Why wasn't that statement posted *immediately* after the backlash began?

I hope this has educated the Lawsons, and their hearts will soften to people of ALL races.

Good. I'm willing to grant that the manufacturer had no hateful intent. But it's best to withdraw the product.

I'm a Scotsman & I'm offended by the Scotsman on the Simpsons. We are not all drunk, kilt wearing, grumpy, gardners, (at least not in that order).
I want an appology too!

Hearts were softened, brains were grown, and socks were not touched.

i think black people need to get over it
i am an american citizen born in mexico proud of where i come from but more proud of being part of the greatest country in the world the usa

So what if something is racist? Aren't people allowed to have the right to think, feel, and act the way they want anymore, as long as they don't break any laws? I don't understand the views of most people I meet, but I still recognize their right to have and express those views. Something is racist. So? I just don't see the problem with that.

I would've bought one...

The Lawsons should be very happy.

They floated a balloon for a product, and the free market shot down their balloon. Huzzah for capitalism!

They should be very glad they don't have 60000 unsaleable monkeys in their garage. The Lawson's egos may be bruised, but their wallets escaped mostly unharmed.

Re: Defender | 9:59 a.m. June 16, 2008

Well said.

All they had to do is make a McCain monkey, and they'd no longer be racist.

Well, duh. McCain might be a jerk but he doesn't come from a background that has insulted him by calling him monkey boy or other epithets designed to degrade him.

Does this really need to be explained in here??

To Humberto: I bet you would be offended if this company had made a doll of Bill Richardson as a taco. And if you wouldn't be offended you should be.

To Scotsman: Yes, not all Scotsman are drunks. Yes, all drunks are not Scottish. But no blacks are monkeys (or socks). That's the difference.

To Defender: Granted racism is not breaking any "law" but it is the basis of many hate crimes which are against the law. Although in this cirucumstance no law was broken can you at least allow that good judgement should play into our actions? If not, then we will fail, always.

Johnny Utah #9:

A McCain MUMMY, or better yet, a McCain ZOMBIE

I'm voting for Obama, and I would've liked one.

Ah Gee Wiz. Why can't we have a Monkey Doll looking like Obama. It so fits!!! I think I'll look up sock doll making on the Internet and see what I can come up with. You can not be offended unless you want to be offended, and if you want to be offended, almost anything will offend you. I don't think so much that he is offended, its the people that support him that are offended. Whites telling people how they should feel towards People of Color and a few people of Color. Most of us just kick back and enjoy the joke. I always have, had I not life would have been very short and unhappy. The Sun came up today, and I had a Pulse, everything else will take care of its self.

I'm glad they've decided to stop making the dolls. I believe they sold out of the first run, and hadn't made any more yet...so this shouldn't affect their wallets too badly.

There are plenty of candidate-related items they could make. Little teddy bears with t-shirts and signs for McCain and Obama (and, if they really want to branch out, McKinney and Barr!) would be very cute.

Obama is just as white as he is black, there should be no issue with a sock puppet.

What about the Larry Craig bobble head (look it up on google) kind of offensive... at least to Larry Craig I would think.

"Obama is just as white as he is black, there should be no issue with a sock puppet."

Our social perceptions of race don't always match up with biology. Also, this does not just affect Senator Obama.

"What about the Larry Craig bobble head (look it up on google) kind of offensive... at least to Larry Craig I would think."

It's crude, certainly, but since it's actually based on something he DID and was arrested for, and not his race, it's not quite the same thing.

Is this what you meant by your paper going "more" Mormon? Where's your hood?

...is a wonderful thing. It allows people to say and do the most horrific things (like the piccaninny portrayal of Obama by the Lawsons) AND it allows US to show them down and embarrass them.

Long live MY freedom of speech!

--
Laytonian

What's so wrong about the Obama monkey doll?
Only in racist Utah would a question like that be taken seriously.
Well, maybe in Mississippi it would be popular also.

he is over the past and we need to put all this racism behind us...yeah right...you can see it everywhere...the race card will be played forever...

Things happen to all ethnicities...and why is it that the only people who continue to cry foul are th African Americans? Many do not, but the majority do...

