The President of the United States is often called the Leader of the Free World. It's a position of dignity and respect and that may be one reason a likeness of the current President is being called racist.
Lyle Weas is a big Obama supporter, so when his friend sent him the new Obama Chia Pet, he says he loved it.
"I am a strict Obama fan and he gave it to me as a joke more or less. As it turned out, it was a great joke because I love it and I wouldn't give it up for anything," says Weas, Bettendorf.
But some out there aren't feeling the love for the Chia Obama. Walgreen's stores in Chicago and Tampa have pulled the product from shelves because some customers complained it was racist.
"I don't see any issues. I think a lot of people just look at anything they can find an issue with to complain about," says Weas.
"Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with it," says Shawn Shipley, Rock Island.
Many we talked to didn't think the Obama Chia Pet was racist, but they also didn't think it was right.
"Why do they want to mess with our new President? He's got enough going on...that's the way I look at it. And it's making fun. I don't think its right," says Flora, a Moline resident.
"I think its degrading, just degrading. And the likeness is very far off," says Dorothy Forrest, Rock Island.
"I think its ridiculous marketing that's over the top. I don't know if it's racist, but it's kind of disrespectful. I don't think our leader should be a Chia Pet," says Dave Anthony, Moline.
But one woman did see the 'fro sprouting Obama as racist.
"I think so, yes, well they don't have them of any other people...they're mostly animals," says Donna Stoner, Rock Island.
News 8 spoke with the local NAACP President to get the organization's take on the Obama Chia Pet, but President Phyliss Phillips says the NAACP has no comment on the issue. Walgreen's says it's up to individual managers to pick out items for their stores, but they do respond to customer complaints.
Lyle Weas is a big Obama supporter, so when his friend sent him the new Obama Chia Pet, he says he loved it.
"I am a strict Obama fan and he gave it to me as a joke more or less. As it turned out, it was a great joke because I love it and I wouldn't give it up for anything," says Weas, Bettendorf.
But some out there aren't feeling the love for the Chia Obama. Walgreen's stores in Chicago and Tampa have pulled the product from shelves because some customers complained it was racist.
"I don't see any issues. I think a lot of people just look at anything they can find an issue with to complain about," says Weas.
"Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with it," says Shawn Shipley, Rock Island.
Many we talked to didn't think the Obama Chia Pet was racist, but they also didn't think it was right.
"Why do they want to mess with our new President? He's got enough going on...that's the way I look at it. And it's making fun. I don't think its right," says Flora, a Moline resident.
"I think its degrading, just degrading. And the likeness is very far off," says Dorothy Forrest, Rock Island.
"I think its ridiculous marketing that's over the top. I don't know if it's racist, but it's kind of disrespectful. I don't think our leader should be a Chia Pet," says Dave Anthony, Moline.
But one woman did see the 'fro sprouting Obama as racist.
"I think so, yes, well they don't have them of any other people...they're mostly animals," says Donna Stoner, Rock Island.
News 8 spoke with the local NAACP President to get the organization's take on the Obama Chia Pet, but President Phyliss Phillips says the NAACP has no comment on the issue. Walgreen's says it's up to individual managers to pick out items for their stores, but they do respond to customer complaints.
