Reader comments
TheSockObama Co. writes about the closing of its business
37 comments | Read story
Mark B | 6:59 p.m. June 16, 2008
Freedom of speech and commerce extend to include things which many might
consider vulgar or otherwise offensive. Accordingly, no government thugs have
acted to close this enterprise. It was the marketplace, which no one regulates,
that was the undoing of this little business. Someone made a decision, a bad
one, to make little toys in the first place. But no one was attacked, assaulted
or bloodied, other than perhaps financially. Better luck next time.
Charles | 6:59 p.m. June 16, 2008
I say take it to another distributor and see if they will make it. Go for it!
Don't let the clowns on the left shout you down! Go make your money any way you wish.
If you quit, then the liberals have won. Don't let them have the satisfaction.
I surely hope you find another outlet and make your monkeys....
Don't let the clowns on the left shout you down! Go make your money any way you wish.
If you quit, then the liberals have won. Don't let them have the satisfaction.
I surely hope you find another outlet and make your monkeys....
Comments continue below
oh timj | 7:02 p.m. June 16, 2008
quit whining...you don't like it, don't buy it. Your self-induced thin
skin mantra is boring. People will find offense in anything. You seem to be one
of those.....
Only people who are looking to be offended can actually be offended.
I hope they make a sock of you and your many wives. I know that is a winner for you....
Only people who are looking to be offended can actually be offended.
I hope they make a sock of you and your many wives. I know that is a winner for you....
Naive | 7:04 p.m. June 16, 2008
I really don't believe that you are this naive, which only punctuates your
racism. Good luck.
Stupid Statement! | 7:03 p.m. June 16, 2008
This company is/was trying to make money off of something most people do believe
is offensive. And their statement did more to continue bad feeling than it did
to correct it; such as "(u)nfortunately this is America." No, it is
fortunate that this is America, where we pay attention! There is a bitter
history of racial divisiveness that included comparing people who are black to
monkeys. I for one am glad that company got such a backlash.
uritaata | 7:04 p.m. June 16, 2008
I noticed no apologies in this letter but a lot of blame on others. Seems they
have not understood and probably never will. At last, they stopped....
Ken Goddard | 7:05 p.m. June 16, 2008
Get a hold of me. I'll take over since it is great idea. How much do I
have to pay for full rights.
Look Mom- a Monkey! | 7:31 p.m. June 16, 2008
A friend told me how she was walking through the mall and her toddler saw a
black baby and a said, "look Mom, a Monkey"! Now if a small child who
has yet to be indoctrinated into a racist world can make an observation like
that, then I say there is probably some resemblance there. My kindergarten son
got in trouble for calling the "Asian" girl "the black one".
Turns out he had a hard time pronouncing her name and so he called her the
black one--- because he hair is black... duh- why else! Yah, the parents and
the teacher thought he was being racist. We just need to lighten up folks...
race is something to proud of and not to get all bent out of shape because
someone notices your visual differences. Black and monkey should not hold
negative connotations-- monkeys are actually very cute!
Amy | 7:30 p.m. June 16, 2008
I'm very sorry that the Lawsons received threats; I hope they went to the
police to determine if any of them were credible. However, this statement only
highlights the willful ignorance that was behind the doll.
SLC'er | 7:35 p.m. June 16, 2008
Wow, I really don't think these people have a clue. Here they are
criticizing America because people exercised their First Amendment right in
criticizing this disgusting product. Its' fine to produce garbage like
this. There is no law against it. But if there is a public outcry against it,
don't blame America. I feel disgusted to have these people living in the
same valley as myself. Good riddance to these bigots!!!
Anonymous | 7:39 p.m. June 16, 2008
Oh boo hoo. There's nothing wrong with the free enterprise system. They
put out an offensive product and the free enterprise system let them know that
the market was extremely negative.
Cry me a river | 7:42 p.m. June 16, 2008
Waaaah! Waaah!
Call Merriam-Webster - there's a new picture to put in the dictionary next to "Utard".
Call Merriam-Webster - there's a new picture to put in the dictionary next to "Utard".