This is ridiculous...many have suffered more than they and they continue to whine and cry...i think it is a shame.

People are people and we should care for one and all the same...

People need to quit making issues with things...choose to be offended or not...but get on with life and get over it...

I'm voting for Obama, for sure.
That having been said, I don't think this was a racist thing. Poor taste maybe, but there's a lot of that to go around. I think we'll get past this.

Glad to see that Utah is still battling the southern states for the lead when it comes to racism. It makes all of us so proud and shines such a positive light on the state. I'm sure that it does wonders for the dominant church in the state when it comes to conversion as well. Yeah, Utah, a real positive leader.

Sorry Utahns.
You will NEVER put racism in the past.
Even, as token gesture, the Utah Legislative observes Martin Luther King Day (like the rest of America) Utah will STILL be viewed as a red-necked, backwoods and backwards state.

I guess maybe I shouldn't market my McCain puppet made from saltines. Don't want to offend any crackers.

This was a stupid, racist idea from the beginning and the public outcry killed the sock monkey project.

To: Anonymous: "Only in racist Utah would a question like that be taken seriously."

There's very little difference between a bigot and a racist. Both hate entire groups of people.

I've read all of your comments on the story your tip to the media began. I think it is disingenuous of you to suggest the Lawsons could make cute teddy bear political toys. Political satire isn't cute. Never has been. You acknowledged that when you were offended at their product and went about doing something to bring attention to it. You won. You succeeded in stifling their free speech right to make a product according to their perceptions. Way to go in protecting the rights of our citizens in bad taste or good. If you'd like to see something else out there, YOU produce it. Put your philosophy out there and see how it stands up to the whirlwind of public opinion/s.

I've lived in Maryland, California, Colorado, Washington and Utah, but only while living in Utah would the bigots out there automatically assume that I must be a racist.

Please explain why you think it's acceptable to judge some by where they live when you find it unacceptable to judge someone by the color of their skin.

It`s something when people are bigots and are`nt even smart enough to know it. These people should be sued for slander. What some idiots.

you haven't lived in Utah very long, have you?

You're a Lawson, aren't you?

The First Amendment gives you the right to produce a racist toy, and it also gives US the right to protest your actions.

Sorry, but the consumer WON in this case. If your product had been really wanted, there would be no outcry.

But your comments, above, show that you really DID intend to be offensive.

Now...if you are NOT a Lawson - I apologize for the misperception and low blow.

Maybe you should look inside your own heart, and also learn that WE also have First Amendment rights!
Interesting that when you claim that we stifled the Lawsons, you wanted to stifle US for speaking out.

Did I say don't speak out? No.

I wrote to Amy to point out that starting a tempest then trying to make cute is disingenuous.

Let the free market speak.

I find it interesting that you are willing to make a "low blow" in the first place. Nice.

This is a stark reminder that it wasn't that long ago that the lynching of black men was made illegal.
Whenever I read comments like Dear "to Amy" claiming first amendment rights to insult an entire race of people - I think of a nasty time not that long ago and see that in some minds and hearts some things remain unchanged.

"you haven't lived in Utah very long, have you?"

I'll be happy to tell you how long I've lived in and outside of Utah after you've explained why bigotry is more acceptable than racism.

....such whiney babies. Cry and whine and whine and cry about the smallest issues. Anything could be termed as racist in the worlds eyes.

"What about the Larry Craig bobble head (look it up on google) kind of offensive... at least to Larry Craig I would think."

There's a big difference in a US Senator being held to account for his homosexual activity in public spaces and another being ridiculed for the way he was born.

No one would need to point that out to someone who didn't *want* to excuse racist behavior.

Are you freakin' kidding me!!

You backwards sheltered children of the corn!

If you don't understand why it's racist then you should not have your temple recommend.
Further, being conservatives we should be proud that the free-market has done the right thing when so many in Utah are too ignorant to know what that may be.

Clap Clap Clap

Way to make your religion/state look better on the national stage.

"Things happen to all ethnicities...and why is it that the only people who continue to cry foul are th African Americans? Many do not, but the majority do..."

