Aunt Jemima: Racist image or symbol of wholesomeness and quality? We report, you decide.

At last week's Family Research Council conference, a table run by the Obama Waffles guys was protested and eventually shut down (though not before they sold quite a few boxes of waffle mix to the Values Voters present). Much of the coverage of the event has focused on the question of whether this image




is racist. You know how this goes: One side says a picture of Barack Obama w/ exaggerated features selling waffles that look an awful lot like those on Aunt Jemima packaging is racist. The other side says no it's not, it's about him waffling on the issues. Far be it from the new media to say this is OBVIOUSLY, BLATANTLY RACIST. They just report that a difference of opinion exists. The way that "some scientists" think evolution is a load of crap. The way that many voters (and lawmakers!) say that drilling in the Gulf and/or ANWR will bring gas prices down, even though every expert says otherwise. Now why would the voters think THAT?

Anyway. Sarah Pulliam sticks to the facts but has a more informative piece than most. Also essential is this press release from the waffle guys, in which they make the classically racist move of explaining how un-racist they are:

There was no mention in the AP report that upwards of 1/3 of those who bought the Obama Waffles were Asian, African Americans, Hispanics, or from other ethic groups - all of whom thought the product was hilarious and anything but racist. By the way, the last person to buy was an African-American woman who purchased three boxes of Obama Waffles.

Regarding the charge of being racists, the AP story failed to report that Bob is married to a Hispanic woman while Mark and his wife have adopted a daughter from China. Is that what racists do?

I'm convinced.