Michelle Obama NOT in Favor of New Beanie Babies Sasha and Malia

by harringtola | January 24, 2009 at 09:17 pm

1016 views | 51 Recommendations | 11 comments

source: Ty.com

Ty Inc is not owning up to the fact that their new Beanie Babies introductions are indeed fashioned to represent the daughters of the President and Mrs. Obama.

The company that makes Beanie Babies has introduced two new dolls, named Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia.

However the similarities of the dolls to their namesakes is somewhat telling.

Even though it is true that the dolls, one appearing a bit larger than the other, both having brown skin and brown eyes and black hair, they are of course just dolls.

“It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls,” Ms. Lundeen told The A.P.

However, Michelle Obama has responded to the introduction in a statement:

But the first lady, Michelle Obama, who has publicly described her role as “mom in chief,” apparently was not amused. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes,” Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Mrs. Obama’s press secretary, said in a statement on Saturday.

Interestingly, the dolls in this collection all seem to be named for famous people. I doubt that could be that much of a coincidence.

Other dolls in the TyGirlz Collection include Jammin’ Jenna, Happy Hillary, Precious Paris and Bubbly Britney.

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Amy Judd

at 21:20 on January 24th, 2009

Totally innapropriate - how awful. Good for Michelle Obama for speaking out on the matter.

Uwe Paschen

at 21:24 on January 24th, 2009

Capitalism has no morals, no mercy no rules. It is the system of choice the US defend so unquestionably..

158

at 09:58 on January 25th, 2009

Good report.

I agree.

This is out of line. These children deserve privacy, not exploitation.

Jordan Yerman

at 10:02 on January 25th, 2009

Is "sell as many as we can before someone notices and sues us" really such a great business plan? They did better with the whole forced-scarcity thing in the mid-nineties.

CJaye

at 12:46 on January 25th, 2009

The name sweet Sasha sounds awful! I'd be very upset! The name sounds like a porn name I'm sorry. I don't care what other dolls are these girls are just children. Young girls, babies, innocent creatures untouched by the public's evils. Until now, nothing is sacred anymore?

bluebirdbabies (not verified)

at 08:04 on February 2nd, 2009

Wha... - a porn name? I never would have thought of that!

I like the names of the dolls. I like the dolls too because I just love those girls. I would have bought them without hesitation before knowing Michelle was upset. Now I won't.

President's children are national treasures that we embrace. Aren't they just a litte bit ours? We're in a war and a depression, and Malia snapping on her own little blue camera somehow took away the sting of the serious subjects being discussed if only for that moment.

Pre-election, one journalist, forget who, said he couldn't get the image of those two girls playing and running around the White House lawn - how refreshing that would be. After I read that, neither could I. They represent a young generation blissfully free of the racial boundary to the White House.

Something about that feels so precious I want it smiling from my shelf and my own daughters to be able to hug it.

icajes (not verified)

at 13:08 on January 25th, 2009

I totally agree with Michelle Obama,plus beanie babies can be a choking hazard for children and pets.The can't be thrown away cuz of the beans inside either.

harringtola

at 14:27 on January 25th, 2009

Thanks to everyone for the additional material, especially to rpshen for the very appropriate and complimentary video.

masterian

at 14:27 on January 25th, 2009

Two old Beanie Babies, before Ty Inc. began to sell humanized toys.

masterian has contributed a photo to this story.

harringtola

at 14:31 on January 25th, 2009

Thanks for the photo. I think they went too far this time. Paris Hilton is one thing but these young children should not be exploited. It would have been different if they had asked and had been even verbally approved to do so.