Video: Walgreens abandons Chia Obama
posted at 2:57 pm on April 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The latest in politically-correct overreaction also could double as simple good taste on the part of Walgreens, the national discount pharmacy and convenience store. Walgreens has most of the As Seen On TV product line as well as every emolument known to man, which makes it one of the most entertaining shopping experiences outside of Spencers Gifts, or perhaps Fredericks of Hollywood for the truly garish. And if you don’t already know, that last link is NSFW, or for your marriage if your wife finds you surfing there. Hot Air is not responsible for injuries due to rolling pins, broken dishes, etc etc etc.
Their deliciously kitschy inventory makes the sudden discovery of bad taste somewhat less convincing as a claim to common sense than a bow to PC:
Is this racist? Not unless tossing the name “chia” has a playground meaning other than “chintzy piece of crud no sane person would want in their home”. On the other hand, it’s not exactly respectful, either, but America doesn’t have a long tradition of treating politicians with much deference. Until recently, one of the most popular Halloween masks was the face of Richard Nixon, and that wasn’t because he was beloved by an adoring American public.
Chia also planned to roll out Hillary Clinton and Statue of Liberty models right alongside Chia Obama, but now apparently Walgreens has to find another use for all that shelf space. How about more Flow-Bees?
Blowback
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Sadly, now nobody will see anything productive coming out of Barry’s head.
Vashta.Nerada on April 7, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Ah, come on. Let the faithful have their idol.
Count to 10 on April 7, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Dear Leader!
artist on April 7, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Heh. It even has his annoying little mole by his nose which annoyes me to death.
deidre on April 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I made a ton of money off flow-bees a few years ago. don’t knock em!
Chia never told me about Hillary or Statue of Liberty models. I know the main sales guy well, too.
lorien1973 on April 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM
WTF is a flow bee?
And I would have got a Chia Obama for a guy at work. We love making fun of the TOTUS!
upinak on April 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I think this is an insult to the Chia Pet. Has anyone called for a comment from Chia?
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM
How about chia teleprompter?
LtE126 on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Whats the problem,not green,enough!!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
These things grow without fertilizer, right?
Yeah, not interested.
World B. Free on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
It’s getting to be a total drag living in this freakish PC world…
mrsmwp on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Are they going to replace with Obama’s portrait with the heavenly backlighting behind it?
kingsjester on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Walgreens just doesn’t want to be vital to the economy and be taken over.
jukin on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Personally, I LOVE shopping at Walgreens. They have some really cool/weird crap there. Also, you can get themed boxer shorts dirt cheap after the given holiday is over. WOOHOO!
That being said, I saw one of these last week and I KNEW I should have bought it! Chia Boma will be worth a fortune! Gold I tells ya! GOLD!
robblefarian on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Flowbee is a vacuum attachment that lets you cut your kid’s hair.
lorien1973 on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
I’m all for the newsworthiness of Chia-Obama, but please let us not forget that the actor who played both the perma stoned Kumar and the terrorist from 24 (most recently on the awful Fox show House) has joined the Obama administration.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04072009/tv/house_upgrade_163347.htm
Angry Dumbo on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Oh for Chrissake!
Knucklehead on April 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Excellent!
mrsmwp on April 7, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Heh. Yeah. I kinda regret not stocking them now.
I just put a call in to my sales rep at “Chia” to ask if he knows how many complaints they’ve gotten. :P
lorien1973 on April 7, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Ask and ye shall receive
trubble on April 7, 2009 at 3:04 PM
LMFAO! HAHAHHAAAAA! People actually bought something like that? Dang, does it work on animals?
upinak on April 7, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Let me take a wild guess,some idiot was
growing pot out of Hopey’s head!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Bwahahahaha… (milk shooting from nose)
Now I have to clean off the keyboard and monitor. Warn us before ya smack us with a doosy like that. Man I wish I was good enough to have thought that one up.
bigskinny on April 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
LOL Perfect!
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
How about “Chia Larry Sinclair”? Or “Chia Chris Matthews”…it would be just the back of their heads in Obama’s lap, with Obama holding a crackpipe.
LtE126 on April 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Now did it actually work is the question I have.