Ignorance | 7:46 p.m. June 16, 2008
I am disappointed with the company response. Initially, I doubted that the
company intentionally meant to be derogatory. However, the response from the
company clearly indicates otherwise.
The google sites are also in the wrong. Those responding in support of the company seem to want the merits of the free enterprise system without the accountability.
I teach my children to be respectful of all people--even with those with whom they disagree. Respect is earned. It appears that the original idea was never bounced off someone with an ounce of intellect.
The google sites are also in the wrong. Those responding in support of the company seem to want the merits of the free enterprise system without the accountability.
I teach my children to be respectful of all people--even with those with whom they disagree. Respect is earned. It appears that the original idea was never bounced off someone with an ounce of intellect.
OH NO. | 7:54 p.m. June 16, 2008
re: Look Monkey@7:31
How do you live with yourself? I wish there were some way to revoke Utah Statehood. Do the majority of people in Utah think as you do? Please seal your borders and keep your vile and ignorant view of the world isolated. We do not want to be contaminated with such sickness.
How do you live with yourself? I wish there were some way to revoke Utah Statehood. Do the majority of people in Utah think as you do? Please seal your borders and keep your vile and ignorant view of the world isolated. We do not want to be contaminated with such sickness.
Unbelievable | 8:08 p.m. June 16, 2008
You sure stuck it to them, didn't you The Sock Obama Co. You pushed through
the "liberal" adversity, and through perseverance, you made something
out of...
Oh wait...
You guys closed up shop??
Sheesh.
Talk about being un-American.
Not only are you guys quitters, but you blame OTHER people for your problems. Nice.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit on, you can't possible align yourself with whining quitters.
Oh wait...
You guys closed up shop??
Sheesh.
Talk about being un-American.
Not only are you guys quitters, but you blame OTHER people for your problems. Nice.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit on, you can't possible align yourself with whining quitters.
wordsmith | 8:11 p.m. June 16, 2008
As a wordsmith, I love this letter. Read it aloud to yourself, particularly the
part just below the first ad: "An electronic battery of fiery darts flowed
swiftly but silently through the veins of technology."
Wow.
"Feverish finger frantically clicking coast to coast..." You gotta love it!
Anybody know where to send entries for that annual Worst Writing contest? This might win more cash than they'd make selling sock monkeys.
If they would have somehow worked in "It was a dark and stormy night" this'd be a shoe-in.
Thanks for publishing it verbatim, great stuff, I hope the sockmonkey folks write a followup. Almost makes me want to subscribe. Almost.
Wow.
"Feverish finger frantically clicking coast to coast..." You gotta love it!
Anybody know where to send entries for that annual Worst Writing contest? This might win more cash than they'd make selling sock monkeys.
If they would have somehow worked in "It was a dark and stormy night" this'd be a shoe-in.
Thanks for publishing it verbatim, great stuff, I hope the sockmonkey folks write a followup. Almost makes me want to subscribe. Almost.
Dixie Dan | 8:30 p.m. June 16, 2008
How can you be a racist and not even know you are one? Welcome to America! Get
a life and learn to live in the greatest country on earth without being a bigot.
We are all tards | 8:42 p.m. June 16, 2008
For those on the con side, you sure are spending a lot of time worrying about
a worthless heap of nothing. For those on the pro side, you are the worthless
heap of nothing.
One of many | 8:58 p.m. June 16, 2008
I am proud to be one of many who wrote to this company expressing my opinion of
their product. If they are going to market via email then I get to respond via
email. THAT is the American way of which they speak. THEY chose to stop
selling this product. NO ONE passed a law making them stop. I am also proud
that there are seemingly more of us who found this product to be offensive than
those who found it humerous. If this company really wants to make this a battle
of the American way vs. censorship and put themselves on some sort of moral,
political, or free speech high ground then find someone else to make the
puppet...there is no one but themselves stopping it from happening.
