New GOP 2012 Convention Logo Ignores 47 States (Updated)

The 2012 Republican National Convention will take place in Tampa Bay, Florida. The logo (above) selected by the Tampa Bay Host Committee caught flack after Republicans freaked out when some suggested — in all seriousness — that the logo's minaret "could be considered as Islamic 'Moorish Revival' architectural style." (The palm tree probably didn't help either.)

So when it came time for the GOP to select its event logo, the Grand Old Party tread carefully. Now, the official minaret-free 2012 Convention logo.

According to the Washington Post's piece on the logo, “The elephant—the proud and strong symbol of the Republican Party—with his trunk pointed toward 2012 reflects the spirit, unity and strength of our Party as we plan a successful 2012 Republican National Convention that enables us to march toward victory next November,” stated convention Chief Executive Officer William D. Harris.

Also: “The waves beneath Tampa Bay represent our beautiful host city’s location on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico,” said convention Chairman Alec Poitevint. “The three stars in the flag symbolize equality, justice and opportunity—core principles of our country’s Constitution and the founding tenets of the Republican Party.”

Still, the three-star salute of the RNC's new 2012 convention logo raises the question, why are Republicans refusing to recognize the statehood of the other 47 members of The Union?

Correction: Originally, this piece mistakenly referred to the Tampa Bay Host Committee logo as the first 2012 convention logo. The organizations are separate.