Obama Waffles: Racist or Just Political Satire?

The latest in political merchandise this 2008 Election season is a box of Obama Waffles. This breakfast treat can be purchased at obamawaffles.com for $10 and allegedly sold like hotcakes at the Values Voter summit last week. However, this unique spin on candidate merchandise is taking some heat because some feel that Obama Waffles portray a racial stereotype in that the box portrays the candidate with popping white eyes with thick lips. Also controversial, the top flap of the Obama Waffles box depicts him in Muslim clothing, and the back of the Obama Waffles box shows him dressed in stereotypical Mexican attire with a quip about illegal aliens along with a recipe. A picture of the Obama Waffle box can be seen here.

Obama Waffles aren't the only political satire gaffe that has made headlines this year. Back in July, The New Yorker cover that featured Barack Obama and his wife Michelle doing a fist tap spurned controversy. The cover featured Barack Obama dressed in Muslim clothing, fist tapping wife Michelle, dressed as a revolutionary. Osama Bin Laden's picture appeared above the fireplace where an American flag burned. The New Yorker defended the cover to the Obama Campaign, according to an AP article dated July 14, 2008, stating that the cover was meant as a satirical lampoon. Many from the left and right found the cover offensive, including John McCain. According to a later AP report, Obama stated that he found the cover to be insulting to Muslim Americans.