Obama Chia Pets Quickly Dropped By CVS

Less than three weeks after CVS stores started selling the controversial Obama chia pets, the pharmacy chain is pulling them from its shelves.

In April, rival chain Walgreens stopped selling the Obama chias after complaints that the plants, which sprout a green chia afro as the President's hair, were racist.

A CVS spokesman wouldn't give a reason for the store's decision to the Chicago Tribune.

Comments

[norepublicanleftbehind]

Where can I get one?

[KarateKid]

I saw one on eBay for $1000. The Republicans are eating them up, bidding it beyond affordability.

[BlueKansas]

I don't see it as racist. It's just hideous, stupid, and it looks nothing like Obama...un­less you think "they all look alike".

[gweduck]

Isn't that why he got the Nobel Peace Prize???

[future primitive]

And I'm sorry but that thing totally looks like Tim Meadows from Saturday Night Live.

[future primitive]

I wish they made Obama moonies. Where you squeeze a bulb and the doll in the car window drops its pants. I would totally wear that out and then buy another one.

[FHTB]

As in all things in America, someone just trying to make a buck...huc­ksterism, not racism...l­et's call racism when it really IS that...thi­s is nothing of the kind, and people are being ridiculous if they think it is...just a stupid novelty gift...rel­ax!

[garcia83]

Agreed.

[Gregorius Mercator]

Yeah... I disagree. There are other famous Chia-heads. People are finding racism where none exists.

[Pancake]

Five. Besides Obama,two long dead Presidents, a Professor and this one they call 'Chia guy'. I think Chia Guy is actually President R eagan.

http://www.chia.com/index.php/chia-products/chia-guy.html

[bla2009]

For once, I don't think so...

[Thomas Murphy]

Oh. My. God.

[ghee99]

first this, and now performers in australia performing in blackface for harry connick...­. when will this sort of nonsense and racism end?

oh sure its funny
ha ha....

but what about kids, what message does this send?

that an afro or a skin color is just something to be made fun of?

its really disturbing that such things are allowed in what we call a modern "civilization"

[gaiuscaprica]

Ghee is bad for the arteries, say no to Ghee. your opinions however are spot on!

[ejhickey]

I gave one to my sister in law , who is a big Obama fan. I have since been notified that I am no longer welcome at their house for the holidays. What a relief! See, the Obama Chia Pet can be useful.

[SJBrown]

I have to laugh at that one. The question is whether you thought you were giving her a gag gift. I can't see where this is racist. It's just plain silly.

[VPN]

It is silly but somehow I think the President and the Mrs probably found it funny.

[MorpheusXNYC]

Sigh.. Ignorance of bigotry is no defense.

[gaiuscaprica]

I gotta try this trick of yours thanks!

[Martha601]

I am a black woman who adores our new president but I was actually amused at how silly it looked. I don't think it was necessarily racist as it was just trying to make some money. This President has the knack for selling things with his image even though I can't really say this is his image, lol. But all in all the Chia line looks pretty funny no matter what or who it is. I'd buy one to laugh at it as the green started growing. I know people are offended and I get that but I just think it was done to make a quick buck. Come on, it is kinda funny. Lighten up!!!

[rzzza]

agreed

[gaiuscaprica]

I’m approaching this as tactfully as possible (although I feel I’m going to catch a lot of flak) I find the kind of marketing deplorable and the whole Chia line kind of sophomoric.
I immediately visited the Chia website to see if this was an actual product; it is but, what I saw wasn’t offensive as I was led to believe.
If you like this sort of thing, they make the following Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and lady liberty President Obama is in good company. As a Latino, I find other people’s ignorance funny at times but mostly frustrating, all I can do is present my self as I am, and hope they learn something. by the way not all Latinos are Mexican.
So to people that call the ad and product racist, grow-up realize that everything that is said about Obama is not racist. If we continue with this logic, pretty soon he will become "pope like" a great disservice to our president. I think it was cowardly for CVS to give in to the whims of a vocal minority and remove the product. But I’m glad it was done. Because Christmas time comes, some fool will give of chia things as gifts, and that would be a crime indeed!

[Susanne Freeborn]

I don't know why you think the the fact of whether or not you were offended is the test of whether or not something is racist. Your arguments are silly and do not state a valid basis for this lousy corporate decision being anything but racist. Otherwise, since these idiotic things have been being sold as long as I can remember, they would have 'honored' all the presidents since Nixon similarly. That didn't happen, as you know from looking at their website.

The fact that you didn't understand it as racist is more a statement of your own insensitivity.

[gaiuscaprica]

Dear MS. Freeborn-

If you had taken the time to formulate a coherent idea, you would have realized that when you say, "the fact of whether or not you were offended is the test of whether or not something is racist." is exactly what you are doing. You find the whole thing racist so you are the arbiter of who is racist. If some else disagrees they are racist or silly. You are as your avatar depicts you white, highly opinionated and willing to tell a member of a minority group what is racist or not. You help us simpletons. Gee, I don't know how you misinterpret when I say, "they make the following Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and lady liberty President Obama is in good company." as anything but good. As for the notion that they should have honored Nixon similarly, speaks volumes on you delusion. It’s comforting knowing that you are wiling to save me from my own folly and opinions.

Yours is such a lovely name Freeborn, but take heed, not all are Freeborn; some of us have to fight daily after we are born to be free. Sometimes this includes well-meaning interlopers!

When you see fit to tell minorities that any small insignificance is racist,
When by your tone you tell minorities what is best for them,
And you say in-fact that I don’t understand racism,
Is more a statement of your own insensitivity. Seems you are overcompensating,
For what?.....­..........­...perhaps racism.

[gaiuscaprica]

Up-date since I made the comment If we continue with this logic, pretty soon he will become "pope like"
found above. President Obama has been Honored with the prestigious Nobel Prize; Popehood is just a heartbeat away!

[mratcheson]

A sound marketing decision.