Design Foundry, the company hired to set up the controversial Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) stage, has taken full responsibility for its design that resembled a Nazi insignia.
"The designs, renderings, drawings, specifications, materials and other documents used or created as part of the proposal are owned by Design Foundry," stated the contract between the company and the American Conservative Union (ACU), which organized the event.
The company said it "had no idea that the design resembled any symbol, nor was there any intention to create something that did."
Design Foundry has worked with CPAC for several years and has provided services to MSNBC, Google, Citibank, Target and the Biden Cancer Initiative.
Journalist Yashar Ali reported that the company's owner is "very liberal" and was "so excited" when President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Ali also noted that the company oversaw the design for the Biden Cancer Summit in 2018.
According to SEC filings, more than 98 percent of the $7,766.50 campaign contributions made by employees of the Design Foundry were donated to Democrats.
But the company quickly put out the idea of sabotage, saying that it was "saddened and horrified at the accusations that this was a deliberate act. Design Foundry denounces all hate speech and acts of racism, prejudice or bigotry in all forms."
Symbols from the past are "everywhere"
Images of the CPAC main stage went viral online on Saturday, Feb. 27, as observers noted its resemblance to the Odal or Othala rune, a symbol emblazoned on Nazi uniforms. (Related: Two 'Mandalorian' actors posted Nazi analogies to social media, but Lucasfilm only fired the conservative one.)
But an article published by Forbes said the Odal rune, also known as the Othala rune, predates the Nazi movement and the Third Reich by centuries and it first appeared between the 3rd and 8th centuries.
"While it was in fact adopted by Nazi Germany, and has been used by various neo-Nazi groups in recent years, it seems dubious to think that the design was intentional," the article said.
The article also listed past symbols that had been associated with political events and government institutions.
"The Odal rune is now in the spotlight, just weeks after other eagle-eyed users on Twitter noted that during Biden's inauguration the Betsy Ross flag was seen. Former Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was among those who took notice of the flag," the article said.
Betsy Ross's flag has long been regarded as a symbol of the American Revolution.
On August 6, 2008, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh compared the healthcare logo used by the Obama administration to that of the Nazi eagle.
It also noted that any visitor to Washington, D.C. is likely going to see a number of fascist symbols – and not those carried by protesters, but rather on the buildings.
The bundle of rods bound by a leather thong at the Lincoln Memorial and in federal buildings throughout the nation's Capitol, including the Justice Department, is a symbol that dates back even further than the Odal rune and was used during the Roman Republic as a symbol of power and authority.
It is meant to evoke power, strength, authority and justice. The idea is that a single stick may be weak, but bound together in unity there is strength.
"The symbol was used throughout Washington, D.C. and a pair literally flanks the speaker's podium in the House of Representatives. They are thus present during a presidential state of the union as well – but never is that symbol called out," the article said.
The article also talked about the "most infamous" of Nazi icons, the swastika, which was once a symbol of good luck and can be seen on countless buildings.
"Over the years some buildings have been called out for inadvertently resembling a swastika or other Nazi-like symbols from above. In most cases it was a coincidence," the article said.
Apparently, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation didn't believe in coincidence.
Following the conclusion of CPAC, Hyatt Hotels released a statement saying that it had addressed the concerns with the conference organizers and called the use of such symbol "abhorrent." High-profile Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, attended the four-day event in Orlando, Florida.
ACU approved the stage design, which intended to provide the best use of space, given the constraints of the ballroom and social distancing requirements.
According to Ian Walters, director of communications for the ACU and CPAC, the company Design Foundry provided several options to choose from.
"What we ended up with was the most workable of the options they submitted," Walters said. "ACU and CPAC have no interest in promoting anti-Semitism from our stage, whether it's what happens on the stage or the design of the stage itself."
Walters added that they would no longer use the company's services at future events.
Stage controversy upstages Trump's CPAC appearance
The stage controversy overshadowed Trump's first post-presidency speech.
Trump was cheered by supporters when he appeared on the CPAC stage on Sunday, Feb. 28. "I stand before you today to declare that the incredible journey we began together four years ago is far from over," he said. "We are gathered this afternoon to talk about the future - the future of our movement, the future of our party, and the future of our beloved country."
Trump said he has no plans to launch a new political party because it would split the Republican vote. "We have the Republican Party. It's going to unite and be stronger than ever before," he said.
He also hinted that he might run for office again in 2024.
The former president strongly criticized his successor, saying U.S. policy had gone from "America first to America last."
"We all knew that the Biden administration was going to be bad but none of us even imagined how just how bad they would be and how far left they would go," Trump told the cheering crowd.
The CPAC is the country's largest meeting of conservative activists and politicians and usually gives insight into the direction of the Republican Party.
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