Arizona Governor Strips Nike of Financial Incentives After Flag Debacle

Nike may have pleased their campaign spokesman, Colin Kaepernick, by canceling a sneaker design meant to commemorate the Betsy Ross flag, but they have angered a great many patriots who are sick and tired of this company taking a stand (or a knee) against America. Among those patriots are Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who announced on Tuesday that his state would no longer offer Nike financial incentives on account of their disrespectful decision.

“Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike,” Gov. Ducey tweeted. “Nike is an iconic American brand and American company. This country, our system of government and free enterprise have allowed them to prosper and flourish.

“Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism,” he continued. “It is a shameful retreat for the company. American businesses should be proud of our country’s history, not abandoning it.”

As such, Ducey said, he felt compelled to take action.

“Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours,” he wrote. “I’ve 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.”

The Republican wasn’t finished yet.

“And finally,” he concluded, “it shouldn’t take a controversy over a shoe for our kids to know who Betsy Ross is. A founding mother. Her story should be taught in all American schools. In the meantime, it’s worth googling her.”

Ducey’s decision will affect Nike’s plans to build a $185 million manufacturing facility in Goodyear. Just this week, the Goodyear City Council authorized an incentives package for Nike that would cover approximately $1 million in planning fees as well as some $4,000 for every full-time employee the company hires.

No doubt, Ducey’s decision will come under fire from economic observers inside Arizona, who fear that it could cost the city of Goodyear up to 500 jobs should Nike choose to pull out of the deal. On the other hand, is it worth selling the soul of your state down the river to a company that has proven, time and again, to be hostile to patriotism of any sort?