We don’t have a Walgreens yet. They are finally coming up here but the buildings are just starting to be built.
upinak on April 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Awwww man now I am going to have to get my Obama idol from Target!
I will say to my self “it rubs the chia on Barry’s head it rubs it on or it gets the hose again”
and “I will rub it and love and pet it and stroke it and call it Barry”
Ahhhhhh Happiness
LincolntheHun on April 7, 2009 at 3:06 PM
You’re bad. Very, very, bad.
How about a Donald Young chia head. But that would be too macabre.
mrsmwp on April 7, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Of course it works. they can’t have a website and an infomercial without it being a sturdy, long lasting, high quality product, right?
trubble on April 7, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Flowbee is vacuum attachment that lets you cut your kid’s
hair.
lorien1973 on April 7,2009 at 3:02pm.
lorien1973:I wonder if this gizmo will replace the Brazilian
wax method!!Haha.ahem:)
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Like the SHAMWOW! I saw the guy who does the infomercial up here this last weekend at our Sportsman show. I laughed so hard.
upinak on April 7, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Flowbee has been around for 30 years now. Something like that. It is a testament to the product, actually.
lorien1973 on April 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Better
Knucklehead on April 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM
OK, so let’s see.
If one were to keep the Obama Commemorative Coin in their back pocket is that racist since it’s next to one’s ass and one would sit on it?
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM
“Donald Young chia head”
Want to bring me up to speed on this??? Is that the choir director from Trinity?
LtE126 on April 7, 2009 at 3:13 PM
How about a Michelle Chia?
Would that be a Chewy Chia???
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM
The ShamWow! is pretty great. Not 100% great like the infomercial promises, but close to 96% great.
myrenovations on April 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Soooo, Bush novelties are okay, though?
PattyJ on April 7, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I loved the Flow-Bee, a friend loaned one to me and it did a great job on my kid’s hair. But, alas, my child is severly disabled the the sound of the vacuum cleaner scared the crap out of him, so I gave it back to my friend.
As for the Chia Obama, I have to have 3 of those suckers for Christmas stockings and it looks like everyone has pulled them.
bopbottle on April 7, 2009 at 3:15 PM
When I was a kid, people with particularly nappy hair (like me) were sometimes called chia heads, so I can see how some people might see this as racist.
Bill Scrunty on April 7, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Ears hold a Redwood.
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 3:16 PM
I think B-HO should be on the Master Magician show. He made half of America’s wealth disappear.
Mojave Mark on April 7, 2009 at 3:17 PM
“How about a Michelle Chia?
Would that be a Chewy Chia???
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM”
Watch it Damn!!! You’re treading on hallowed ground around here.
Okay….”Chia Michelle”. But you only put the stuff on her upper lip.
BaaaawwwwwHaaaawwww!!!!
LtE126 on April 7, 2009 at 3:17 PM
It’s the new DOPE and CHANGE Era. Everything is racist. ugh! Damn proud to be ‘racist’. Means you are doing something right, like opposing amnesty and liking dear leader chia heads.
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 3:17 PM
What a brilliant marketing ploy. Now I want one!!
(Food for the trolls)
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Seems to me “Chia Biden” would’ve made more sense. (Yeah, I know. Old joke.)
apostic on April 7, 2009 at 3:19 PM
The black girls say that the Chia Obama will get a little jerry curl when the afro grows.
Just put in a little relaxer into the Chia Obama, ladies!
SCOOPTHIScarlos on April 7, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Blagojevich Chia.
Better than AOSHQ Flaming Skull with Blago hair.
Profits to go into Blago’s defense fund.
Wethal on April 7, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Its unPresidential,
boy,the Liberals are touchy!
In retospect,Bush was savaged!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 3:20 PM
The NYT is reporting that an oily trail exiting Walgreens’ headquarters was followed and led directly to Al Sharpton’s bank.
More at the top of the hour.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 7, 2009 at 3:21 PM
I’d modify the Obama Chia marketing pitch line slightly:
“Ch-Ch-Ch-Chumps”
viking01 on April 7, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Are they going to replace with Obama’s portrait with the heavenly backlighting behind it?
kingsjester on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
No. They are going to replace it with the Obama Adult Diaper.
