Closing Arguments: Marketing the First Daughters?

I think the Obamas should really have anticipated that this would happen. I can somewhat sympathize, however, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That these sweet girls are role models for other children is a big plus.

Why in God’s name would stupid Michelle wear $17K earnings when people are starving. stupid negro that’s why.

I think Michelle Obama is correct in her assessment of this matter.

I think it is really horrible for someone to try to make a marketing toy off the likeness of these two little girls. It is so unreal that everything else in this world is patented and copyrighted, but your own likeness can be used by someone else to whatever means they see fit. These are kids, you shouldn’t be making Dolls of little kids anyway, do something more entertaining with your life..

I understand the Obama’s objection and why they may feel “violated” by the dolls image of their children, they’ve got to know that it’s par-for-the-course in the light that the children are in. I think it’s really healthy for young girls to identify with dolls in the image of the Obama girls, as opposed to what they have on the market now which does nothing to boost moral or a positive self image.

Delores Nuccio is just the type of person that we need to be mindful of. What is this subject has to do with Michelle’s earrings and to go negative with calling her a stupid negro because she has earrings that cost that. Perhaps Delores is jealous, the American people did not buy the earrings. My understanding the first family pay their own way. They must buy there clothes, food and personals. Get real people, stop hating Delores.

I find it to be disrespectful to the first family. If it was done with the parents permission thats one thing but this is just exploitation of two young girls.

This is about two young children, whose innocence in this world, should and needs to be protected as long as possible. Without the parents’ permission, no child should be marketed and exploited.

The Obamas used their girls and their family image to market themselves during the campaining process… it is unreasonable to now say that they are completely off limits and should not be in the public eye now that they have obtained the office. And by choosing to dress themselves and their girls in designer or namebrand clothes, they should expect attention. And here’s a question for the media- why are the Obama’s being praised for their selection of designer clothes when Sarah Palin was criticized for the same thing?! And there’s no double standard?!

All people in the public should not be exploited.No person should be exploited.
Bush kids did not have dolls made of them.Respect for others.This country does not have it.You still want to use,use,use and oppress.

These very sweet young girls can be role models for other children, of course. That they will get much attention as the “First Daughters” is understandable. That does that make it appropriate for them to be unliscensed marketing tools. The President and Mrs. Obama have tried to allow us to get to know the girls a bit, but; the first week is not over and dolls are on the market? That is simply exploitave and inappropriate. The post I viewed above mine by dolores is just unconscienable. By the way, Mr. Bashir, in your intro to this piece tonight you referred to the girls as “tweens”, since when are children this young “tweens”? Please media, especially well respected main stream journalists, think! A seven year old is not a “tween”. Nor is a ten year old. Nuance is important. We have a dangerous recent history in this country of treating young girls as old beyond their years , I know the President and Mrs. Obama will not stand for that.

If Bush can find a silver lining after shoes are thrown at him, the Obama’s can find one too with this issue. I agree, they marketed themselves during the campaign so the exploitation goes both ways. Getting free clothes from J.Crew and others has a cost. These companies have to make money for their shareholders. I don’t think they’ll be able to stop the momentum. They are also helping lots of designers expand business and that is a great thing in this economy. Isn’t that worth smiling about? The tweens seem to understand that this celebrity treatment may not be around when they are older but they can enjoy it while it lasts.

I think it is absolutely disgusting. Greed at its worst! To exploit these chidren for the sake of a dollar exemplifies what is wrong with this country! Its greed that got the U.S in the economic mess its in and this is just another example of that same type of corporate greed. What happened to exercising some good moral judgement.
People should be outraged by this….or is there no morality left in this society?

