Monkey doll named for Obama called racist

[Jack Daniels]

The Associated Press




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."

http://www.bnd.com/430/story/370164.html

Gimme a fuckin' break, it's Lilly white Salt Lake City....

What is the real African American population when the NBA is in the offseason?

[Moon Man]

Well, there is something of a resemblance.

Moon

[Sheriff Blaylock]

While the doll is a bad idea not sure if it earns a pure racism to the extreme.

Companies should hire me as a common sense consultant because there is an obvious need. You would think someone in the company would have seen the potential problem with this doll.

[kjoe]

The Obama rapid response team counters:

The Obama monkey is not really that offensive to us. He is way cooler than Phineas T. Bluster and his cmpaign manager flub a dub.

[RedBirdBrain]

Are you sure it's not just a response to the McCain doll?



-RBB

[ort]

http://www.bushorchimp.com/

[kjoe]

The nfl must be in charge of everything.

A Statement, An Update, An Apology
And A THANK YOU!

A Statement
My name is Rob Bishop, I am the owner of Binkley Toys Inc. and this is my website.
My company, Binkley Toys Inc. has not manufactured the SockObama in production. (more then one toy)
My company was involved in prototyping the SockObama doll as a "work for hire" manufacturer.
Before the publics reaction to The SockObama doll myself and my staff did not make the racist connection that has been made. Our job day in and day out is to make safe, high quality and fun toys. The idea of making a nostalgic sock monkey brought back fond memories of toys from the past.
After the publics reaction I personally was very surprised at that connection (yes, you can accuse me of being naive) but when viewing the toy again, I could see how people could make that connection. That is sad really but that is the way the world works.
An Update
The update is, that myself and Binkley Toys Inc. will not be proceeding with manufacturing the SockObama toy. As I wrote to several people over email, my company is not just about 'dollars' and Binkley Toys Inc. prides itself on it's social responsibility. Again, we have not manufactured any quantity in production of this toy idea.
An Apology
Through the past couple of days I was hoping to find the 'mistake' my company made and I believe the only mistake would have been to keep going. There was no ill will, or negative intent in helping to design this toy. To proceed in to manufacturing this toy and to cause harm would have been the error. I personally apologize to anyone who found this toy idea offensive and I am sorry I did not make the negative connection myself.
A THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who emailed well thought out messages stating in a logical manner your displeasure with this toy. I tried to respond to each and everyone of you personally. Thank you for not sending vulgar messages on a first attempt to contact me. To those who decided that my company was guilty before your inquiry, well I wish you strength in your life.
Thanks.
Rob Bishop
Binkley Toys Inc.

[ksbluesfan]

Did you read that, Wang? There's an opening in the toy market! Hurry before somebody else capitalizes on the opportunity!

[sketch]

Evidently someone at the Texas Rep party convention is bringing it strong...

It seems not everyone in the Republican Party is sticking to the message and helping to portray the party as modern and, well, not racist.
At the Texas Republican Convention this past weekend, the Dallas Morning News' Trail Blazers blog reports, one vendor was selling the pin that appears with this post.

[Bleacher Creature]

Evidently someone at the Texas Rep party convention is bringing it strong...

This is very mild in comparison to what's coming. This campaign is going to get over-the-top ugly.

[Moon Man]

Evidently someone at the Texas Rep party convention is bringing it strong...

I like this one better.

Moon

[Moon Man]

Good sign.

Take a look at their site. Most of the buttons are simply anti-Hillary. Not a good sign when you're banking solely on negatives - especially those of a candidate who you hoped would win, but didn't.

Moon

[ort]

Evidently someone at the Texas Rep party convention is bringing it strong...

What's funny about this pin is that if it was at a Democratic convention it would be considered clever.

[kjoe]

Evidently someone at the Texas Rep party convention is bringing it strong...

those white rabbit republicans are tricky folks.


Brer Rabbit meets a Tar Baby
retold by
S. E. Schlosser

Well now, that rascal Brer Fox hated Brer Rabbit on account of he was always cutting capers and bossing everyone around. So Brer Fox decided to capture and kill Brer Rabbit if it was the last thing he ever did! He thought and he thought until he came up with a plan. He would make a tar baby! Brer Fox went and got some tar and he mixed it with some turpentine and he sculpted it into the figure of a cute little baby. Then he stuck a hat on the Tar Baby and sat her in the middle of the road.
Brer Fox hid himself in the bushes near the road and he waited and waited for Brer Rabbit to come along. At long last, he heard someone whistling and chuckling to himself, and he knew that Brer Rabbit was coming up over the hill. As he reached the top, Brer Rabbit spotted the cute little Tar Baby. Brer Rabbit was surprised. He stopped and stared at this strange creature. He had never seen anything like it before!

