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![]() Tammy Johnson, owner of Lenore's Optical in downtown Longview, found herself embroiled in political controversy after advertising that her shop carried Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's designer eyeglasses. Roger Werth / The Daily News
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Tempers flare over shop owner's bid to market Palin's glasses
Monday, October 13, 2008 11:38 PM PDT
By Amy M.E. Fischer
When presidential candidate Sen. John McCain unveiled his running mate at the Republican National Convention last month, the phone at Lenore’s Optical in downtown Longview started ringing. Where, people wanted to know, could they get a pair of those fabulous eyeglasses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was wearing?
“I had 10 phone calls on these frames alone,” Lenore’s owner and optician Tammy Johnson said Monday.
At $319 each, not including lenses and special coatings, the rimless Kazuo Kawasaki titanium frames can be tough to find. Soon after the convention, demand for the Kawasaki frames exploded. Because the frames are expensive and vendors must order 24 pieces at a time, Lenore’s is the only shop between Portland and Seattle that carries them, Johnson said.
Thinking she could hitch Lenore’s star to Palin’s, Johnson hatched a plan to post sandwich-board signs around town advertising that the shop carried Palin’s eyewear.
But her strategy for drumming up business seems to have backfired. Lenore’s hasn’t sold a single pair of Kawasaki frames since the signs went up. Instead of sales, the signs prompted questions and accusations from the public.
“I’ve had to explain myself over and over again to say we’re not endorsing her — we’re endorsing her eyeglasses,” Johnson said. “In fact, I just had a nasty message on my machine this morning stating how un-American I was to support someone like Sarah Palin. He ended up calling her a wack job and said neither he, his friends or his family will ever set foot in Lenore’s Optical because we were endorsing Sarah Palin.”
Actually, Johnson, 39, supports Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (but only because Hillary Clinton’s out of the race, she added).
Late last week, Johnson took down all the signs advertising Palin’s eyewear.
“I never intended for this to happen,” she said. “I think it’s a lesson learned. ... Maybe it’s not so good to mix business and politics.”
Lenore’s still has the frames prominently displayed in the shop at 1339 Commerce Ave., and customers do frequently try them on, Johnson said.
“It certainly has generated a lot of conversation. ... If they don’t love Sarah Palin, it’s an, ‘Absolutely not. I’m not going there,’ ” she said. “They can’t love the glasses for themselves.”
Gondolapete wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:42 PM:
yakima bear wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:04 AM:
Old Charlie wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:06 AM:
UW Squirrels wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:18 AM:
my 2 cents wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:13 AM:
worriedone wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:43 AM:
stag wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:59 AM:
MMGrad66 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:59 AM:
racingrocks wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:28 AM:
lucky1 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:11 AM:
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:27 AM:
AmericanGirl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:57 AM:
transplant wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:58 AM:
kelsogal wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:01 AM:
Rural Citizen wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:03 AM:
Tell you what. You show some respect for the left and the left will go back to showing some respect to you. But we still don't want you in office because you don't know how to govern. LOOK what you have done to our country. "
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:09 AM:
LongviewFam wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:10 AM:
AmericanGirl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:12 AM:
who am I? wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:21 AM:
Simple Man wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:21 AM:
luke the drifter wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:41 AM:
scootergranny wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:46 AM:
Now I would boycott anyone selling Obama goods as I don't support anyone who is a socalist or business that support them.