Do you assume that the only people who are offended are Black? I'm white - have been white all of my 67 years and I'm deeply offended at making fun of someone for a characteristic that they have NO responsibility for or control over. Add in 200 years of abuse and limited opportunity that's being ramped up and it's even more offensive.

DMN. It looks like you censored my comments on this issue. Oh well, I am sure that what I said would be offensive to many. But I was being objective. The facts are the facts. Around the country Utah is viewed as one of the most racist "red" states outside of the South. I know, I have lived in many of them. Intended or not, this incident will be laid at the feet of all of the citizens of Utah and especially those who are Mormon.

You have no idea what is in my heart and mind. I am concerned about everyone in this nation and the current seeming widespread delusion that we can infringe on the rights of others without infringing ultimately on our own. Is it despicable to mock others for race, gender, ability, and other characteristics of birth or circumstance? Yes. However, we are all in danger when it becomes "wrong" to have a different opinion about positions of choice.

Let the market rule on the worthiness of a product.

In my humble opinion, what most of those concerned about this product are really afraid of is that it could possibly have become a popular item and what that would say about us. It didn't. So, again imho, that says something good about us. However, that doesn't mean we take away the right of someone to try and market things offensive to us. Vote with your dollars.

If we don't protect the right of someone to insult us, we give away our right to say whatever we might say.

The Lawsons claimed that their ONLY intention was to make a cute, cuddly toy. If we take them at face value, there are lots of other cute toys they can make that do not have any racist history.

How on earth have I "stifled" their free speech? No one has unbridled freedom to have their business exempt from public attention. Did I try to get the government to stop them? No. Did I threaten them to get them to stop? No. If you want to enter the public square by starting your own business, then you need to be prepared to accept criticism.

People like you never seem to object when conservative groups protest things they find immoral.

Who is Jim Crow? I am a middle aged woman and I d0 not have any idea who Jim Crow is, so isn't it possible that this company did know ethier.

Quit looking for excuses to cry racisium...

These comments are painful to read. It frightens me that I may be surrounded at any time in this state by ignorant people who think it is acceptable to portray a black person as an effigy of a monkey.

Ok, so a mistake was made. Should the offending party be sent to a re-education camp?

As to Mr. Obama's race. He is just as much Caucasian
as African.

There are truly far more important issues, to be addressed. Let's not keep beating each other up, all
the time. :-)

"What's so wrong about the Obama monkey doll?
Only in racist Utah would a question like that be taken seriously.
Well, maybe in Mississippi it would be popular also."

I'm from Mississippi, and I obviously don't like it. And I don't think everyone from Utah is some extreme racist. States have stereotypes about them, too.

I don't even know if the Lawsons are racists; they may be just be ignorant. Utah has a 1% black population; it's not something they deal with every day.

Are they available on ebay yet?.It will be a big collectors item now. Or are they still available from the company??

"Who is Jim Crow?"

Jim Crow laws were laws about segregation, and laws that limited the civil rights of non-whites.

"Quit looking for excuses to cry racisium [sic]..."

Perhaps you should stop looking for excuses to minimize it.

I think it is PC to be against the Obama Doll. I wonder if you will be considered a Raceist if you do Not Vote for him. I so that would make part Black Self, both Not PC and a Raceist. However how would that Not make one part Black person a Raceist for Not Voting for another Part Black Person. Could it be that it is Not Race based but issue based and whar ever % we can be apart we are apart. War, Peace, Faith, Right To Life, Being Mean and angry and clinging to my narrow minded values and my Religion. The 1st, 2nd,14, and 16th amendment,Roe v Wade etc.

Okay, everybody!
On the count of three.
one, two, three ...

WHITE AND DELIGHTSOME!

You are an uneducated "middle aged woman". If you don't even know about Jim Crow then you have no room to talk.

Why do you think that this is an excuse to "cry racisium"? Do you have any black friends? By friends I mean people that you hang out with on a regular basis, outside of work or school. Do they talk to you about having been called names growing up? Or beaten by older people in Utah?

Just keep going to your homogeneous groups in your homogeneous neighborhoods. When something is out of your realm of comprehension then maybe you shouldn't put your two (misguided) cents in.

I'm not saying your racist. Just ignorant!