Obama's Waffles

Political parties often make unnecessary and offensive comments during presidential campaigns, but the shock factor seems to be at an all-time high for this election.

Activists at a conservative political forum were selling boxes of waffle mix depicting Barack Obama as a racial stereotype for $10 this weekend. The boxes portrayed Obama with popping eyes and big lips while looking at a plate of waffles and smiling.

According to the story released by the Associated Press on Sept. 12, the box was sold at the Values Voter Summit as a form of political satire. Organizers of the forum said they did not realize the boxes displayed “offensive material.” They were told the waffle mix was supposed to parody Obama’s policy positions.
Creators of “Obama Waffles,” Mark Whitlock and Bob DeMoss stood by their product throughout the controversy.

When asked if he considered the images of Obama racist Whitlock said, “We had some people mention that to us, but you think of Newman's Own or Emeril's — there are tons and tons of personality-branded food products on the market. So we've taken that model and, using political satire, have highlighted his policies, his position changes."

If the product itself wasn’t outrageous enough to begin with, Whitlock had to make things even more nonsensical with his comment. How can he believe that celebrity-endorsed products are the same as the racist images he created? All those branded food products Whitlock mentioned were approved by the people who put their names behind them. I am fairly certain Whitlock never called Obama and said, “Hey would you be ok with us making a product that makes you look like Aunt Jemima?”

The picture on the front wasn’t the only racist image on the box. According to AP, Obama Waffles also depicted Obama in stereotypical Mexican dress above a recipe for "Open Border Fiesta Waffles". The waffles can serve "4 or more illegal aliens," and the recipe included the tip: "While waiting for these zesty treats to invade your home, why not learn a foreign language?"

Organizers of the summit decided to stop selling the mix on the third day of the forum, but I think it was more for PR purposes than actual regret. How did they not realize that the product might offend people? Obama opted not to comment on the product, but I cannot keep my mouth shut. The box even has a caricature of Obama’s wife Michelle on it. It is one thing to attack the candidate with racist images, but why go after his wife? She is not running for office and her policy issues are not going to be voted on in November! I think Michelle’s picture is enough to prove that the product had little to do with political satire, at least to me it is.

Palin's Vague Ideologies

It’s been a little over a week since McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate and she’s already stirring up controversy. Even before I knew anything about Palin, I was annoyed by McCain’s decision because it was very obvious he picked a female just to steal the swing voters that were originally supporters of senator Hillary Clinton. Now that I have heard more about Palin’s background I’m just downright angry.

McCain used to always say Barak Obama’s lack of experience was the reason he should not be the next president, but then he picked a running mate with even less of it. The Anchorage Daily News recently released a story highlighting the pros and cons of Palin’s leadership abilities. Her own fellow Alaskans criticized her for not being able to focus on details.

“Outside of her top priorities, though, the limitations of Gov. Palin's leadership style begin to show. She delegates much of the detail work and spends little time on second-tier subjects,” said the article.

Palin likes to focus on big issues and use her charisma to push those issues but then relies on management teams to get it done for her. She’s not the first person to do this, but the fact that people from her own state are saying she has trouble choosing people with good track records to run her teams, worries me.

The article also mentioned Palin’s newfound partisanship. When she acting solely as Alaska’s governor, Palin often made bipartisan decisions and worked with democrats to get things done. Now that she’s been chosen as the vice presidential nominee she has become the complete opposite. In her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention she took a strong stance against Obama and democrats and an even stronger stance for her party. It seems strange to me that she would change her ideologies so quickly. An article in Newsweek quoted her as having said that she did not feel strongly about any of the Republican nominees earlier this year. Palin herself did not want to endorse any of the nominees and did not feel they stood out. Now that she’s been chosen as the nominee she suddenly feels like McCain is the man for the job? I feel as though her speeches have been insincere and she just wants to further her own career.

I do not feel the country needs a person who constantly contradicts her own beliefs in the white house. In the past she spoke against her own party for being corrupt but now she’s 100 percent with them. She’s also known for being a reformer, but she’s also being accused of exerting improper influence on city and state government. I am not really sure what’s kind of shady things she’s been accused of doing, but I do know I’m not ready to trust someone who has those kinds of allegations behind them. Palin has probably already helped McCain steal some of those swing voters, it’s been apparent in recent polls, but I hope people eventually see passed the fact that she’s a woman. People should try to see her for what she stands for, and what she stands for is not something I’m willing to support.