Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan’s Kitty Gate: Busted Disgusted and Can’t be Trusted

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) is simply grandstanding over the hello kitty credit card.

“Senator Byron Dorgan on the Senate floor on Monday criticized card issuers, citing what he said was a marketing pitch by a major issuer for a pink, white and yellow “Hello Kitty” credit card aimed at children 10 to 14 years of age.” 

“I’d just love to know the person who thought this up and to say, ‘Are you nuts?'” Dorgan said. “What on earth are credit companies doing soliciting young kids to get a credit card?”

There problem with senator’s please diatribe is  its not true. I believe Mr. Dorgan argument is a classic Red Hearing in attempt to divert attention to the credit card by diverting and misquoting Bruce Giuliano of Sanrio, the actual quote was lifted from a 2004 press story concerning the Hello Kitty debit card

“”Freedom! You can use the Hello Kitty Debit MasterCard to shop ’til you drop,” the card’s Web site enthuses.  

The prospective audience? The young women who grew up with the 30-year-old icon — as well as much younger girls. “We think our target age group will be from 10 to 14, although it could certainly go younger,” said Bruce Giuliano, senior vice president of licensing for Sanrio Inc., which owns the brand.

Since only parents (or at least anyone older than 18) can sign up for the card, Hello Kitty thinks it’s a great way for adults to “help teach their children how to manage their finances,” Giuliano said. Next up, he added, is a prepaid Hello Kitty cell phone. “ (1.)

He does not even mention anything about the Hello Kitty Credit Card, which is different from the  Prepaid debit card; furthermore; I dose make sense, 10 to 14 is the age a child start receiving an allowance  and many parents are giving children prepaid debit cards instead of cash.

As for the credit card, all he needs to do was to go here  and notice one need to be 18 to apply  not 10 or 14.

The web site

Does this look like a 10 to 14 year old can apply?

MR. Dorgan  owes Miss Kitty an apology.  

1. Girls Go From Hello Kitty To Hello Debit Card

Brand’s Power Tapped to Reach Youth

By Caroline E. Mayer

Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, October 3, 2004; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2959-2004Oct2.html