http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...inappropriate-to-use-daughters-to-sell-dolls/
WASHINGTON (CNN) – They’ve been in the White House less than a week, but the first daughters have already been co-opted by marketers — and Michelle Obama isn’t happy about it.
Ty, the toy company responsible for the popular Beanie Babies dolls, is now marketing “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls.
The first lady’s office said Friday Ty was out of line. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,” said a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama in a statement.
A Ty representative told CNN the company generally avoids naming dolls for “any particular living individual,” because doing so might interfere with how kids use their imaginations to play with them. But they wouldn’t reveal the source of their inspiration for the new figures, telling CNN that information relating to the development of the company’s merchandise — including how it comes up with products, product names, and trademarks – is proprietary.
Ty has overstepped the bounds here. I don't care for marketing children without the parents' permission. Ty's been in business for quite a while and hasn't put out any other politically-inspired dolls. Just becuse the Obama children are in the public eye does not make them fair game for toy makers, pundits, cartoonists, journalists or any other money-oriented asshat who wants to further the thickness of their bank account.
If Ty donated ALL the proceeds to education or childrens' health care, that might be forgivable. Greedy bastards.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – They’ve been in the White House less than a week, but the first daughters have already been co-opted by marketers — and Michelle Obama isn’t happy about it.
Ty, the toy company responsible for the popular Beanie Babies dolls, is now marketing “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls.
The first lady’s office said Friday Ty was out of line. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,” said a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama in a statement.
A Ty representative told CNN the company generally avoids naming dolls for “any particular living individual,” because doing so might interfere with how kids use their imaginations to play with them. But they wouldn’t reveal the source of their inspiration for the new figures, telling CNN that information relating to the development of the company’s merchandise — including how it comes up with products, product names, and trademarks – is proprietary.
Ty has overstepped the bounds here. I don't care for marketing children without the parents' permission. Ty's been in business for quite a while and hasn't put out any other politically-inspired dolls. Just becuse the Obama children are in the public eye does not make them fair game for toy makers, pundits, cartoonists, journalists or any other money-oriented asshat who wants to further the thickness of their bank account.
If Ty donated ALL the proceeds to education or childrens' health care, that might be forgivable. Greedy bastards.