It’s so full of sh#t already, that you remove one from the pack and toss directly into the toilet.
elderberry on April 7, 2009 at 3:22 PM
How about a chia,Pelosi!
With optional mesmerizing
eye blinking!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 3:22 PM
As a cracker-american, it offends me when Chris Rock jokes about inbreeding in the South. Wheres the OUTRAGE?
Speedwagon82 on April 7, 2009 at 3:23 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on April 7, 2009 at 3:24 PM
And then there’s Plugs Biden ….. the living, breathing Chia Pet.
fogw on April 7, 2009 at 3:24 PM
This is the greatest blow to the Chia Cabal since their chosen Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, gave in shortly after they got Fred Thompson to drop out. A McCain election would have meant doom, since his Chia would use 90% less Chia seeds than any of the three Democrats, who all had great hair. Their one hope now: Chia Shallow Graves of Lynched CEOs.
raybury on April 7, 2009 at 3:24 PM
As tacky as this is… it is funny too. Can one buy this online? I don’t want one mind you… but I hate to discourage free enterprize during a recession.
And tacky is the correct term not not racist.
However, the wooky references are getting a bit old.
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Here ya go
Celebrate the Change right in your own house
Knucklehead on April 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Yeah, the dead choir director.
mrsmwp on April 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Hahaha, thanks for the palette cleanser.
The ShamWow! is pretty great. Not 100% great like the infomercial promises, but close to 96% great.
myrenovations on April 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 3:27 PM
I’m going to have to grab up some of these. Pretty soon, they’ll probably be banned, and collectors will be clamoring for them.
I’ll get rich on black market Chia Obamas!!!!!
UltimateBob on April 7, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Silly.
BREAKING: MN-Sen: Franken WINS!!!!!!!
Lawmakers talking to Castro.
Try to keep up cons.
getalife on April 7, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Has anyone ever tried Mighty Mend-it? I was thinking about getting some of that but wasn’t sure if it was any good.
mrsmwp on April 7, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Market them as The Emporers New Groove, and paste a flag to the head of each nation that bows to the will, of the one!
capejasmine on April 7, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Thanks, man.
It’ll make the perfect gag gift!!!
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Each ear grows a full redwood
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Sure it does, but the sound of the vacuum cleaner will scare the crap out of your dog or cat.
I wish I had one of these for myself, even as an adult. In the summertime, I give myself “buzz cuts” with military-issue Oster clippers. The flowbee would make the process a lot less messy.
UltimateBob on April 7, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Each ear grows a full redwood
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 3:31 PM
ROFL!!!!
capejasmine on April 7, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Just grow a Chia Afro Pick and your good to go.
Sanjoboy on April 7, 2009 at 3:35 PM
I ordered two from Amazon Sunday night (the happy pose), but I just checked again and they’re not available now.
SCGOPgirl on April 7, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Hey we could start a write in campaign. I sort of collect Presidential doll stuff. I might actually get–this leave it in the box… It doesn’t talk though. Does anyone know if they are making a talking Obama doll cuz I would like one.
I have a couple of Bush. I wanted Clinton, but my kids were little and he said, “I did not have sex with that woman.”… I should of gotten it anyway. I have Ann Coulter too. I hate Ann Coulter. Not that I disagree most of the time but she is just soooo harsh.
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Anybody remember the scene from Wayne’s World with the guy demonstrating the FlowBee to Wayne?
Guy: It sucks your hair in as it cuts
Wayne: It sure does suck!
UltimateBob on April 7, 2009 at 3:38 PM
There are other issues. The court has to decide what to do about precincts in which there were more ballots than voters. It also has to decide what to do about the “missing” votes that were “discovered” to have been missing from the Dinkytown precinct.
And then there is the Bush v. Gore issue of the absentees that will be presennted to the Minnesota Supreme Court. What is the difference between “strict” compliance and “substantial” compliance and how does it affect 11,000 uncounted absentee ballots under the Equal Protection Clause?
Lefty lawmakers have always been talking to Castro. Even before you were born, Dodd was a Castro supporter (when he wasn’t getting sweetheart mortgages.)
Wethal on April 7, 2009 at 3:38 PM
How about a Lib Troll Chia.
