Maybe It's Just Me..... - Donna Golden's Blog

<P>I took my son to Walmart the other night to use a gift card he had received. While there, I saw something that still has me shaking my head. I'd love some feedback on this:</P> <P>My boy was looking through the teeny bopper poster rack when we came upon a nearly lifesized picture of our president, Barack Obama! I was flabergasted, but&nbsp;my perplexity was not to end there. As we continued shopping in the trading card section, right next to the baseball cards were....you guessed it...Barack Obama trading cards! Really? </P> <P>Now, I realize that marketing corporations have long since exploited the popularity of people of notoriety, but&nbsp;<EM>this</EM> was ridiculous! I mean, is anyone going to actully <EM>BUY</EM> these cards? I know I'm not buying. Let me assure you this has&nbsp;nothing to do with any lack of respect or admiration for our president on my part.&nbsp;To the contrary, I think it is&nbsp;inappropriate and disrespectful to our leader.</P> <P>Please, please, give me your take on this.</P> <P>Still dumbfounded,</P> <P>Donna G.</P>

Steve Voorhees Date: 2/18/2009 8:50:00 PM So...I'm at the service station paying for my gas yesterday, and on the counter sits....Barack Obama action figures. No lie!! So my mind boggled just like yours! I actually worked for Obama's campaign in my area. I've definitley seen many sorts of hype and marketing stunts to ramp him up....some of them were well welcomed, others were admittedly absurd. Here's how I see it. Sadly, a large portion of our society is grossly apathetic to all things involving politics. Maybe (I'm hoping) this ramped up hoopla will open some eyes as to what's going on in the world. I'm trying to derive a positive here....the other side of this is there are trading cards for serial killers and Jonas brothers. Some part of our consumer woes is that there actually are people out there who buy this stupid $#@! And greedy suits pumping it out for sale. Well blogged! Steve Login to Reply

Sue Mason Date: 2/18/2009 11:08:00 AM The recent commercialism of EVERYTHING is really sickening to me. Its like our worth as human beings is based upon how much we can sell or how much we will buy. I totally agree with you and it really has nothing to do with the man, Obama, and everything to do with greedy capitalists! Great blog Donna!! Login to Reply

Carrie Richards Date: 2/18/2009 6:40:00 AM We live in a society of the ridiculous media frenzy...commercialism, and media hype. Yes, it seems so disrespectful, yet...almost everything out there seems fair game, sad to say. Not just in our own country, but everywhere. It brings to mind the Princess Diana frenzy, you could buy dishes, t-shirts, you name it....and the paparazzi finally took the final step too far. Sometimes it seems we live in insanity...what would our great- grandparents think of this world today? Login to Reply

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 2/18/2009 5:13:00 AM Not just you, as I feel frustration setting in in this "free" enterprise system. Anything that is marketable is marketted. First, they are supposed to obtain the right to do so from the person they are marketting, i.e., baseball cards are okayed by the MLB organization and the players. Football the same. I remember Davy Crockett cards authgorized by Disney Enterprises. If the Obama organization did authorize the cards, it was probably for an excellent reason and that is, get the little kids interested in government. He already has the young generation involved and for the first time in over eight years I can feel a sense of hope in this nation. I don't know if it is disrespectful, or a brilliant idea., but I would be proud to see my grandchildren reading about Barack Obama and not the WWF idiots or greedy athletes. Just my thoughts. God Bless. Vince Login to Reply

Danielle White Date: 2/18/2009 12:27:00 AM I, too, shop at "WallyWorld." I have learned to protect my sanity by looking, but not 'seeing' anything! The world is full of stupid people. You may quote me on that. (LOL) ***Danielle*** Login to Reply

Michael Degenhardt Date: 2/17/2009 6:25:00 PM I agree with you, it sort of makes a mockery of the statusof president. Why? Were there Nixon trading cards or posters? NO It's because, while we hope he can do a good job in office, people are making him out to be this messiah and are trying to cash in on it. It's deplorable! Login to Reply

Debbie Guzzi Date: 2/17/2009 3:24:00 PM Well, I won't buy the things either but I don't thinks it's disrespectfull, unusual, a bit silly, endearing actually that we finally have someone in office "the masses" seem to be proud of. I'm proud I was alive to see our nation fulfill it's highest purpose "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness FOR ALL." Light & Love Debbie PS maybe the funds from the posters should go to universal health care! Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 2/17/2009 3:14:00 PM Donna, I am not a US citizen but Obama is coming to my city, Ottawa, Canada, Feb 18 and you should see and hear the frenzy going on, and they keep telling people, don't even try to come have a view.. its like he is a rock star or movie star.. instead of a president... I totally agree with you .. it is almost disrespectful.. I am sure he is a wonderful man, or seems to be.. but my question, did he not have to approve the use of his image on these cards or any other media, in photography, which I do not claim to be an expert, the person in the photo owns their image, and it cannot be used without their permission...???? does anyone know out of curiosity... Login to Reply