T-shirt's sassy slogan riles some voters

By Young Chang
Seattle Times staff reporter

	ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES Urban Outfitters said in a statement that this shirt's slogan was "never meant to be misconstrued as an anti-voting T-shirt."
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Less than a month since pulling a controversial T-shirt saying "Everybody Loves a Jewish Girl," Urban Outfitters has landed in the middle of another shirt controversy — one that's riled up old and young people alike.

The message this time, on a red and white men's jersey, reads "Voting Is For Old People."

It's been dissed by a young voter on MTV and countered online by T-shirt maker Moe Wampum Inc., who responded by designing a shirt that reads "Voting is for All People."

John Keddie, the 25-year-old San Diego designer behind the "Voting is for Old People" shirt, said his intention was to "raise questions about the voting process." He added that by "old people," he's referring more to a mindset than an age. He also said the shirt could be read in two ways.

"When you're voting, all the candidates are much older than you if you're in your 20s. And the other way you can take the shirt is why politicians only address old people's concerns," said Keddie, who made the shirt for his vintage tees company Vintage Vantage. "I'm kinda pointing a finger to young people at their apathy."

But the Yale graduate said he didn't expect Urban Outfitters, which is selling the shirt for $28, to pick up this design.

"We do a lot of business with Urban. They normally take our more mainstream designs. So when they took this one, which is one of our more touchier shirts, I was surprised," he said.

Urban Outfitters has released a statement saying the shirt was "never meant to be misconstrued as an anti-voting T-shirt."

Reaction to the shirt locally has been mild. We talked to students at the University of Washington and members of the Pike Market Senior Center, who largely agreed that they didn't find the shirt's message offensive.

Jason Chambers, president of the College Republicans at the University of Washington, said he thinks the slogan is true.
 
"Old people do vote and young people don't, and it's kind of unfortunate that it really is a commentary on what American politics is like," he said.

Chambers, 23, said he would never wear the shirt, but that he doesn't think it's detrimental for others to wear it and bear the message across their chest.

"Maybe a few people who aren't so apathetic will say, 'You know what? You're right. We don't vote, and maybe we should do something about it.' " he said. "I think pointing it out is the first step toward fixing the problem."

John Michael Lowe, a member of the Pike Market Senior Center, also agrees with the shirt's message, and says it could be a "wake-up call."

"But I'm disappointed because youth don't realize what's being allowed to occur by their non-participation," said the 59-year-old.

Lucy Flynn, who is working toward her master's degree in aquatic and fishery sciences at the University of Washington, said she thinks that the shirt is funny in an "obnoxious way" and that it would probably be worn by someone with a sarcastic sense of humor who, in fact, does vote.

Kathryn Touran, a 21-year-old zoology major at the university, said she finds the shirt offensive because "Urban Outfitters tends to have T-shirts that go for shock value."

Patrick Hannagan, a volunteer at the Pike Market Senior Center, laughed when he saw the shirt and said, "It's OK. It's pretty nice, really."

He added: "But I think everybody should vote. We're not gonna make it without the young people, that's for sure."

Young Chang, ychang@seattletimes.com or 206-748-5815

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