Reader comments
Creators of Obama monkey shift gears

This is so disgusting! I'm embarrassed that someone in our fine state would create such an item. I know most people find this to be a tasteless and hateful product, one that brings back memories to many of a time when African-Americans were poorly portrayed by many Caucasians in our nation, but I hope that those that defend this product and think about purchasing something like this will take a moment and wonder how it would feel if the shoe was on the other foot, if you were African-American and found this offensive. For that sole reason, just don't buy it. Lets stop finding ways to portray those of different races in a negative light, regardless of the color, Black, White, Brown, etc. Feel free to criticize Mr. Obama all you want for his policies or character, but I hope that us Utahns can stop portraying other races in a negative light, whether it be through common stereotypes, or through a stupid sock puppet.

I'm happy to hear that they are shelving this horrible, horrible idea. It was ill-conceived in the first place. Leave it to backwards Utahns to be so naive as to not understand our history with slaves and the Jim Crow era. Get out of your bubble, Utahns. Learn about the grim realities of this country's racist past. Learn about how that is still perpetrated today. Learn about something more than lime jello, scrapbooking, and being the next American Idol.

If these people were going to vote obama08, I'm wondering if they're still thinking along those party lines.
These people didn't seem to mean anything bad in their intentions. Since they have received threats of all kinds, it's probably wise to shelve the product.
nobama '08

Please don't assume that all Utahns, or even many Utahns, are racist or oblivious. You will find people like this anywhere.

Also, why make fun of the things that Utahns choose to do instead of going out and getting drunk? No one criticizes your hobbies, so don't criticize theirs.

I'm happy its gone also Alex. A characterised doll of the Senator is one thing, but a monkey is another. I hope the world won't see Utahns as backward. We don't need any more bad publicity.

Relax. How embarrassed are you when they depict George Bush...our President as a monkey? As a New Yorker with Utah ties, Utah as a whole isn't backwards, just some you that write in to the D-News.
Chill out. There is a whole lot more of that kind of humor going around back here.

Dear Lawsons: the problem is that your toy does NOT look like Obama!

So after all this time, you have not LOOKED at Obama and noticed he does not have the big red lips your toy does? He's not the piccaninny caricature you see when you see ALL blacks? OK, we got it now.

So now, you have a "new opportunity"? Let's see - same toy, but teamed up with some right-wing news site?

--
Laytonian
(thinking so far, no one's fully read the article)

saying that this toy was not meant to offend is either
disingenuous or the height of inconsiderate insensitivity reflective of the lack of awareness of anything outside of the limited social network many from utah have. we have people complaining about international studies in our high schools, so that our youth can learn that although we in america have one of the greatest societies in the world, we are a minority whose world view is not the only one, and then they wonder why utah is seen as america's northern ozarks when this kind of thing is considered "a temptest in a tea pot" by so many.

A monkey can represent multiple things. Historically, people have used monkeys to represent African Americans; bigots want people to see African Americans as a lower race. It's racism, pure and simple.
A monkey can also represent stupidity (hence its use for depicting George W. Bush or local Utah politicians).

Why is it O.K. to make a monkey caricature of George Walker Bush, but not Barack Hussein Obama?

You know what? If you don't vote for Obama, then you are racist. Right?

O boy, anything anybody says or does makes them a racist.

Racism in Utah?
Nawwwww!

Here's a great idea for Dave and Liz: Create a McCain monkey and market it alongside the Omama monkey. Equal opportunity (or equal offense) toward all!

Never to be deterred in their quest to become the most ridiculed and ridiculous people in America, even now the Lawsons are determined to convert their hare-brained racist idea to treasure . . .

Wake up, Lawsons! You are an embarrassment to Utah and (most) Utahns!

It would probably be pointless to tell you to quit while you are ahead, since you are so far behind (the times, the 8-ball, etc.)

The toy was NOT and more hateful than toys, bumper stickers, and jokes describing President Bush. But he's white, so, of course, none of the this is concidered racist. But wait, isn't this a double standard. Face it! The puppet may be of poor taste but it was not racist. COMMON SENSE!

I am shocked that there is some much sensitivity about this issue. The monkey also has sexual connotations however no one is talking about that issue. Grow up. It is so easy to take offense when no offense is intended. Calling Utahan�s backwards is projection. You are the ones that need an education. I suppose that if Obama becomes president the late night talk show monologs won't be able to poke fun at him as they have with the Clinton's and Bush's because he's black. Please. BTW I am not a European American I am an American. So is everyone else who is a citizen of this country regardless of race or ethnicity. No hyphens please. Let�s form a �more perfect union.�

The lack of common decency and judgement in this country is astounding.

Only a bigot would think that all or even most Utahns are racists.

The same kind of toy has certainly been made of Bush, but my race is not offended. A caricature of a white person--no matter how generalized--is funny. Hilarious even. A caricature of a black person is always racist. Not to say there aren't some racist stinkers in Utah, but this is ridiculous. Oversensitivity just further drives racism. We need to get over it.

Just more of what we have to look forward to--don't criticize President Obama, that is racist, just like its unamerican to criticize the Bush administration.