Mass marketing the President and his family?

As an opportunity for businesses to make a profit, the Obama family image and name has been thrown on anything marketable such as beanie babies, dog jerseys, canvas shoes, bobble head dolls, and even THONGS(and we are not talking about flip flops)!

Some marketers argue that they are portraying the President and his family as role models. Do you think this is true, or are they exploiting the 1st Family for financial gain?

Check out these websites to see some of the items that American consumers are purchasing:

www.zazzle.com/obama+memorabilia+gifts?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/01/22/obama.dolls/


Our responses:

Jessica Burton: I believe the Obama family is being exploited by the marketing world. President Obama's election will forever be known as a historical feat for America. It will be remembered without bobble head dolls, or beanie babies that mimic the President's daughters. The first family deserves a little respect and privacy. Let's stop trying to make another buck and give the Obamas a little space.


Brittany McBryde: It is a great, historic moment having the first African-American President. It is definitely an occasion to celebrate and remember. However, I feel the marketing world and consumers are going to the exteme. Obama and his family are on anything you can think of from coasters, shoes, aprons, ties, to Ty Beanie Babies that resemble the Obama girls. It is a little ridiculous and out of hand. Every President before simply had stickers, shirts, and buttons. The marketing world and consumers are taking advantage of a historic moment in our country.


Yuen Chun Wong: I don’t think that it is wrong for the marketing world to make a profit from the President and his family. It’s a miracle that President Obama won the election. He became an idol as any of his predecessors -- like Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt. Whether his achievement is greater than theirs or not, the President and his family aren’t the usual public people like some movie stars. They are the people who live in White House. They are the American dream family. President Obama’s image and name belong to the people, belong to the nation and belong to history. This is not the first day that people have worshiped their leader. The market using their name and image to make products is not exploiting them, but it will popularize their family. Besides, in this economic crisis, their products benefit the market and native industry. I think the President and his family are not bothered by the market selling products using their image.


Admatha St Hillaire: In the world of marketing, I believe one man's gain is always at another man's expense. I feel divided on whether the portraying of the Obama family is a positive thing or if it is exploiting their family image. Yes, he is the "first" President of African descent, and his presidency should be commemorated. On the other hand, there should be a limit on how many knick-knacks that can come from this. In my opinion AUTHENTIC t-shirts, hats, even display china are okay, but dolls are redundant. There's always more than one way to make money, but, for the most part, I feel like if it is to have someone's name or face on it, like the Ty beanie babies named Shasha & Malia (president's daughters), when caught in the act, don't lie about it!