September 13, 2008

The Obama Waffles AKA And you wonder why I'm moving

I grow weary of my state, believe me.

By now you might have heard of this story about Obama on a waffles box. I was going to let this story go. Really, racial attacks on Obama aren't anything new right now.

Until I learned that somehow Franklin, TN is involved with this mess somehow, and y'all know I loves my state. And frankly, I really don't get this...how it's funny, how it's satirical, how it's...even relevant. I mean, waffles? Really. Really?

I posted this on my Livejournal but honestly I'm not up for debate over there these days...or ever again methinks. So, let's you and I take potshots at it together instead, then I'm gonna get a map and figure out what cave in New Mexico is more appealing.

Forum sells 'Obama Waffles' with racial stereotype

WASHINGTON — Activists at a conservative political forum snapped up boxes of waffle mix depicting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as a racial stereotype on its front and wearing Arab-like headdress on its top flap.

Values Voter Summit organizers cut off sales of Obama Waffles boxes on Saturday, saying they had not realized the boxes displayed "offensive material." The summit and the exhibit hall where the boxes were sold had been open since Thursday afternoon.

And, kinda like the New Yorker cover, the box was meant to be "satirical".


The box was meant as political satire,

See? Even though...uh, it's hardly political.

said Mark Whitlock and Bob DeMoss, two writers from Franklin, Tenn., who created the mix. They sold it for $10 a box from a rented booth at the summit sponsored by the lobbying arm of the Family Research Council.

Franklin ain't shit, by the way. There's a girl down the hall from me from that region, I had to explain to her what a "minstrel show" was.

And if you ask me what it is so help me god. Y'all gon make me cry.


David Nammo, executive director of the lobbying group FRC Action, said summit organizers were told the boxes were a parody of Obama's policy positions but had not examined them closely.

Of course they didn't. Why should they? I'm sure even they weren't expecting...waffles.

Republican Party stalwarts Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney were among speakers at the forum, which officials said drew 2,100 activists from 44 states.

While Obama Waffles takes aim at Obama's politics by poking fun at his public remarks and positions on issues, it also plays off the old image of the pancake-mix icon Aunt Jemima, which has been widely criticized as a demeaning stereotype. Obama is portrayed with popping eyes and big, thick lips as he stares at a plate of waffles and smiles broadly.

Placing Obama in Arab-like headdress recalls the false rumor that he is a follower of Islam, though he is actually a Christian.

They are going to drive that into the ground aren't they?

On the back of the box, Obama is depicted in stereotypical Mexican dress, including a sombrero, above a recipe for "Open Border Fiesta Waffles" that says it can serve "4 or more illegal aliens."

.....now that just doesn't even make sense. Republicans need to go watch some Comedy Central.

The recipe includes a tip: "While waiting for these zesty treats to invade your home, why not learn a foreign language?"

Lawl.

The novelty item also takes shots at 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, Obama's wife, Michelle, and Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The Obama campaign declined to comment.

There's really nothing to say :/

Wearing white chef's aprons, Whitlock and DeMoss were doing a brisk business at noon Saturday selling the waffle mix to people crowded around their booth. Two pyramids of waffle mix boxes stood several feet high on the booth's table.

"It's the ultimate political souvenir," DeMoss told a customer.

Asked if he considered the pictures of Obama on the box to be racial stereotypes, Whitlock said: "We had some people mention that to us, but you think of Newman's Own or Emeril's — there are tons and tons of personality-branded food products on the market. So we've taken that model and, using political satire, have highlighted his policies, his position changes."

Read that paragraph again.

I love how he totally failed to answer the question!

He said, honky, DO YOU FIND THE IMAGE TO BE A RACIAL STEREOTYPE?

not

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IMAGES IN MARKETING?


The socially conservative public policy groups American Values and Focus on the Family Action co-sponsored the summit.

The sorta-implied irony!

Man, this Obama-campaign? Has just brought out all kinds of bizarre forms of racism. And just all kinds of bizarreness. Where were these creative people 4 years ago? 8 years ago? 10 years ago?

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