Not only is it a direct rip-off of the Romika Shoes logo (below)--a likeness so uncanny it must have been used as the campaign's "inspiration." But it also suggests a level of defiance in the Romney camp, to proceed with a design so strikingly similar, knowing--almost challenging--Romika to do something about it. In fact, Romney and Romika fall so closely together alphabetically that the plagiarism is almost shocking in its blatancy and lack of calculation--the political equivalent of the dumb jock copying off the smart kid during an essay test--and as such, could be divulged through a basic corporate logo search.
The fact that Romika Shoes GmbH happens to be a German shoemaker flies in the face of Team Romney's "Believe In America" promise as well. It seems more consistent with the carniverously anti-nationalist nature of his rise to corporate riches through the Bain chop-shop business model: leveraged buyouts; forcing newly owned companies into debt, massive job losses or bankrupcy; and selling them for parts overseas. Whoever and wherever the buyer is matters not. [On a side note, it's worth reminding everyone that Mitt attended the same prep school as Ivan Boesky; whether it's irony, coincidence or something more is another matter.]
Deeper still, it says that while Romney claims to believe in the talents and abilities of Americans, he prefers borrowing very heavily (to put it mildly) from the design of a European manufacturer for their very own campaign symbol without a second thought. What does this say about his opinions of, say, the arts? Of intellectual property? Of individual ownership in general? Or the skills of the American workforce as a whole?
Many psychologists posit that criminals, adulterers and others engaged in immoral or illegal acts behave as overtly as they do because deep down, they want to get caught. From his verbally professed disdain of 47% of the voting public to this apparent display of copyright theft, Romney seems to be doing everything but confessing.
I understand that the contraversy emerged back when Team Romney officially unveiled their campaign logo. But as can see, its underlying significance is increasingly relevant as Election Day nears. So for anyone eager to dismiss this with the "old news" block: sorry to ruin it for you, buddy.