There are states where wearing T-shirts bearing the names of soldiers killed in action in Iraq is illegal. Now that is true censorship. Marketing, selling, making or owning one of these dolls is not illegal. If you want to make this about censorship then at least get truly censored. Not called on the carpet. Stand up for what you believe if it is truly about that.
There are states where wearing T-shirts bearing the names of soldiers killed in action in Iraq is illegal. Now that is true censorship. Marketing, selling, making or owning one of these dolls is not illegal. If you want to make this about censorship then at least get truly censored. Not called on the carpet. Stand up for what you believe if it is truly about that.
Tank | 9:35 p.m. June 16, 2008
Ken Goddard....goof.
Charles...moron.
Charles it's not that the liberals have won, its that right thinking non-bigoted people have won.
Ken...are you really this dumb? The Sockpuppet people...how can you possibly have not understood the ramifications of this?
Let me ask this simple question and it will sort it all out. If there were nothing but whites running for President (and you don't know how tickled I am to be able to say that we have a different option this time) would you have ever come up with an idea for a monkey to portray the candidates?
Mmmm didn't think so.. Nuff Said
Charles...moron.
Charles it's not that the liberals have won, its that right thinking non-bigoted people have won.
Ken...are you really this dumb? The Sockpuppet people...how can you possibly have not understood the ramifications of this?
Let me ask this simple question and it will sort it all out. If there were nothing but whites running for President (and you don't know how tickled I am to be able to say that we have a different option this time) would you have ever come up with an idea for a monkey to portray the candidates?
Mmmm didn't think so.. Nuff Said
bob tanner | 9:37 p.m. June 16, 2008
this is utter trash...such ignorance and such very little people...the same
mentality as the plural wives gang...and YES this does smack of googd ole
fashioned morman humor or should i say an attempt at humor.
the bottom line is: TRASH IS TRASH...and the deserted news should hang their mormon heads in shame for publishing this...whot on earth did they hope to gain???
the bottom line is: TRASH IS TRASH...and the deserted news should hang their mormon heads in shame for publishing this...whot on earth did they hope to gain???
censorship, NOT! | 9:40 p.m. June 16, 2008
Since my last comments here got "monitored" maybe I can be more
circumspect.
No censorship occurred here. No government entity enforced a law requiring this company be shut down. They chose to do this. These people's right to free speech was not infringed upon. Thye chose to stop speaking.
There are T-shirts out there that when worn in malls will land you in jail. You cannot stand on certain street corners with signs stating opposing views when certain government officials pass by. THAT is censorship.
What we are really talking about here is free market. And they chose to stop marketing.
It costs them nothing when I disagree with their product. They don't have to pay me anything when I am offended. When they do sell this product, they make money. Nothing was done here other than exposing this company's thin skin.
No censorship occurred here. No government entity enforced a law requiring this company be shut down. They chose to do this. These people's right to free speech was not infringed upon. Thye chose to stop speaking.
There are T-shirts out there that when worn in malls will land you in jail. You cannot stand on certain street corners with signs stating opposing views when certain government officials pass by. THAT is censorship.
What we are really talking about here is free market. And they chose to stop marketing.
It costs them nothing when I disagree with their product. They don't have to pay me anything when I am offended. When they do sell this product, they make money. Nothing was done here other than exposing this company's thin skin.
lucid green | 10:02 p.m. June 16, 2008
What a rant... Bitter are we?
Tell you what, change your company name and produce something a little less provocative. No one will ever know. This is America, after all.
Tell you what, change your company name and produce something a little less provocative. No one will ever know. This is America, after all.
Whitey | 10:32 p.m. June 16, 2008
I see a sock monkey, I think "cheap toy", not "what are the
racial ramifications here?" Every political candidate is at risk of being
compared to a monkey, or worse. They're public figures. Obama's got
big ears that stick out, or so you'd think looking at nearly any political
cartoon. So do chimps. So does that mean every political cartoon out there is
racist for emphasizing his ears, lest we draw that parallel?
Even if this company had intentionally racist leanings (which I doubt given that they intended to do a sock monkey for McCain, too), so what? Wah, wah. Let's give racism MORE power by freaking right out about sock monkeys.
