RiteAid has taken President Obama off the shelves.
The Pennsylvania-based drugstore chain, which boasts over 4,500 stores nationwide, has discontinued sale of the popular Obama Chia Pet amidst customer complaints.
In April 2009, the “I’m Proud to Be an American” Chia line was introduced by its parent company, California-based Joseph Enterprises. The line included “Chia Washington”, “Chia Lincoln”, and “Chia Liberty with Torch Light.” Chia Washington and Chia Lincoln have not been dropped, however–just Obama, on orders from company headquarters.
A spokeswoman for RiteAid said: “Some of our customers felt we were making some sort of a political statement with the Obama Chia’s. That was not our intention.”
According to Chia Obama’s creator, Joe Pedott, the President Obama himself loved the Chia Pet, and told Pedott in a 2007 meeting in Indiana: “It’s a very nice likeness of me but I have green hair.” So when Walgreens stopped selling the Chia Pet later that year, Pedott was surprised.
“I have a product everyone wants–there is a tremendous demand–and they can’t get it. Why? Because the stores are afraid of offending people and I don’t understand how.”
It’s not hard to determine where the complaints stem from. If left untrimmed, the ‘hair’ begins to look like an afro. Apparently, some fear this constitutes a ‘racist’ representation of the president. At any rate, if you’re looking for a Chia Obama to give to your loved one this Christmas, you’ll have to go look for it at KMart, or get it online at Amazon.
