
The Barack Obama Chia Pet
So there's been a lot of products made to try and cash in on the fame and let's be honest, the marketability of Barack Obama.
He's not just a politician, he's a celebrity. Barack Obama has become a symbol, which means he carries a "symbolic meaning" to people completely separate from and beyond whatever he IS in "Reality".
Because of his celebrity, people are ready to make money by slapping his image on anything they can; the same way they would for Paris Hilton or Hannah Montana. That means posters, lunchboxes, t-shirts, baseball hats, trading cards, watches, anything you can think of and anything that someone might buy.
And that includes a rare honor: The Barack Obama Chia Pet.

As soon as I saw the Obama Chia Pet head, I knew that it was special. I've seen Obama's image slapped on a LOT of products, hundreds of products but you could just tell that the Obama Chia Head was something different. Even with all the Obama collectables out there, this was still unexpected. This makes you go WOW.
So what has the reaction to the Obama Chia Pet been? Apparently either you love it and you want to buy the Obama Chia Head, or you hate it and want it removed from store shelves.
The Obama Chia Head is a huge seller. I heard the owner of the company that makes them on WGN radio this morning and he says it's been a huge hit. He says it was created to honor the president and that the reaction to the Obama Chia head has been hugely positive.
But not all is well in the Chia World.....
The Obama Chia Controversy
The Walgreen's drug store chain, which was the exclusive retailer of the Obama Chia Head, has chosen to remove the Obama Chia from it's stores.
Typically Walgreen store managers are allowed to choose products they want to sell and market in their individual stores, and many Walgreens stores in Chicagoland were selling the Obama Chia Pet.
But when Walgreens corporate management began receiving complaints that the Obama Chia Pet was racist, they immediately ordered the Obama Chia removed from all stores.
This has decreased the number of Obama Chias out there but the publicity has predictably increased the demand. They're selling out anywhere you can actually still find them.
Me, I just think the whole thing is funny and a little bit stupid. That's my typical reaction to most things though.
Is this a scandal you can believe in?
Do you believe the Obama Chia Pet head racist? Can something be racial without being racist?
Are you bothered by the commercialization of Obama?
Or do you think the Obama Chia Pet ROCKS and you have to own it?
All of the above and none of the above are also acceptable answers, please explain.
Hail to the CH- CH- CH- CHIEF
DUH
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(UPDATE - The Obama Chia Pet has SOLD OUT on Amazon.com!!!)
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The Obama Chia is available in "Happy' or "Determined" poses.
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Sources:
Obama Chia Pet Pulled From Stores - The Huffington Post
Citing Racism, Walgreens Pulls Chia Obama - Wired
Stop Making Money Off My Vote Already - PYLB