Even if this company had intentionally racist leanings (which I doubt given that they intended to do a sock monkey for McCain, too), so what? Wah, wah. Let's give racism MORE power by freaking right out about sock monkeys.
Anonymous | 11:48 p.m. June 16, 2008
I cant belive sombody would Dis a monkey like this!How would you like it if your
were a monkey and sombody compared you with an african american, or a democrat?
I hope the monkeys sue this company into the ground!!!
Anonymous | 12:17 p.m. June 17, 2008
Remember when dealing with the left. Speech is only free if it is theirs.
Commentors | 12:57 p.m. June 17, 2008
Most of the posted comments are more pathetic than the lack of worldly awareness
of these racists desguised (poorly) as entrepreneurs.
I want one | 1:53 p.m. June 17, 2008
I want one, just because I can. Not because I think it is racist, not because
of all of the people out there who have nothing better to do then email
"death threats". I want one, because it is kinda funny. Not funny in
the fact that they have made the connection between Obama and a monkey, but
funny that it isn't a racist thing until it is about a black man. Oh wait,
I can't say that, it is about an African-American. Wait, can I say that?
Everything will offend someone at some point. I say tough. I am tired of this
country bending over backwards to make sure no one get's their feel bads
hurt. GROW UP. Life isn't fair, and we shouldn't pretend it is.
So, if they do end up making this toy, Please send me one, Oh what the heck. Send me a couple!
So, if they do end up making this toy, Please send me one, Oh what the heck. Send me a couple!
Sock Lawson | 4:11 p.m. June 17, 2008
Let them make their so-called toy. And let us state that it is racist. If the
Lawson's were innocent of racism then they would apologize. This
isn't an apology, this is a poor me letter.
Regardless, the toy was stupid, the racism obvious, and the fact that they live in Buttars senate district just makes it more obvious that we have a long way to go.
Regardless, the toy was stupid, the racism obvious, and the fact that they live in Buttars senate district just makes it more obvious that we have a long way to go.
UNfortunately this is America? | 4:52 p.m. June 17, 2008
Around Utah, when they don't like something about you, you hear "Well
just LEAVE if you don't like it here!"
I've always found that offensive. Until now, when I read the Lawsons' garbled complaint about the First Amendment, censorship, their own actions, their stupid toy, blah, blah and blah .... containing the words "Unfortunately this is America."
You know what, Lawsons? Let me be the first to say: "Well just LEAVE if you don't like it here!"
UNfortunately this is America?
What did you expect, Lawsons? To be the only people with First Amendment rights, and the rest of us have to just shut up and take it?
I've always found that offensive. Until now, when I read the Lawsons' garbled complaint about the First Amendment, censorship, their own actions, their stupid toy, blah, blah and blah .... containing the words "Unfortunately this is America."
You know what, Lawsons? Let me be the first to say: "Well just LEAVE if you don't like it here!"
UNfortunately this is America?
What did you expect, Lawsons? To be the only people with First Amendment rights, and the rest of us have to just shut up and take it?
Ron | 10:22 p.m. June 17, 2008
I am from Utah! And the Sock Puppet IS A BAD IDEA! Please don't judge all
Utahns by the example of a few. Their comments of America are off base as
well.Monkeys are cute! Racist Portrayals of political figures are ugly! Lumping
all of Utah into one because of this is also getting ugly.
Sad | 1:24 p.m. June 18, 2008
One of the most disturbing comments made was about the justification of the sock
pupet being made because people have called the president a chimp. Do they not
know or do they not care about the racial implications? If it is the latter,
they should be discouraged from ever making a child's toy. They have
helped expose America's dirty secret. Racism is alive and well with some
people.
