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June 18, 2008
"Affectionate" Racist Toy from Utah Couple No Longer Available, But Maybe You Can Still Buy a Racist Button in Texas
Uh....
Well....
Turns out a couple in Utah created an Obama sock monkey doll, but these Utahns claim the doll isn't racist. No! Aimed at Obama supporters, it's "a charming association between a candidate and a toy we had when we were little," and something that helps us "really try and transcend still existing racial biases." They're shocked and hurt that so many people are REALLY offended by this horrifically offensive doll, and have concluded sadly that "there is an element of naviete [sic] on our part, in that we don't think in terms of myths, fables, fairy tales and folklore."
The one bit of good news in this particular story is that according to the company's website, they will not proceed with the manufacture of this toy.
I don't want to ignore the fact that this toy is REALLY gross. But I do want to point out that the reaction to the toy supports Katie Couric's contention that truly egregious racism against Obama isn't tolerated by the mainstream, while truly egregious sexism against Hillary is shrugged off as no big deal. (You paying attention, Mr. Nighttime?) As she says, if Obama regularly confronted attacks equivalent to those Hillary endured, "the outrage wouldn't be a footnote; it would be front-page news." Indeed the sock monkey story was the lead story for the ABC news station I link to, and at the time I'm writing, the video of the news clip is the website's most popular clip.
There is one, uh, mainstream-ish venue, however, where racism is tolerated: the Texas Republican party. At the state convention, you could buy a button reading, "If Obama is President... will we still call it the White House?"
The answer to the question, is, of course, obviously YES. I mean, despite all the blockheads who've worked in the Pentagon, it's still referred to by a name denoting its five sides.
Posted by holly at June 18, 2008 8:11 AM
I'm late reading everything. Something about having a job now really cramps my upkeep on the feeds ...
Yeah, this toy makes me really proud to be from Utah. But I'd be more ashamed to be from Texas. I saw the story on that button, and it's ridiculous. Of course if Hill won the campaign, I'm sure the button would say something about belonging in the kitchen in the White House. Asshats.