President Obama "Ch" "Ch" "Ch" Chia pet, Pulled from shelfs at Walgreens

**Tazzzz** · April 9th, 2009, 06:15 PM

TAMPA - A disclaimer on the box says full growth takes between 1-2 weeks, but the shelf life for "Chia Obama" has expired.

Walgreens has ordered stores in Tampa and Chicago to remove the product, saying the ceramic planter molded in the apparent likeness of the president was not appropriate for sale.

"We decided to pull the product so we're not subject to any political interpretation of the product," Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said.

Some customers gave Chia Obama favorable comments while others didn't like it or found it had racist overtones, Elfinger said.

Walgreens, based in Deerfield, Ill., chose Chicago and Tampa as the test markets for Chia Obama, Elfinger said. Store managers have purchasing power at the local level.

The founder of Joseph Enterprises — the makers of Chia Obama and the well-known Chia Pet — said in a phone interview today that his company's newest product was "pro-Obama" and "pro-American."

"All I was doing was hoping this would be a vehicle for good," Joe Pedott said. "I wanted it to be a statement saying, 'I'm proud to be an American.'"

Joseph Enterprises gave Walgreen exclusive rights to sell Chia Obama, Pedott said. That changed Friday morning when Pedott received an e-mail from the drug chain's top brass saying Chia Obama was not in line with Walgreens' image, Pedott said.

"I'm sick. I'm scratching my head," Pedott said. "I have the greatest respect for Walgreens. I don't know what happened."

On Tuesday, managers from a couple of Walgreens near downtown Tampa said they aren't selling the Chia Obama or didn't even order it. Pedott said he plans to offer Walgreens' competitors a deal to sell and market the product while continuing to sell Chia Obama on his company's Web site.

Chia Obama is available in two versions, with a happy-looking Obama or a determined-looking Obama. Logos on the box say "Yes You Can!" collect them both.

The full Chia Obama package contains one handmade bust of Obama, seed packets for three plantings, a plastic drip tray and an instruction sheet for planting and care.

San Francisco-based Joseph Enterprises, also markets the Chia Head, the Chia Herb Garden, the Chia Cat Grass Planter and the Clapper, according to the company's Web site. The company advertises the Chia Obama under the slogan, "Celebrate the Change right in your own house.''

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr...pas-walgreens/

**sherrz** · April 9th, 2009, 06:46 PM

My God, people need to lighten the fuck up. It seems like now that we have a AA president, that all racial innuendos are inappropriate now. I actually find that funny..

**Dakota Valkyrie** · April 9th, 2009, 07:11 PM

My SIL lovingly calls me "The Hippo" (long story and I love him for it) For Christmas I got him a chia Hippo.

I will not be demanding Walgreens pull them from the shelves.

**penelopejo** · April 9th, 2009, 08:25 PM

I find this quite amusing....why would they find that it has racial undertones other than how when the plant grows out, it looks like a fro....I mean, do they not think that if he let his hair grow out it wouldn't look like an Afro? Cause that's just crazy....

**Alicatt** · April 9th, 2009, 09:35 PM

I think the "Masiah" is mad that he would have an afro in 2 weeks and when it fell out the would be thrown away like trash

**Rockin Ma** · April 9th, 2009, 09:41 PM

It would look exactly like Chia Sylvester and Chia Tweety. I'd buy one. Maybe grow the herb one out of his head.

I think it's cool.

**Rockin Ma** · April 9th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

My SIL lovingly calls me "The Hippo" (long story and I love him for it) For Christmas I got him a chia Hippo.

I will not be demanding Walgreens pull them from the shelves.

I call my mom moo.

One person heard that and thought I was being mean about her weight. I just call her moo. I don't know why.

**malq** · April 10th, 2009, 01:23 AM

I woulda bought a case.
It's too bad they saw racial tones in it. Why else would they recall it?

Who is on the one dollar bill? Washington.
Who is on the 5 dollar bill? Lincoln.
Now we finally have a president we can put on the food stamp.

**BluExtacy** · April 10th, 2009, 01:50 AM

like how totally PC has this freggin world become??? and like really how is that racist? he's the president, would we think i was racist if they made one of bush??? no we would find it down right funny! WTF?

**sanityslipping** · April 10th, 2009, 06:34 AM

Other than the whole Fro thing, I don't see why this is racist either.

They made something to "honor" the president. While I find the whole "lets commemorate him, and make money off of it" bandwagon to be a bit tacky, I don't think this particular project is racist in anyway. It grows the same as every other chia pet.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · April 10th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Because we have a non-white president, virtually everything that is in less than favorable light will be deemed "racist". For some, his race is far more important than any other reason he is president... which is racist in itself.

If I was to be totally proper, I can see it as disrespectful to the president (no matter who is in office and depicted), but the wonderful thing about our society is that we can be disrespectful within certain boundaries... and I am rarely "totally proper".

If it were not for Walgreen's exclusive contract, I would encourage the President to come out and tell folks to lighten up. He seems like the kind of guy who would do it. He probably likes being a chia.

**moonlilly1981** · April 10th, 2009, 01:01 PM

I bet the Obama laughed his ass off at this chia pet. Seriously wtf? Its a chia pet for crying out loud. Its not like its a klan man. Now where can I get me a chia Obama. I totally want one now.

**Alf** · April 10th, 2009, 01:24 PM

Here.

