Unintended consequences
A conference I attended (and presented at - yikes!) in August had as it's theme the unintended consequences of social programs and policies, for better or for worse. So, something that was intended to be good and helpful can end up having unanticipated and/or unintended effects, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Well, it appears that our dear namesake now has one such "unintended consequence" under his belt (sorry, bad pun) for his well-intentioned HIV-awareness campaign in China. From the LA Times:
"'Clinton,' 'Lewinsky' Brand Condoms Sold in China
By Mark Magnier, Times Staff Writer
BEIJING -- A new line of condoms is grabbing headlines in China even as its sparks a debate about trademark law and promotion campaigns. The products' brand names: "Clinton" and "Lewinsky."
The condoms are sold in boxes of 12, with the brand named after former President Bill Clinton priced at $3.70 and that of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky at $2.25.
Guangzhou Haojian Bioscience Co. said it registered both trademarks and is pricing the brands differently to reflect the higher quality of the Clinton line.
"We chose the name because we think Clinton is a symbol of success and a man of responsibility. And Lewinsky is a woman who dares to love and dares to hate," said Liu Wenhua, the company's general manager.
"We haven't told Clinton about this yet, but maybe you could help us find him," Liu added. "We'd like to tell him how respected he is in China, so we can boost his confidence and help his career."
Liu said he settled on the Clinton name after a year of research sparked by the news that the former president had been named to head an international initiative to combat HIV and AIDS. Some of the other names he considered and rejected included "First Night," "18 Years Old" and "I Miss You." They didn't have the same aura of respectability, he said."
Highlights:
Clinton condoms are "higher quality" than Lewinsky line (I don't want to begin to explicate the power/gender dynamics here...)
Clinton is a man who symbolizes success and responsibility (well, I guess even being tried for "high crimes and misdemeanors" before the Senate and Chief Justice of the most powerful nation on earth isn't all that damaging to one's reputation after all...)
Hopefully, the condom line will bolster Clinton's self-worth and career (hmmmmm....doesn't seem he's having much trouble here...)