A Washington Post article reports that the company who is selling the dolls says: “the dolls are not made to be exact replicas of the first couple’s daughters and are not based on the Obama girls.”
Obama’s press secretary says: “We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes.”
What do you think?
UPDATE: The company has reportedly retired the Sasha and Malia dolls.
Comments 12
thoughtcounts Z — January 25, 2009
In what way are they "not based on the Obama girls"? They seem... completely based on them.
anna — January 25, 2009
assuming they are based on them, it is strange how they have the SAME FACE!
Penny — January 25, 2009
I notice the "play online" tag--that means they're like other Ty bean dolls, you can register "your" Sasha or Malia and play with her online avatar--you can furnish and decorate her room, pick out her outfits, have her visit with other Ty bean dolls, play games, etc. Nothing super creepy, but still--I agree with the Obama press secretary. It's inappropriate to "play" with the image of a real human kid without it being approved by her and her family.
Captain Crab — January 25, 2009
Ty must think that Sasha and Malia are common names, therefore they aren't based on the Obama children. On a more positive note, if they become popular, sales of the dolls will help get the economy rolling again!
Of course, I jest.
Penny — January 25, 2009
Just for reference, the name Sasha is #350 and the name Malia is #403 among American baby girls named in 2007. Both names have been in the top 500 since 2000.
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
BTW, there were Barbara and Jenna Bush paper dolls in this set, but they weren't minors at the time:
http://store.doverpublications.com/0486421902.html
Dover publications also did a Clinton family paper doll set, again with their Inaugural clothing as the clover illustration. Chelsea was definitely a kid at the time.
Here's the Amy Carter paper doll set--now old enough to call it "vintage":
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/dianesdollswithapast/item/1658
There were also paper dolls of Caroline and John Kennedy when they were very little kids in the White House.
Chris — January 25, 2009
I'm just trying to figure out the sign in that picture. "Best of luck in Washington, DC! We will miss you!" That would appear to be signed by "Malia" and "Sasha," and addressed...to whom, exactly? My first impression (bolstered, I guess, by the placement of Obama's books behind the sign and dolls) was that the girls were saying goodbye to their father, as if they weren't going to DC as well. Very odd, all the way around.
Frank Sayre — January 25, 2009
Inevitable. At least its not another commemorative plate set.
Gis — January 25, 2009
Creepy.
pitseleh — January 25, 2009
Yep, definitely not based on the girls. That's why there is the sign that refers to them moving to DC. And also the merchandising of the two books by the President along side the dolls. Obviously, nothing to do with the Obamas.
meerkat — March 3, 2009
If I were Sasha, I would find "sweet" pale praise compared to "marvelous." How about "Sensational Sasha"?
Tyrae-Ann — March 16, 2009
Some of these sets of dolls are going for nearly $2,000 dollars on E-bay! Unbelievable! They are now considered "rare" beanie-baby-dolls. Now Ty, who has made the choice to continue selling the dolls, is reasoning with Obama's reps and are currently changing the names to something else.
Alessandra Gilioli — July 12, 2009
If you look closely at the dolls in person they have BOOBS. Which I thought was odd for such young girls. That and the fact that they are named after real people is all together not right, commercially greedy.. etc.