The head grows hippies, anti-military protesters, peta’s, Che Guevara posters, aborted fetuses, etc
DamnYankee on April 7, 2009 at 3:39 PM
But do they talk when you pull a string?
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I’m totally offended by these Obama Chia pets. They should all be thrown into the George W Bush Waste Water Treatment plant…..
Caper29 on April 7, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Seriously I don’t get why this is offensive. It’s not like they made him into Chimpy McHitler Chia… now that would be offensive.
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 3:43 PM
I don’t know why but an Ann Coulter doll sounds really creepy to me. But then, I think clowns are creepy too.
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Topic, please.
I think it’s made of awesome. I’m stopping by Walgreens today to see if it’s still there. I live in a small town and sometimes we’re a little slower to remove stuff like that.
There was a van I saw today with this bumper sticker (Obama pic on one side and Jimmah Cartah on the other). It said:
“I never thought I’d miss Carter.”
Funny how that works.
mjk on April 7, 2009 at 3:46 PM
It’s a black hair thing. Remember a couple of years ago when a white kindergarten teacher in New York City read a picture book called Nappy Hair to her kids? Blacks screamed racism until they found out the author was black, and wanted to write book telling black kids to like their hair the way it was (skip the straighteners).
Wethal on April 7, 2009 at 3:48 PM
****** Sensitivity Disruption Warning ******
The only problem I had with my Chia Obama is that urine apparently is not an acceptable substitute for water. But I do get a great deal of satisfaction continuing to try….as do the dogs.
****** Return to Regular Sensitivity Level ******
TugboatPhil on April 7, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Most of them listen exclusively to AM radio. What you have here is the ‘Bell Labs’ of conservatism. Even a dial-up connection is a source of wonder to most of these people.
capitulus on April 7, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I think the One would be a fan of allowing his fans to worship him in a uniquely ‘green’ manner. Considering the quality of his gift-giving, it allows his minions to follow his lead.
michaelo on April 7, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Yet crapulus lurks around like a pilot fish anyway. Desperately wishing to feel important.
viking01 on April 7, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Yea, I get that, but the chia has been around since forever. It’s harmless. It’s not like they called it a nappy headed home boy chia, they called it a hail hail hail to the chief chia. I wouldn’t look at that and see anything but the latest version of a very old product, nothing offensive about it. It’s called humor and some people just have no sense of it.
I see the trolls have gotten out of bed now and come to “work”
I thought a silly topic like this would make them roost somewhere else.
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Yea, it would have been a great gift for the Queen!
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 4:01 PM
The Michelle-O chia with built in sound effect that whenever you water it sings: “I feel good! da-duh-da-duh-dah-duh-duh”
viking01 on April 7, 2009 at 4:01 PM
The Emperor…Barrack Obama.
The Tailors…Main Stream Media
Little Girl who points out he is naked…Sarah Palin
BillaryMcBush on April 7, 2009 at 4:04 PM
You see and I see it, but if some minority says it’s offensive, it is. Subjective morality.
Wethal on April 7, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Hope it has a flat spot on the top of the head….so we can turn that frown upside down.
BillaryMcBush on April 7, 2009 at 4:06 PM
The only value your messiah has added to the economy. Not surprisingly you twerps can dish it out but just can’t take it.
jdkchem on April 7, 2009 at 4:06 PM
emolument???? Are you sure that’s the word you’re looking for?
Diogenes of Sinope on April 7, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Where is the Obama Toilet paper?
BillaryMcBush on April 7, 2009 at 4:07 PM
I find it amusing that the Chia Obama gets all kinds of coverage and outrage but the “Obama! Head O State” gold vibrator didn’t/doesn’t…..
HouseHold6 on April 7, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Hey, if they made a Chia of your Messiah, you’d be ticked too!
eforhan on April 7, 2009 at 4:11 PM
nvm found it…
Obama TP
BillaryMcBush on April 7, 2009 at 4:11 PM
So your messiah is looking for a loan to prop up his failed economic policies! Big Deal.
jdkchem on April 7, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Congress Chis. Doesn’t grow Roses, just tons of pricks.
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Congress Chia. sorry.
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 4:12 PM
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