99% of the hate speech I read on the internet is from liberals. "
mrsw wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:49 AM:
no one wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:49 AM:
castle rocker wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:53 AM:
badpenny wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:55 AM:
somedude wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:58 AM:
Diesel wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:20 AM:
Stella wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:22 AM:
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:27 AM:
Common Sense 24 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:27 AM:
rastor wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:43 AM:
grams wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:54 AM:
Im_not_saying wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:06 AM:
MMGrad66 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:09 AM:
I feel sorry that you have brought your vote down to the fact that Obama is a good speaker. What will he inspire you to do? To be more willing to pay more taxes and spread wealth around so that we will all be in the same miserable condition? What you will see under his presidency are higher taxes on individuals and business and you will see umemployment like you have never seen before. We are in for some rough years ahead my friend. I guarantee you that this will be the Jimmy Carter years all over again only worse. "
longview 88 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:15 AM:
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:16 AM:
Gondolapete wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:18 AM:
Billy Hill wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:24 AM:
Lucky7 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:26 AM:
El Fuego wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:29 AM:
Local Yokel wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:35 AM:
Huggygramma wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:41 AM:
LJD wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:47 AM:
Diesel wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:52 AM:
And to Stella are you saying that ALL women are bad mothers because they take their children out in public? I mean this IS a world controlled by adults isn't it? "
flatbakman wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:01 AM:
Sammy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:10 AM:
Common Sense 24 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:32 AM:
pilaf wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:54 AM:
speedydog wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:55 AM:
mole wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:01 PM:
nexus wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:01 PM:
Stella wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:11 PM:
CRFisherman wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:19 PM:
HeavenlyReign wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:22 PM:
klb65 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:37 PM:
Fencepost wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:49 PM:
I hope she recovers her lost sales. Viva la capitalism! "
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:50 PM:
Thought wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:59 PM:
grandfolks wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:03 PM:
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:03 PM:
The Stig wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:29 PM:
jibjab123 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:31 PM:
Kem Cho wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:33 PM:
Billy Hill wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:36 PM:
Im_not_saying wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:42 PM:
And to everyone voting McCain because he's "going to take away your guns" - I have news for you! McCain plans on taking all the places you plan on hunting and fishing! Oh but don't worry - all those fish love those oil rigs. And I'm sure the elk and deer will huddle around those oil pipelines too! But don't worry - if McCain wins, by 2012 we won't have any clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the food in the stores will be too expensive to buy. Nothing like voting for the class clown as president. "
The Stig wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:53 PM:
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/14/area_news/10464810.txt and the backstory is here: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/08/area_news/doc48ec0c06b0af9894767007.txt "
Common Sense 24 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:08 PM:
DUH wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:12 PM:
MOLE wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:31 PM:
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:35 PM:
Raven wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:44 PM:
kalama river resident wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:59 PM:
You Americans are so gullible. No, you wont accept communism out right, but well keep feeding you small doses of socialism until youll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We wont have to fight you. Well so weaken your economy until you fall like over-ripe fruit into our hands. "
Simple Man wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:14 PM:
DUH wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:18 PM:
BIGDAR wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:18 PM:
BettyBoop133 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:19 PM:
Scot Heisel, TDN wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:21 PM:
Im_not_saying wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:36 PM:
1) He's not Bush, and is not seeking to repeat the failed policies of the past eight years. 2) He's for bringing jobs back to america and rebuilding America from the bottom up. Not the top down which is what McCain believes. 3) He's for abandoning our addiction to oil, be it foreign OR domestic. 4) He doesn't change his opinions willy nilly like McCain. 5)His running mate won't scare me more than freddy kruger in a dark alley. AND - Most of all, Reverend Wright has his own agenda - he wanted to be heard so he could get a book deal - His speeches got especially inflamatory only AFTER Obama was in the running, and when he was not there. HOWEVER - you may want to look into the skeletons in Palin's closet. Her preacher has uttered several anti-semitic statements, and she hasn't answered 1 question about him! Now if this isn't the pot calling the kettle black I don't knwo what it is! "
Louie wrote on Oct 14, 2008 4:58 PM:
I do like them but not so much the person who is wearing those spendy, more than a lot of Americans can afford at any rate, Japanese eye glasses.
They do make her face sparkle so maybe the sparkle has dulled her brain and McCain's too. "
Kalama rose wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:30 PM:
Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:50 PM:
Treadmill Girl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:54 PM:
look like Sarah Palin's glasses! I
take that as a compliment! Go Sarah!!!! "
Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:56 PM:
Thought wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:12 PM:
The old guy has served his country most of his life at a great sacrifice I may add. The young guy would make a very good car salesman but I doubt if the product would hold up. The gurl is not from the good ole boys club so that is encouraging. The wannabe couldn't even get enough support from his own peers to get a nomination...3 times!!!
