Many GOP Texas merch items come from China

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FORT WORTH, Texas, June 8 (UPI) -- Vendors at the Republican Party of Texas state convention said they were unaware many of their goods were made in other countries, including China.

Michael Franks of TexasGOPStore.com, a sponsor of the convention, said he did not realize many of the items he is selling at the convention in Fort Worth were made in China and Nicaragua, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday.

"I never looked at the label," Franks said of an Anvil-brand "I Palin" T-shirt made in Nicaragua.

Franks also sells the official pink convention T-shirt, which was made in Honduras.

Lisa Body of Aspen Design said she knew the 12 elephant and American flag brooches she sells were made in China, and many of her customers said they were not bothered.

"What difference does that make?" asked Harry Hingst, 63, a retired Lockheed Martin worker and a delegate from Comal County, who said he considers U.S. President Barack Obama a "socialist."

"It's one communist country versus another," he said.