Yesterday, Red State‘s Sarah Rumpf wrote about sports merch giant Nike dropping plans to sell a Betsy Ross-themed sneaker because former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he and other sports figures found the shoe racially offensive.

Here’s a brief recap via the Wall Street Journal:

After shipping the shoes to retailers, Nike asked for them to be returned without explaining why, the people said. The shoes aren’t available on Nike’s own apps and websites. “Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag,” a Nike spokeswoman said. After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery, the people said. Some users on social media responded to posts about the shoe with similar concerns. Mr. Kaepernick declined to comment.

In response to the move, Arizona’s Gov. Doug Ducey (R) expressed his disappointment and announced on social media that he had “ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here”:

Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history. 8/ — Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019

Nike had plans to open a manufacturing plant in Goodyear, AZ that reportedly would have brought 500 jobs to the state.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) seized on Ducey’s announcement by way of slithering into the conversation and making his own offer to Nike. Newsom said pulling the flag shoes was “the right thing” to do and that their decision “represents the best of our American values”:

Hey, @Nike — we’re just a quick jaunt over the border… Thank you for doing the right thing. CA is open for business and welcomes those that represent the best of our American values. pic.twitter.com/dLN7EuYBFS — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2019

Several Twitter users, in turn, kindly reminded “Governor Hair Gel” (as a California friend refers to Newsom) that businesses are actually fleeing California, not flocking to it:

“A record number of companies are leaving California for states with a better business climate, and a new report shows that Texas remains their No. 1 destination.” https://t.co/XFP3gY1YQi — BehindBlueLines (@UnderLeftSeige) July 3, 2019

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You realize they were going to Arizona

because California is a death trap for business

and will only get worse as you try to social engineer it into a fully socialist crap hole You know

Nike will fit right in https://t.co/exzpghsJXS — Jim Hanson (@Uncle_Jimbo) July 3, 2019

More importantly, Newsom was reminded of just how prominently the “racist” Betsy Ross flag was featured in the second inauguration of President Barack Obama:

That Betsy Ross flag sure fell out of fashion quickly. (Photo: 2nd Obama inaugural, 2013) pic.twitter.com/8xg8xCPLXb — David Martosko (@dmartosko) July 3, 2019

To put an even finer point on it, historians and extremist group experts confirm that, contra to Kaepernick’s opinion, the flag is not a symbol of slavery, racism, and oppression.

And last but not least, a great point from Daily Wire‘s Matt Walsh:

We were always told that Kaepernick wasn't protesting the flag. He was protesting police brutality, allegedly. But apparently it was about the flag all along. What a shocking twist. — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 2, 2019

Indeed.

This was a massive virtue signaling fail not just on the part of social justice warrior Kaepernick and Nike, but also Gov. Newsom.

Much thanks to all three for reminding us once again right here at Independence Day why so many people believe Democrats hate their country.

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—Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter.–