Maybe someone can enlighten me about something.. Has Biden had any military experience??? Using "Raid" on insects doesn't count!! "
sleepless wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:15 PM:
from the story and the posts I can see lot of hatered and ignorance..I will try to answer few questions here:
1-does advertizing for Palin glasses means endorsing Sara Palin? absolutly not
2-Is palin dumb as average woman?no
3-does she have the knowlede and intelligence to be vice president? absolutly not, if you don't agree with that you have problem
4-does Obama's middle name makes him a Muslim? no .And TDN bad boy if you judge people based on their middle name that means you're BAD person (tdn BAD boy)
5-is the person who left a message on that lady's phone stupid? you betcha.. "
Small Town Girl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:26 PM:
hot momma wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:13 PM:
As thats how the Democrats and their fearless fool Obama want things to be.
AS for eye glasses I think if someone wants them let them have them who gives a flying X&(*$%*^) how much they cost,
Look at all teh BILLIONS OF DOLLARS worth of merchandise that is hitting the shelves for christmas that will have some popular person plastered all over it. Is this ANY different... NO so get over it its eye wear no different than any other designer frame.... "
hot momma wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:30 PM:
AS for the wild life and the pipe lines, have you actually been up to northern alaska and actually seen the wild life and the pipe line?
I have, I lived in Alaska for years. And I hate to tell you the wild life adapted just fine to it all. In fact the bears can be caught taking a nap in the afternoon sun on the pipes. They raised the pipe over head so the cariboo can walk under it witn ease. I suggest you get out a little and travel to see these things which you speak of yet have no first hand knowledge of. I am a firm believer in animal rights and protecting the enviroment, I do not hunt and I recycle about 90 percent of my garbage. But the pipe line did NOT negativly effect the wild life in Alaska.. Persons just like you, consumer hogs,persons that have to have all the latest things ,and big houses, do far more dammage and destroy much more habitat every day than the pipe line will ever do. Besides here is only about 45 more years of fosil fule left on this planet . We really need to focus on alternative energy not bandaid fixes . All this name calling and tryin to be cute on here does no good for any one. As for the war, Do you really think if tomorrow We brought all troups home and pulled out completly there would be sudden peace? NO "
Kay English wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:37 PM:
Lucky7 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:08 PM:
K500 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:22 PM:
dogshead wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:38 PM:
Ella Mentry wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:46 PM:
This Lady wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:47 PM:
biasmedia wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:59 PM:
bucketball wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:27 PM:
mom of four wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:31 PM:
Im_not_saying wrote on Oct 15, 2008 12:55 AM:
Small Town Girl wrote on Oct 15, 2008 7:03 AM:
klb65 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:20 AM:
TheGenius wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:43 AM:
mary wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:03 AM:
DW wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:19 AM:
Stella wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:43 AM:
torinojr wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:57 AM:
I personally vote for none of the above. Do you really think either of them will make a difference?
I am ashamed to admit I am a part of a community that is so small minded that it would alow someones political views affect their business decisions and in this case those who assumed to know her politial view were not even correct to begin with.
KELSO....LONGVIEW...IT IS TIME TO GROW UP! "
fencepost wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:28 PM:
klb65 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 2:01 PM:
no one wrote on Oct 15, 2008 2:54 PM:
toledoone wrote on Oct 15, 2008 5:42 PM:
kitten wrote on Oct 15, 2008 6:14 PM:
Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:58 PM:
fencepost wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:38 AM:
K wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:53 PM:
nipsey wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:26 AM:
DW wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:28 AM:
kitten wrote on Oct 18, 2008 9:49 PM:
Tempest wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:24 AM:
Im_Not_Saying wrote on Oct 21, 2008 1:11 PM:
bucketball wrote on Oct 22, 2008 8:18 PM:
Washington Rez wrote on Oct 23, 2008 3:30 PM:
finchica wrote on Oct 24, 2008 5:31 PM:
finchica wrote on Oct 24, 2008 5:33 PM:
banana hammock wrote on Oct 25, 2008 6:26 AM:
she should be the first they put out of business just to show us what is comming.
ps. Sara alin is the last chance we have for an out sider to get into WA DC. It is our last chance as americans to see a normal person represent us.
and to the point of her cloths. She is a walmart mom therefore she did not have the wordrobe of the people who condem her. How much does Mrs. Obomas outfits cost? "
no one wrote on Oct 26, 2008 5:59 PM:
Get over it people. Jealousy is what keeps us from being all we should be, not poverty. Those who make something of themselves against the odds don't waste their time criticizing others for what they have. "
Madeleine wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:50 PM:
:) "







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