Monkey doll named for Obama called racist

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah company offering online a sock monkey named for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says it didn't mean to anger anyone with a "cute and cuddly" toy that some are calling racist.

"We simply made a casual and affectionate observation one night, and a charming association between a candidate and a toy we had when we were little," according to a statement issued Saturday by Sock Obama LLC.

Jeanetta Williams, president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the toy "pure racism at its extreme."

Comments

[stepintothelight]

I have never been less proud of this country than I am now!!!

[bigdaddyvike]

Hmmmm. Utah. That pretty much says it all. Nuff said.

[KDay]

How TYPICAL! Not surprised at all. In fact we were expecting it. We know the history of this country. And yet we should have always been proud...........

[iamamerican2]

Racism isn't a new born baby, it's a decrepit old man, I'm black and this story means nothing to me. One day this country will move away from classifications and identity politics, but that will only lead us the real and inevitable struggle of rich v.s poor. That's the real dividing issue not race, it's more class and cultural.
Just my two pennies.

[Zogtastic]

Racism? Meh, perhaps. I understand the racist implication... I'm willing to give them the benefit of stupidity for making the toy.

"Pure racism at it's extreme"... really? really?? At it's extreme??? As in, there is nothing more racist than a monkey puppet? We're going to put it in the same category as the KKK and lynchings? Really?

Come on... speaking as an observer to this issue, I'd say that kind of statement is damaging to the argument's credibility. If someone were to walk up to me, show me a monkey puppet and say it's the most racist thing ever, I'd have some trouble controlling my laughter. Is it racist? Sure. Racism at it's extreme? Come on... hyperbole does not help, it's actually quite damaging and practically hands out the "you're overreacting" counter-argument, which is a shame.

[bobdob]

Haven't they quit selling this?

[hip dibler]

put a bright spotlight on these people and then let them tell us how this isn't offensive.

identify these people and expose them. then watch them shrink back under thier rock.

[globalcitizenlinda]

WOW! Did someone really not consider how offensive this representatio is to black people?

This 2008 campaign will say more about who Americans are at the core than who Candidate Obama is

[sayno]

No one complained when the same people made and sold the George Bush sock monkey during the '04 election. No one screamed sexist about the Hillary Clinton "nutcracker" sold in airport gift shops and online.

People crying "racism" since the beginning of Obama's run have ruined his chances with millions of people. And I bet many will label me a racist for posting this.

[LAJonathan]

Its tasteless and you know it. White men do not have a 30 year history of being compared to monkeys by another race. Got it?

[WatchIt]

My sock monkey from 50 years ago had lips. There is no question. Even a WB cartoon character was portrayed with "lips" There is no mistake. Stop being so naive.

[mshazen]

And people did scream sexism about the nutcracker.

[IndependentMynd]

Where's the McBush sock puppet that's attached to the Bush dummy that's attached to that ventriloquist Cheney???

[Aramingo]

Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.

[scorpioleidy]

This is disgusting, and I'm embarrassed for America that in 2008, racism is not only alive and well but being marketed in such a denigrating, overt way. Shame on the makers of this product!!! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!

[aristippe]

And people compare Bush to a chimp all the time.

[midwestvoter]

They did, until chimps rightly protested.

[Jules1]

I'm becoming very Un_proud of America.......................

[windwalker1984]

You think that's bad, you should see the email I received today. Real hit job full of lies. Sad that people would believe such garbage.

[ObserverinVancouver]

People are protesting the racism of this puppet. Some want to boycott the company making it. But then some people are jumping to the conclusion that the people making the puppet are Mormons and they want to boycott all Mormon businesses. Maybe those people should just calm down a little and think about what they are saying and what that says about them.