SockObama | 3:52 p.m. June 19, 2008
It looks like you can still buy these at SockPoliticians.com
Miss Poppy Dixon | 7:08 a.m. June 21, 2008
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
C'mon | 2:07 a.m. June 22, 2008
I live in Utah, I missed the up roar until I found a link from a liberal blog. I
think the biggest problem with racism is that its not always about the color of
skin anymore, its about your political view, your religion, your clothing, your
car, your haircut, your eating habits, your everything. It seems ironic that
most liberals convey a very unliberal view of the conservatives. How can one be
open minded when they constantly put down someone for their rights to believe
and feel as their own heart may feel. Should every culture of the earth get in
line with your beliefs or be cast off, wait thats the conservatives, or was it
the liberals. Both sides seem to appear the oppressed and the oppressors.
ps. I voted for Kerry 4 years ago, my first time voting. I like Obama. Utah's not racist and because I'm Mormon doesn't mean I have to vote conservative. Mormons are not raised to be racist.
pss. How about: If you don't like it here then understand that you wouldn't like it anywhere. People are people, they might not be "your" people.
ps. I voted for Kerry 4 years ago, my first time voting. I like Obama. Utah's not racist and because I'm Mormon doesn't mean I have to vote conservative. Mormons are not raised to be racist.
pss. How about: If you don't like it here then understand that you wouldn't like it anywhere. People are people, they might not be "your" people.
Metro | 11:46 a.m. June 25, 2008
May I paraphrase?
"It's the history, stupid."
If Bush were black it might not be racist to portray him as a monkey. But, gee, you'd have to keep explaining how it wasn't racist, for some reason.
You're either daft, if you think the country needs one more ambiguously racist plush toy, or dishonest.
Presuming goodwill, I'm willing to go with daft. Your plushie didn't sell, and you're out of business. That's what happens when you make dumb business decisions.
Best of luck in your next entrprenurial venture. May I suggest you stay away from businesses involving humans? Perhaps you should get into pet fashions, or cleaning products, or something.
"It's the history, stupid."
If Bush were black it might not be racist to portray him as a monkey. But, gee, you'd have to keep explaining how it wasn't racist, for some reason.
You're either daft, if you think the country needs one more ambiguously racist plush toy, or dishonest.
Presuming goodwill, I'm willing to go with daft. Your plushie didn't sell, and you're out of business. That's what happens when you make dumb business decisions.
Best of luck in your next entrprenurial venture. May I suggest you stay away from businesses involving humans? Perhaps you should get into pet fashions, or cleaning products, or something.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
Words Remaining
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
Related content
- VA promises response to war illness 8:17 a.m.
- Military sees increase in wounded 8:16 a.m.
- Who knew Hasan's radical contacts 8:13 a.m.
- Bomb kills 9 officers in Pakistan 8:13 a.m.
- Lights back in Brazil after outage 8:11 a.m.
- Missing US soldier's body found 8:10 a.m.
- Grouchy public sticking with Obama 8:09 a.m.
- Woods faces tricky Aussie Masters 8:08 a.m.
- Oil up to near $80 on weak dollar 8:06 a.m.
- Stocks open higher as dollar slides 8:04 a.m.
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Utes get extra motivation
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- House passes health care bill
266 - TCU showdown has big implications188
- Lobo suspended185
- Cougars crush hapless Cowboys155
- Senators want food tax restored155
- Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings131
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd119
- No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy105
- S.L. vote pending on gay protections104
- Utes pound winless Lobos89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Advertisement
Latest comments
Maybe "our best" should use better judgement and stop enabling this country's...
When renting any property there are only two things you should worry about....
Which one of these is not like the others. Skyline- Champions 2005 ...
Did you boo Derek Fisher when he came back the next year? (Also you mean...
The Timpview and Mt. Crest winner still has to play one more game, lets not...
As hard as it is to hear the ranting and hate being spued from these...
As a rule of thumb I never, ever pull for the Ewe. This week is no different.
It's not "hate" that is promoted. There are many opinions, which is good, but...
If I own an apartment building, it is my private property. No one should be...
Apparently Mr. Lowery listens to these gentleman in some detail or he...
Advertisements
Monkeys are also used to represent less-than-intelligent human beings (which is why Utah legislators and President Bush are sometimes drawn as monkeys).
If you think Obama's dumb, pick something that doesn't have strong racist overtones.