Chia Obama

"Hail to the CH- CH- CH- CHIEF."

There's now a Chia Obama. Barack Obama has achieved true icon status.

From the Chicago Tribune:

San Francisco-based Joseph Enterprises, the company behind the Chia Pet and The Clapper, is rolling out its own brand of patriotism with a clay statuette of the commander in chief. Just add water and Obama's hair grows faster than the national deficit.

"It's unbelievable the interest we've had on the product," says Joe Pedott, president of Joseph Enterprises and the company's namesake, speaking by telephone Monday from the International Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place.

Although the official launch of the product is April 2 for stores such as Walgreens, the Chia Obama has been rolling out slowly on the Internet and in Chicago and Tampa, its first two test markets.

..."I was dreaming. I get my best ideas dreaming," he says. "I dreamed that I put out a very serious, pro-American, supportive Chia. ... The president is a sacred person. I asked, 'Can I take that fun feeling and turn it into something serious?' So I did it."

That's not to say his staff was completely supportive. But Pedott made an executive decision and ordered 160,000 of the busts. They come in two varieties: a "determined" pose and a smaller number of "happy" statuettes.

Not everyone is embracing Chia Obama.

In Florida, some Walgreens stores are pulling the items off the shelves.

Some local Walgreen's stores are pulling a supposed likeness of President Barack Obama off their shelves. The 'Chia Obama' will no longer be sold there.

Walgreen's spokesman Michael Polzin explained to FOX 13 that local store managers have the ability to purchase and market products -- like the Chia Obama -- on their own.

But now, the corporate office has asked stores to pull the product from their stores because, he said, it is not appropriate for the company's corporate image.

I don't see anything wrong with selling a Chia Obama.

Check out the Chia Obama website.

It's not disrespectful. It's not a gag gift. It's a collectible.

People will buy it. The Chia Obama can be seen as stimulating the economy.

It's a patriotic purchase. God bless America!