Even Obama’s banal “Change Rocks” slogan isn’t original
posted at 12:44 pm on January 10, 2008 by Bryan
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The other night in his concession speech, Barack Obama chanted “Yes we can!” Among other things, that’s the English version of the “Si, se puede” slogan that the illegal alien protesters have been using over the past few years. That slogan goes back to Cesar Chavez. So it’s not only boring, it’s unoriginal to his campaign.
Now his campaign may get sued for copyright infringement for using “Change Rocks” to headline a concert.
Stefan Doyno picked the name “Change Rocks” about three years ago, when he started a business to market his patent-pending invention of rings with interchangeable stones. He’s since come out with pendants and is planning a line of T-shirts.
Doyno, now 19 and a first-year student at SUNY-Buffalo, learned by Googling his company’s name that Obama’s camp used the “Change Rocks” trademark for a concert and campaign fundraiser on Dec. 7 in Chicago.
“I was shocked. I flipped out kind of because I was like, ‘Oh, no, someone else is using it,’ ” he said.
He called his lawyers, and they sent a letter on Dec. 18 to Obama’s national campaign manager, David Plouffe, that points out that the name “Change Rocks” is a registered U.S. trademark (No. 3,266,236) and that if Obama’s campaign sells T-shirts or other campaign memorabilia with the slogan, it could constitute an infringement.
Obama has had at least one other “Change Rocks” concert, in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 29, according to a poster on the Iowa campaign headquarters Web site.
So far, neither the teen nor his lawyers have heard back from Obama’s campaign.
Read the rest: The kid’s paramount interest seems to be finding a way to work out a deal so that he doesn’t offend Oprah.
I’m bringing this up not to bash Obama, as the lawsuit isn’t likely to go anywhere, but to point out just how empty his campaign is. Once you get past the fluff and stuff that gets Chris Matthews weepy,there’s no there there. His slogans are generic as his lofty platitudes. Both he and Hillary are deploying Taco Bell drive-through window-level rhetoric (yes, I know that’s a parody, but I half expect Hillary to give it a try). And America seems to be eating it all up.
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1978: Led Zeppelin, strong educational system, Johnny Carson, Marlon Brando, Raquel Welch
2008: 50 Cent, teachers getting their freak on in public classrooms, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney, Lindsay Lohan
Change is not looking so good.
Metro on January 10, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Vikings: Change Change Change Change Change Change Change Change
Changity Change! It’s the Change! Changity Change it’s the change!
Woman: I DON’T LIKE CHANGE!
Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 12:51 PM
It’s funny; being from California, the first thing I thought of when I heard Obama start a “yes we can” chant was “si se puede”–not a very positive connotation, to say the least.
Even worse, the second thing I thought of was Bob the Builder, a children’s show.
Can we fix it?
YES WE CAN!
Nessuno on January 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Try as I might, I just can’t choke it down.
Frozen Tex on January 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM
What if I like the rock I have?
ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Hello! Don’t you know the writers are on strike? How on earth would Obama get “orginal” stuff without crossing the picket line? It’s not like he has had a hand in crafting any of the stuff he says!
highhopes on January 10, 2008 at 12:54 PM
What the hell is with all the Kerry/Edwards signs at the Obama raly? Thats funny:)
jesterstear on January 10, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Obamas voice repetition is a-noy-iiiiiiiing
so wavy in the same spots, accenting the same syllables. i hate it
Drunk Report on January 10, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Brian! Are you saying that the “Magic Negro” stole the slogan?
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on January 10, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Is it an Obama rally? I think it’s the 2004 Democratic Convention.
amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM
It’s the ‘04 convention. I just liked the shot.
Bryan on January 10, 2008 at 1:01 PM
America, here’s your change and here’s 5 grand for the baby.
ronsfi on January 10, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Geologists ROCK!
And infringement rights on a trademark name can get you hefty fines. I hope the kid does sue… Heck I may have to buy a t-shirt from this kid. Hopefully it also says something like “Change Rocks - unlike Obama”
upinak on January 10, 2008 at 1:08 PM
You just don’t get it, Bryan. You really don’t. Let me try to break down Obama’s appeal to you.
Do you remember the time Bagger Vance helped Anakin Skywalker get jiggy thereby saving the big convict in the Green Mile? That’s the hope that Obama is going to bring to America!
Shtetl G on January 10, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Yes, because America is psychotic now and needs a collective couch therapy, as the prescription to her diagnosis. She, however, thinks that she needs “Change”. And that she might get, but not for what she expects. Wake up great Lady!
For emphasis, Mr. Empty, Kerry, endorsed another one, Mr. Obama, today.
Entelechy on January 10, 2008 at 1:12 PM
That’s ok - Obama’s got his back-up slogan, “Hands across America.”
No? No big, there’s always his new, post-NH slogan: “Obama: Don’t Call It a Comeback.”
What? Don’t tell me someone used that already!
emailnuevo on January 10, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Don’t even have to look that far back.
