Michelle Obama: 'Inappropriate' to use daughters to sell dolls

CNN ^ | January 24, 2009 | Martina Stewart and Becky Brittain

[2ndDivisionVet]

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.

[2ndDivisionVet]

She seems to want to have it both ways. Sorry, you're in a public role now, get used to it! If other presidential kids had been off limits, I'd see her point, but they weren't. Plus, isn't this really a compliment?

[exist]

Hmmm. Is it also inappropriate to show topless pictures of Michelle Obama?

[WellyP]

Is she looking for the usual Chicago “kickback”?

[Army Air Corps]

Welcome to the public eye, Michelle. This is just the beginning.

[mylife]

We need a “Michelle is a humorless bi*ch doll”

Pull my string...”damn it BArack, I’ll put a boot up your ***”

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

What in the hell would this ‘family’ know what is ‘appropriate’? Michelle and Zero and already proven they have no class or dignity.

[jilliane]

she’s just ticked off that they didn’t cut her in on the profits

[Sundog]

I’m gonna make a pair of slippers out of two of them dolls.

[fortunate sun]

I would have to agree with Mrs. Obama on this one. I mean, we don’t have Senate Majority Leaders and members of the Senate writing to the employer of a private citizen in order to ... well, no, actually we HAVE had that happen. The dolls stay and as a matter of fact hasn’t she ever heard of a Baby Ruth?

[mylife]

Oh no! Noz you didnt!

[Lizavetta]

But it’s not inappropriate to use your daughters to market your doofus husband for public office?

[Lizavetta]

Separated at birth:

[EDINVA]

I didn’t think the day would come, but I agree with Michelle Obama. I also agree with her decision to have her mother move into the White House with them. Life will be difficult enough for those girls, the less the media and public focus on them, and the more a real family life they can have, the better off they will be.

[CommieCutter]

Watch it sucka!

[mylife]

Get real! No one is ripping on these kids.

Mamma Obama however is acting a fool

[Joiseydude]

Deal with it b***h

[nothingnew]

I agree with her, as I would with anyone of either party in this position.

FMCDH(BITS)

[mylife]

Next thing you know it will be inappropriate to make jokes about Labradoodles ☺

[tophat9000]

I agree with her on this (my first and most likely last time but I agree with her)

[machogirl]

for some reason i feel that if this had occurred during the campaign, she wouldn’t have protested