--Al

**DarkPrincess** · April 10th, 2009, 01:43 PM

I swear this President has reached pop star status. He's bigger than Britney Spears and Lady Gaga combined. There's nothing racist about this. Maybe it'll be worth something someday.

**Castille** · April 10th, 2009, 03:32 PM

I love chia pets. I've been a bit dismissive of all the prez merchandizing. It seems cheap, opportunistic, and sleazy. I wavered a bit when I saw these dinner plates though - I mean, we could be eating off the president's face for years to come! I worried guests might not find it as funny as me though, so I didn't. But I *have* to own an Obama chia. That's wonderful :)

**Silvahalo** · April 10th, 2009, 05:38 PM

I think its the sensitivity to the fact that he is AA and the chia is depicting his hair style that is a fro and race is all people see who are not supporters. It was probably meant to make fun of him not commemorate in a positive light. I can understand it, but I think too he would probably laugh it off and not think much of it, probably expects such things to come out. I don't remember one of Bush coming out, probably because he's so damn silly to look at with out growing out of a chia.

It's not a biggie but I'd probably wouldn't buy one. I'd did by a baseball cap. Real nice one too.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · April 10th, 2009, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by silvahalo68

I think its the sensitivity to the fact that he is AA and ...

That is all the farther I got because I was so in shock that the President is a recovering drunk! Duh, shoot me now, before I start to sound like Britney Spears.

**malq** · April 12th, 2009, 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

That is all the farther I got because I was so in shock that the President is a recovering drunk! Duh, shoot me now, before I start to sound like Britney Spears.

I knew he was junkie, but a drunk? NOOOOOO!!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · April 12th, 2009, 08:22 AM

You can still get it!!!

http://www.chia.com/

They are selling them online! Even have a cheesy dude hawking them there!!! Cheesy dude video is interesting in that it walks in from side of your screen. I turned him off, though and didn't listen. (My usual tactic when dealing with little guys that appear out of nowhere)

**Rockin Ma** · April 12th, 2009, 08:58 AM

I think they all grow the same.

**petrina** · April 12th, 2009, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

That is all the farther I got because I was so in shock that the President is a recovering drunk! Duh, shoot me now, before I start to sound like Britney Spears.

no, that was his predecessor

**Dakota Valkyrie** · April 12th, 2009, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by petrina

no, that was his predecessor

Bush was not an alcoholic. He quit because he realized that drinking could be a problem. Pretty responsible thought and behavior that more folks should emulate. We would have very few folks to showcase here.

**TheMorningStar** · November 27th, 2010, 01:37 PM

https://www.americanchia.com/flare/next?rtag=chiaobama&

**Aslan** · November 27th, 2010, 03:13 PM

Chia pets are kind of like Sea Monkeys, ya know? Ripoff central, but you want them for the novelty of it all.
I love the fact that they use the cheap ass drip tray as a selling point.

The Lincoln chia looks constipated.

**Lily** · March 14th, 2012, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by BluExtacy

like how totally PC has this freggin world become??? and like really how is that racist? he's the president, would we think i was racist if they made one of bush??? no we would find it down right funny! WTF?

Has it occurred to you that your President should be afforded a little more respect than this?

And they could have produced a figure with an empty brain and a speech impediment for Bush, but they didn't, did they?

So yes..................it is racist. You can ridicule a black President, but not a stupid almost illiterate white one.

**Shadow** · March 14th, 2012, 08:34 AM

to be honest, I don't think it looks at all like Obama. I think if anything it looks like a cross between the clay-mation people and the muppets.

Just sayin'.

~shadow

**sheevaa** · March 14th, 2012, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Lily

Has it occurred to you that your President should be afforded a little more respect than this?

And they could have produced a figure with an empty brain and a speech impediment for Bush, but they didn't, did they?

So yes..................it is racist. You can ridicule a black President, but not a stupid almost illiterate white one.

Did ya notice there's also a chia Washinton, Lincoln and "Liberty"? So no......................it is not racist.

**biteme** · March 14th, 2012, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Lily

Has it occurred to you that your President should be afforded a little more respect than this?

And they could have produced a figure with an empty brain and a speech impediment for Bush, but they didn't, did they?

So yes..................it is racist. You can ridicule a black President, but not a stupid almost illiterate white one.

Your racist
your every word proves it

Just because a good publicity campaign can give the perception of intelligence and wisdom doesn't make it so, this administration has gotten away with murder because of the race card
most recently played by Holder in the Fast and Furious proceedings
earlier in the Black panther voting intimidation
Obama's constant gaffs ignored by the news media as to not be called racist
Every Bush gaff was news for days, Obama gaffs are totally ignored and avoided by the press
giving the public the best possible perception of Obama
No one in the press can say anything negative about Obama or his administration without being labeled a racist, so he gets a pass no other president has ever received from the press. The press being intimidated by the racist moniker has been a disservice to the American people, Obama should be called to the matt about his errors in judgment like any other president before him
I can't think of a president more ridiculed than Bush or one less ridiculed than Obama
So many gaffs can't list them all

Empty brain lets see
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...-honor-winner/
Visiting troops at Fort Drum yesterday, President Obama confused his Medal of Honor recipients, referring to one of the soldiers’ comrades who was killed in combat in Afghanistan as being alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9hZpJp7U3Y
Obama's MANY Gaffes #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4-AKcH3eC8

UNBELIEVABLE OBAMA GAFFES, Mistakes, Lies, and Confusion