Obama Waffles: Race Baiting and Powdered Breakfast United at Last
Who says you can't enjoy Jim Crow-style caricatures, Arab bashing and delicious powdered waffles at the same time? Attendees of the "Values Voter Summit" know you can, since they got the chance to pony up 10 bucks for a box of Obama Waffles, which achieve the rare culinary feat of being both scrumptious and tasteless at the same time…
Activists at a conservative political forum snapped up 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…
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.
The Values Voter Summit, (which presumably owes George Orwell royalties on its name,) featured a lineup of speakers whose names literally define "values," such as Tom DeLay, Rush Limbaugh, and Lou Dobbs — who must have thrown in a request that the Obama Waffles degrade Mexicans as well…
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?"
Apparently the sombrero won Dobbs over, since he was later caught on camera buying a box for his wife.
But unfortunately for the other Values Voters, the Obama Waffles were pulled from sale after event organizers noticed — three days into the event — that they displayed "offensive material."
Either that or they wanted to hide them before Michael Steele arrived for his speech. Awk-ward!
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I know he can't keep his greasy paws off of 'em, but doesn't Lou Dobbs know Obama Waffles are made by illegals?
MariaV, your point is taken, but remember that this country has a recent history of some pretty heinous shit when it comes to racial stereotypes of black Americans.
If you're a thinking person (and I know you are), you should be given pause before pulling off such a stunt. If you're the guy who dreamed this up, if you're getting a giggle thinking about doing this, a little voice of conscience ought to be sitting on your shoulder saying, "Listen, buddy, I know you're enjoying the thought of making an amusing point about Obama waffling on the issues, but really you ought not lose your message in the firestorm that will erupt around using an old racial stereotype to get across your message." I agree that the picture of Obama on the front is pretty mild, but one ought to think twice about adding the rest of the lying racist shit on the box with a political message and history of questionable racial depictions on boxes of pancake mix.
Sorry about being so preachy, but I think this kind of thing is a racist calling card. I don't like to let such things go unchallenged and good on Dylan Ris for not letting this go without comment.
Its all in fun if not questionable taste.
Isn't it great that so many WHITE Americans, can consider voting for an AFRICAN AMERICAN canidate, oo bad its not a real American hero like Colin Powell, Bill Cosby, Condi Rice, it has to be a fraud like Barry Obama. Remember Obama professes Christian beliefs but does not follow them (supports abortion), he also has supported dealing with known terrorist, and now denies long time support of rev Wright (RACIST IDEOLOGY). He has told everyone everything and is on every side of every issue (for political gain), and has no absolutely no experience leading anything except a community action group. Come on people! he has nothing positive to add except that he is articulate.. open your eyes. Audacity and hype,,, now that he has
You can't believe everything you read.
That's especially true in the new age of instant media where precious few take the time to fact check an article before going to press. Case in point. We originally posted a photo of Lou Dobbs holding a box of Obama Waffles standing with co-creator Bob DeMoss at the Values Voter Summit who had HANDED Lou the box. The caption of the post said, "Lou Dobbs: 'My Wife Will Love This!'"
After one day we decided to remove the post.
A feeding frenzy was sparked when a blogger "grabbed" the screen shot and—thinking he had a hot story—proceeded to make a mountain out of a mole hill. In turn, other bloggers added to the growing conspiracy theory . . . specifically, they exclaimed—GASP!—that Lou Dobbs PURCHASED a box to take home to his wife.
PRESTO! The next thing you know Comedy Central's INDecision 2008 reported this fiction as fact. That's not a laughing matter. Had writer Dylan Ris done his homework by contacting us, Dylan would have learned:
1. Lou didn't buy a box of Obama Waffles and, to the best of our knowledge, never entered the exhibit hall to buy anything.
2. We gave Lou a complimentary box . . . as we did others at the event including Jeff Wismer, a member of the American Atheists protester group. (Does that make Jeff a closet racist for wanting his own box?)
3. Lou wasn't "caught on camera buying a box" as Comedy Central reported . . . Lou was simply gracious enough to let Bob take a picture with him.
Which begs the question: If there's nothing sinister going on, why did we pull the post?
Answer: While Lou was gracious enough to pose for a picture, we were not gracious enough to ask for his permission prior to posting it. That was an error on our part, one which we regret and won't repeat.
Likewise, we hope that fellow journalists and bloggers will dig a little deeper before serving up warmed-over rumors just because the gossip sounds so tasty.
Bill quoth: "Its all in fun if not questionable taste. "
No, Bill, the taste is completely in question. Maybe you meant to say that it's all in fun, even if in questionable taste? No, it's not all in fun, despite the question of taste. If you look the whole box over you will find a entire series of racial and ethnic slurs, all from the viewpoint of a white, ignorant boob. Moreover, the point of the box is completely political. AND I will argue that the makers of said Obama Waffles knew exactly what they were doing. Do you see them hawking these offensive souvenirs at Democratic functions? No, these guys claim to be innocent jokesters. They are not. They are race-baiting idiots. As I said before, it's a racist calling card.
Obama waffles? Wow. The Christian-Republican groups must have run out of postitive 'Christian' ideas. I don't understand how anyone can buy these waffles and not consider themselves as racist or hateful, but Christian. I'm not even Muslim and it's sickening to me how they associate Obama with Islam and waffle raps. The original waffle rappers must be rolling over in their graves right now. I don't see any edible McCain Depends at any Obama rallies…That might leave a bad taste in your mouth.
I'm glad that a friend showed me a campaign souvenir that he received that he said was being produced for both sides without abusing the other. He told me that their websites are mccaindotcom and obamadotcom. I decided to buy one of each because I felt that both are attractive souvenirs and wanted something political that wasn't a waste of my hard earned money. They are definitely pretty unique (and cool at that). That is the kind of political merchandise that we should be supporting, no matter which side we are on. Hopefully, these will have some value in the future, unlike the garbage that some are trying to sell .
sorry everyone, the addresses are obamasouvenirdotcom and mccainsouvenirdotcom
at the values voters summit they were selling something with racist undertones? makes you wonder what the rest of their "values" are.
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