"Good Morning," said Brer Rabbit, doffing his hat. "Nice weather we're having."

The Tar Baby said nothing. Brer Fox laid low and grinned an evil grin.

Brer Rabbit tried again. "And how are you feeling this fine day?"

The Tar Baby, she said nothing. Brer Fox grinned an evil grin and lay low in the bushes.

Brer Rabbit frowned. This strange creature was not very polite. It was beginning to make him mad.

"Ahem!" said Brer Rabbit loudly, wondering if the Tar Baby were deaf. "I said 'HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?"

The Tar Baby said nothing. Brer Fox curled up into a ball to hide his laugher. His plan was working perfectly!

"Are you deaf or just rude?" demanded Brer Rabbit, losing his temper. "I can't stand folks that are stuck up! You take off that hat and say 'Howdy-do' or I'm going to give you such a lickin'!"

The Tar Baby just sat in the middle of the road looking as cute as a button and saying nothing at all. Brer Fox rolled over and over under the bushes, fit to bust because he didn't dare laugh out loud.

"I'll learn ya!" Brer Rabbit yelled. He took a swing at the cute little Tar Baby and his paw got stuck in the tar.

"Lemme go or I'll hit you again," shouted Brer Rabbit. The Tar Baby, she said nothing.

"Fine! Be that way," said Brer Rabbit, swinging at the Tar Baby with his free paw. Now both his paws were stuck in the tar, and Brer Fox danced with glee behind the bushes.

"I'm gonna kick the stuffin' out of you," Brer Rabbit said and pounced on the Tar Baby with both feet. They sank deep into the Tar Baby. Brer Rabbit was so furious he head-butted the cute little creature until he was completely covered with tar and unable to move.

Brer Fox leapt out of the bushes and strolled over to Brer Rabbit. "Well, well, what have we here?" he asked, grinning an evil grin.

Brer Rabbit gulped. He was stuck fast. He did some fast thinking while Brer Fox rolled about on the road, laughing himself sick over Brer Rabbit's dilemma.

"I've got you this time, Brer Rabbit," said Brer Fox, jumping up and shaking off the dust. "You've sassed me for the very last time. Now I wonder what I should do with you?"

Brer Rabbit's eyes got very large. "Oh please Brer Fox, whatever you do, please don't throw me into the briar patch."

"Maybe I should roast you over a fire and eat you," mused Brer Fox. "No, that's too much trouble. Maybe I'll hang you instead."

"Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please," said Brer Rabbit. "Only please, Brer Fox, please don't throw me into the briar patch."

"If I'm going to hang you, I'll need some string," said Brer Fox. "And I don't have any string handy. But the stream's not far away, so maybe I'll drown you instead."

"Drown me! Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please," said Brer Rabbit. "Only please, Brer Fox, please don't throw me into the briar patch."

"The briar patch, eh?" said Brer Fox. "What a wonderful idea! You'll be torn into little pieces!"

Grabbing up the tar-covered rabbit, Brer Fox swung him around and around and then flung him head over heels into the briar patch. Brer Rabbit let out such a scream as he fell that all of Brer Fox's fur stood straight up. Brer Rabbit fell into the briar bushes with a crash and a mighty thump. Then there was silence.

Brer Fox cocked one ear toward the briar patch, listening for whimpers of pain. But he heard nothing. Brer Fox cocked the other ear toward the briar patch, listening for Brer Rabbit's death rattle. He heard nothing.

Then Brer Fox heard someone calling his name. He turned around and looked up the hill. Brer Rabbit was sitting on a log combing the tar out of his fur with a wood chip and looking smug.

"I was bred and born in the briar patch, Brer Fox," he called. "Born and bred in the briar patch."

And Brer Rabbit skipped away as merry as a cricket while Brer Fox ground his teeth in rage and went home.

[Moon Man]

Bet they can't stamp these out fast enough.

Moon