It was Massachusetts gov. Deval Patrick’s campaign slogan when he ran against Romney’s Lt. gov. in 2006.
Patrick (who worked for Clinton) just endorsed Obama.
cadetwithchips2 on January 10, 2008 at 1:15 PM
BHO: Change, Hope and Unity. Hoping for unified change. Unifying the hope for change. Changing the unity of hope. ChangeHopeUnity. Chopity.
HRC: I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.
Vote Sauron 08 on January 10, 2008 at 1:32 PM
There have been more debates without tough questions than I ever dreamed possible.
Beagle on January 10, 2008 at 1:33 PM
I had forgotten all the Obama signs when he spoke in Boston but even back then he was setting himself up for this race (though maybe not this particular campaign). It brings up an important point. Those that think Obama’s campaign hasn’t been carefully scripted for the past four years are unfamiliar with the reality of the situation.
highhopes on January 10, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Dreams! There’s a compelling issue that the wannabes haven’t debated yet! ;-0
highhopes on January 10, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Supporting change is like being pro-gravity.
Beagle on January 10, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Obama!
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!
JunkCoast on January 10, 2008 at 1:38 PM
.
Dear Oprah….please go back to bed….the situation is very serious in AMERICA…in case you haven’t noticed…..& O,…BTW,O’BaMa has no real anything, nevermind answers.
I am NOT going to be so presumptous as to tell you who i think you should support, however, don’t go under the knife again….or you will end looking like M.J. regards!
lobosan5 on January 10, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Heh,
Well, if Obama wants to go with pre-loved slogans by evil revolutionary groups, perhaps he could try…
It seems to fit in well with the general theme of his campaign, and his politics.
wearyman on January 10, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Change Rocks?
What, we should use more dolomite in our landscaping projects or something?
That’d be a good slogan anyways, except unlike “Mr. Smith”, Obama hasn’t “been here for years”.
Maybe that could be Fred’s campaign theme if he ever manages to pull off some sort of miraculous, 4th quarter come-from-behind.
PolitiNOOB on January 10, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Like some of us from MA have said several times in the comments, Obama is running the same campaign as Deval Patrick. Patrick used the “Yes we can” and “together we can” slogans extensively last year. Patrick is advising Obama and stands to get the AG slot should he win. It’s deja’vu all over again for Baystaters.
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Rush said today that a lot of what Obama says is what Richard Nixon said when he was running.
He didn’t do a side by side so I don’t have any quotes for ya.
Buy Danish on January 10, 2008 at 2:12 PM
It is TRADEMARK infringement, not COPYRIGHT infringement.
Trademarks are words and phrases, copyright covers creative works like music, movies, writings, etc.
kaltes on January 10, 2008 at 2:14 PM
That’s funny. I have heard that Cleveland Rocks…
juanito on January 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM
They rock, man!
Frozen Tex on January 10, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Ouch.
Jaibones on January 10, 2008 at 2:28 PM
If he is elected all we will be left with is CHANGE…
TroubledMonkey on January 10, 2008 at 2:37 PM
I thought he stole it from Bob the Builder
http://www.amazon.com/Bob-Builder-Yes-We-Can/dp/B00064AFIC
ballz2wallz on January 10, 2008 at 3:20 PM
I think Obama used Yes We Can that night because he was seeking the Vegas union support–you know, those “Vegas dishwashers” he was talking about?
The next morning, the unions gave him the nod and said they look forward to O’s immigration reform. What a coincidence!
PattyJ on January 10, 2008 at 3:24 PM
NellE on January 10, 2008 at 3:28 PM
The guys over at powerlineblog.com mentioned something else about Obama’s “Yes we can” mantra. The title of Sammy Davis Jr’s autobiography was “Yes I Can” and that was a very popular book when it came out. It is possible that Obama read the book or saw it in the bookstore at least and simply decided to appropriate the title.
Larraby on January 10, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Obama the Senator..
Can We F**k it up?
Obama the Senator..
YES WE CAN!
………..
Dude, Obama is ripping off Bob the Builder…weak.
malan89 on January 10, 2008 at 3:58 PM
what a meaningless slogan…
I still don’t know what it means
Opinionnation on January 10, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I think he stole it from the Pointer Sisters.
Another Lawsuit pending.
swami on January 10, 2008 at 4:34 PM
So YOU are the Christ? King Herod exclaimed
Drunk Report on January 10, 2008 at 5:47 PM
I’ll have your change then, dear. I love it. I’m having Change, change, change, change, change, change, baked beans and change.
Theophile on January 10, 2008 at 8:15 PM
In his case change means:
Higher taxes,
More crimianl aliens,
Less border security,
Broader affirmative action,
Looney left wing federal judicial appointments,
Shorter sentences for drug dealers,
Alden Pyle on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
It is a tragic election season. Is that all there is? Where are the real leaders? Where are those to whom we can trust the security of the nation? Has it come to this?
4Bear on January 11, 2008 at 11:44 AM