Where did Herman Cain get the idea for his torch logo?

Cain's great original torch logo doesn't appear to be that original after all. Obama used a similar torch logo prior to the unveiling of the classic one we all know, and the torch did appear on numerous buttons. This is just one more reminder that the GOP is the party of the past.

State of Auction Bidding

Does this Illinois button look familiar? There was a Nevada variety that sold for $88.55 in a recent auction. Unfortunately they are just part of a state set sold on CafePress. Many buttons sold on CafePress are actually official, and come from campaign or grassroots groups. This, however, is just a vendor button, and it really shouldn't sell for more than a few bucks. Subscribers of The Obama Guardian can come to me for information on any button they see in an auction or offered for sale. This is an extra free bonus, but few actually take advantage of it. Those who do save a few bucks. The winner of this button could have saved far more the the cost of a subscription.

Campaign 2012

The 2012 presidential campaign has begun, and I have the buttons. I offer the best selection of official and unusual buttons in the hobby. and I don't even have those Dr. Don's look-alike picture buttons that have saturated eBay. My list is close to being ready, and I can send scans by email for free. Avoid the hassles of bidding on eBay, and the outrageous postage costs. I also offer discounts on multiple purchases. Send requests to campaignresources@gmail.com.

Does this look like a George Bush button?

According to one eBay seller the button on the left is a George Bush button. Take a look at eBay # 380258372934. It is an Oregon button for the national convention, but the Republicans went to Houston that year. New York hosted the 1992 Democratic National Convention.  The disclaimer on the curl reads, "Paid for by WYDEN FOR CONGRESS". Ron Wyden is currently a U.S. Senator from Oregon, and he is a Democrat. I obtained the button myself at the convention. Included in the picture is a Clinton Gore match to it as further proof. I did inform the seller of his error, and he has ignored me. eBay is a never ending source of amusement.

Does this really look like a Carter button?

You really have to be missing a few bricks to think this is a Carter button, but try to convince some eBay sellers it isn't. I contacted one seller last year with a polite correction, and my message was ignored. He never corrected his listing, and retaliated by blocking me from bidding. Is that a sign of maturity? It should be obvious from the message on the button that it is advertising low prices for manufacturing buttons. It is from a company called Hantico and I picked up some in their booth at a trade show back in the 80s. Yes, I've done sales in the industry, so I know what I'm talking about.

Obama buttons for sale!

Pictured above is page one of my Obama Sales/Trade list. There are 23 more pages of scans of buttons I have available (more than 300 different). If you are interested in seeing the full list send an email to campaignresources@gmail.com. I am always interested in trading. Even though I have nearly 3800 different Obama buttons and pins, there are still many I don't have. There are likely many I've never seen.

The event button that WASN'T there!

Event buttons are such a hot commodity in the hobby that vendors and collectors have seized the golden opportunity. They not only have an item that will sell well at the event, but they have a "collectors' item" that may bring a premium price in the hobby. The South Carolina Oprah Winfrey button is almost that kind of button, but not exactly. The wearer of the button might be able to claim "I Was There", but the button can't. It was made by a collector AFTER the event. That's right, it wasn't there. Does that detract from its significance? It had little to start with, and that revelation drops it to nothing. Unfortunately careless collectors paid high prices in auctions, but demand seems to have tapered off. I was asked about this button by a novice collector who had it high on his want list. I told him the facts about the button, and where he could purchase it since he wanted it so badly. Soon after he had it for sale at a premium price. I hate when that happens.

Watch for the flood!

Tigereye just dumped the remaining supply of their Announcement button for 25 cents each. I don't know how many were cleared out, but I expect there were quite a few. I wouldn't pay much for it since it is going to be plentiful for years to come. I had suggested this back in 2008, but some collectors still paid premium prices. First of all it isn't official. Just because Tigereye produced the official buttons sold from the Obama Store, that doesn't mean every Tigereye Obama button is official. That company churned out hundreds of different vendor buttons, and this was among them. The Obama campaign did not sell it, and it wasn't actually sold at the event. A few were handed out, and they didn't come from the campaign staff. I know, because unlike every dealer who has sold this button I was actually at the event. The only pinback item the Obama campaign ordered for the Announcement is a super rare logo lapel pin with the word "Staff".

I don't understand the appeal of this button. It is pretty ridiculous looking, even by Tigereye standards. Okay, maybe it isn't quite as idiotic as their "Breakfast For Obama" button, but it's close. Tigereye uses a Steelworkers printing union label. Maybe they use Steelworkers for artists, too.