"Obama Waffle" Controversy
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Updated: 6:31 PM Sep 13, 2008
"Obama Waffle" Controversy
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 image of the classic pancake-mix icon Aunt Jemima, which has been widely criticized as a demeaning stereotype.
Posted: 2:42 PM Sep 13, 2008
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- A conservative political forum on Saturday sold 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.

The product, Obama Waffles, was meant as political satire, said Mark Whitlock and Bob DeMoss, two writers from Franklin, Tenn., who created the mix and sold it for $10 a box from a booth at the Values Voter Summit sponsored by the lobbying arm of the Family Research Council.

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 image of the classic 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.

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

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.

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."

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

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Obama Snake Oil Co Location: Washington on Sep 19, 2008 at 04:03 PM

Yea VBush, a very important election and the liberals come out to play. They blame Bush who actually has been a very good and brave president. When he lost both houses to the democrats, is when we had problems with government. Most of these bloggers don't know that Bush isn't king of USA, just a policy pusher that doesn't always get his way. Yea, in the 4th, 5 mins to play and the democrats dropped the ball when they let Hillary go. Then McCain goes back for a pass, wide open in center field, Sarah Iguana is clear, the ball is thrown. Sarah catches it, runs right down the middle, jumps over Pelosi, darts around Reid and goes into the end zone. Republics win. The demies argued off the field. Said Sarah couldn't play because she wasn't eligiable and McCain was too old for football.
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Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Sep 19, 2008 at 02:37 PM

Snake Oil; It is amazing to me that the general public is drinking this 'kool-aide'. It is evidenced by the current polling data. McCain is losing his lead and they are pulling even again. The general population has no idea how government works, they just sit back and wait for sound bites. Anyone that thinks this is Bush's fault and somehow McCain is culpable is completely devoid of any intelligence. We are in the 4th quarter with about 5 minutes left to play. I surely hope this doesn't go into over time like in 2000 and 2004. The current controversy looks like no one knows what is going on up there. I really don't care about waffles, we have bigger fish to fry. All this yap about race, waffles, pigs and lipstick, and what ever other drivel they can produce is all irrelevant. Now we have a real issue on the plate and no one can do anything except point fingers, avoid the real problem and dump it on the taxpayer's backs. It doesn't look good.
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Posted by: Obama Snake Oil Co Location: Washington on Sep 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM

Again, I will clarify the facts since some of you liberals have forgotten how gov works. Both houses are controlled by democrats. Check on it, you find it to be a fact. Secondly, they have the worst approval record in history. Third, they bailed the banks out, not Bush. The ABCs were brought to you by McCain-Palin for president...
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