Last night, I watched Clinton’s and Obama’s speeches after the Pennsylvania primary. There wasn’t too much new in the speeches. Watching Obama’s speech, however, I couldn’t help but notice three young men in a row sporting very prominently Abercrombie and Fitch T-shirts. At first, I didn’t think too much of it.

As the crowd cheered and banners were raised, I became suspicious. Thoese three men were less than enthusiastic. They lifted their Obama signs half heartedly, and clapped without vigor. I started thinking about the recent incident when Comcast paid attendees to take up the good seats at a FCC hearing. That was bad, but this if Abercrombie plants are in my opinion worse. Here’s a link to a video from CNN, and make your own judgment.  I just wrote the other day of the blurring of entertainment and advertising.  What I saw last night was the blurring of politics, public discourse, and advertising. If I were Obama, I would be immensley upset that my stage had been co-opted for product advertising.

If it were any other clothing company, I probably would not be as suspicious. However, Abercrombie and Fitch has a history or controversy, ranging from nudity to racism. I wouldn’t be suprised if that the three Abercrombie men were intended to stir controversy and free advertising for which I too am guilty of as I write about it.

I think there is a place for advertising, and consumerism even. There’s nothing inherently wrong with companies wanting to spread knowledge of their products. In the same light there’s nothing wrong with people wanting to buy those products. However, I increasingly feel that we as a society have crossed an invisible line in which consumerism has become an ends on itself.  Andy Warhol would be proud.