Chris Drew with his Obama llamas. (Courtesy of Chris Drew).
by Katie Fretland
Chris Drew, 30, of Springfield, Ill., wanted to come up with something to counter negativity he heard about Sen. Barack Obama's name.
He thought about the term, "Obama Lama," and figured that associating Obama with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, would be a good positive start. To him, the Dalai Lama symbolizes wisdom and peace. And so, the Obama llama, a stuffed animal created in support of Obama, was born.
Drew, who is working on his doctorate from Temple University, founded a website, obamallama.org, where he is selling the toys for about $20 each.
ObamaLlama works in opposition of the name-calling smear tactics of Obama's critics, Drew said.
Maybe the Obama llama can have a sales contest with the Republican National Committee's pink and gray elephants, Max and Maxine. Or the John McCain figurine that is on sale on eBay.
Or perhaps Teddy and Vern, the characters from the 1986 movie Stand by Me, should decide which is the most powerful. They pondered the quintessential question if Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman:
Vern: Do you think Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman?
Teddy: What are you, cracked?
Vern: Why not? I saw the other day, he was carrying five elephants in one hand!
Teddy: Boy, you don't know nothing! Mighty Mouse is a cartoon. Superman's a real guy. There's no way a cartoon could beat up a real guy.
Vern: Yeah, maybe you're right. It'd be a good fight, though.
(To watch that scene, start at 2:37)
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Comments
Alternate photo caption:
"My Obama Wwamas are my bestest fwends!"
Posted by: MJ | July 30, 2008 7:48 AM
What props would come with the McCain doll - Depends?
Posted by: Zook | July 30, 2008 8:23 AM
The ObamaLlama is so cute and fuzzy! I bought one and I love. What a great conversation piece.
Posted by: Indy | July 30, 2008 9:37 AM
That is the dumbest thing I've ever seen and that's saying a lot considering the veritable pantheon of dumb that is American politics.
Posted by: DL | July 30, 2008 10:07 AM
Only in the Obama campaign's swamp division.
Posted by: Jeff | July 30, 2008 10:47 AM
Wow. What a bunch of fluff. Hey! Great job making more garbage out of non-recylable materials that will soon end up in the trash after the novelty has worn off. I get so tired of the junk people come up with.
Posted by: This Is News? | July 30, 2008 11:00 AM
Genius. An opportunity seized. I hope he makes millions.
Posted by: Free Market Marty | July 30, 2008 11:27 AM
I hope he makes millions too and then he can pay more taxes to fund all my needs under President Obama. Of course he will then be one of them, you know the (gasp) "uncaring rich people". But I hope he sells a zillion of them, we need more rich people.
Posted by: Virginia | July 30, 2008 2:25 PM
How about an Obama Lama T Shirt?
Posted by: PuchiLama | August 24, 2008 6:43 PM
Almost another Obama Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisHVDbHabU
Posted by: Llamazaki | October 11, 2008 7:45 AM
YOU ARE THE BEST OBAMA FAN IN THE WORLD AND YOU ARE COOL
Posted by: qundarius aldredge | November 28, 2008 10:43 PM