scorn, ridicule, and slanderous accusations against any who stand up for traditional America. Most of the Republican Party, prior to Trump and since Reagan, seemed inclined to abstain from the battle.
This is the reason that I ultimately supported President Trump, at first reluctantly and now enthusiastically, flaws and all. We simply cannot spare this man. He fights.
I’m glad that my Governor is fighting, too.
I thank you for presenting a well-considered response with which I am in total agreement. Wish I had your patience when these libertarians, et al, get loose.
I’d like to direct some focus on the attitude that the WSJ has also reported on regarding the Betsy Ross style American Flag as being a symbol of White Supremacy. According to the NAACP this flag has been co-opted by white supremacists. I know nothing of the validity of this claim, but I believe it should be seen as one of the founding symbols of the country and not seen as an offensive symbol. With all the memorials, statues, and historical markers that have been vandalized or removed in recent years I’d hate to see earlier iterations of American Flags added to the list.
I think the criticism that the Flag should be banned due to the fact that it also represents Nationalism is a bit stupid too. Of course it’s nationalistic, it’s after all a flag of the USA nation – during is founding period to boot. Plenty of other counties have flags too as the opening Olympic parades will show. I think the key here is that the critics simply object to America being celebrated as coming into nationhood on the 4th, along with any good will toward historical references or symbols.
BTW, initially I thought the ex-baller Colin Kaepernick Nike campaign was simply a opportunistic buzz gimmick. I guess I as wrong. Now apparently he has executive decision status with Nike and is an opinion maker. It’s not like he’s Micheal Jordan or Tiger Woods, or something. Kaepernick though has successfully pivoted himself as a flash-in-the-pan NFL QB that hit the skids on a losing team to an ascendent establishment cultural authority who gets paid for it. Unfortunately, I think the views he represents can’t be considered fringe anymore given the weight of Nike.