Where were the O’bama’s when the media were feeding on Sara Palin’s children?
Michelle did’nt seem to care. The O’bama’s loved every minute of it.
The O’bama’s have purposely marketed themselves and their children in a planned PR campaign to rival that of hollywood stars…They don’t miss a chance to exploit their own children..I just heard a promo on CBS about an upcoming thing about Michelle and the girls in the White House….They are regularly filmed being taken to school by “daddy”…So why the fuss? Could it be “they” are not benefiting from the dolls?….come on Nightline…Why can’t you point this out..It’s YOUR job to present balanced reporting…
OK I know….you’re in the pay to play game….O’bama can now give exclusive coverage to those he approves of…who gave him the right to let only one media outlet cover portions of the inaugural…America…You better wake up!!!

When did Bush ever protest about the various mockery items made from his words?

Of coyurce it’s alright isn’t it
isn’t everything for sale
of cource it would be alright
if everything was for sale
and everything is for sale
because that’s the way it is
it is a very sad tale, but
a very real truth

Yes! this is exploitation of the Presidents girls. They need to be free to express and be who they are and they should not be exploited for that. This smart free enterprise is BS. IT IS EXPLOITATION OF A PAIR OF BEAUTIFUL, FREE SPIRITED YOUNG CHILDREN. There Free Spirited Ways needs to be shown so that we can show healthy living and stop hiding and giving into the perverts and corrupt expoiters.

I think that misses Michelle O’bama is correct. I realize that the girls are now in the public eye. But they are still children that need there Mothers protection.

To eagles3: Is Sarah Palin a stupid caucasian because she allowed a lot of money to be spent on her wardrobe? Of course not. Whatever Michelle Obama does has nothing to do with her race . . . you racist buffoon.

to bad so sad, it would be better for them to be bitching about the dolls being made in china, the company donates heaps tocharity with their toys and will probably donate a portion of these products, america free enterprise still so be happy about that

If Michele hadn’t put them on the cover of People magazine and used them for ppolitical gain they wouldn’t have a persona to sell. Now that the cat is out of the bag, it’s kinda hard to put it back in. Here come the new Olson twins, though I’m sure Michele would rather they spend their evenings studying for their SATs. Mom’s fault for selling them.

Yeah Delores Nuccio – why don’t you get a job and you can buy your own $17,000 earrings! I’m sure Michelle borrowed them, but she is by no means a “stupid negro” and I am offended by you calling her that! The Obamas make their own money and they can spend it however they like, THAT’S none of our business!

These girls are 7 & 10.
They DEFINITELY should be left alone.

Of all the Obama memorabilia I’ve seen, and 99% pretty cheesy, I’d say the Dolls will be quite valuable one day…think I’ll go buy a few…Oh, I forgot I’ll be dead by the time the value increases..

The Obama’s family pics are all over magazines at every supermarket checkout and newsstand. Can a family have it both ways? It’s difficult to balance this. I don’t think the dolls really even look like the girls, so it’s mostly the name thing. Now – if the the dolls were designed with pictures of the girls faces on them, that would be getting a little too weird.

No Clinton dolls, no dolls representing the Bush twins? How crude, insensitive, and DISRESPECTFUL! This is our First Family! Tyco – shame on you!!
Re: Delores Nuccio
Andria said it best…”silly white girl.”
J.Moore-when did President OBAMA become “O’bama?” It’s YOUR JOB to get the facts right! Idiot.
Joseph Graves: Perfectly stated. Thank you.

Dolores Nuccio is a bigot whose comments above only serve to demonstrate her ignorance. As to those whose comments accuse the Obamas of “parading their girls” to promote the President’s campaign are both unobservant and narrow-minded. The Obamas are a close-knit family; the President and First Lady are the parents of young children. Those young girls have a stake in whatever situations affect their parents. During the campaign they WEREN’T “paraded” before the crowds; they appeared when their father won the Democratic nomination and when he won the general election & at his inauguration. They appeared with their parents during a few TV interviews, but by & large, their parents have gone to great lengths to shelter them from public attention. Children like to name their dolls THEMSELVES. If young girls are captivated by the names of the Obama girls, they shouldn’t be deprived of choosing those names for their dolls, whether or not the dolls are ones “of color” or blond and blue-eyed. This toymaker IS guilty of exploitation.

Daloris, it’s people like you that keep this “race war” going. I my self am sick of it. We are all part of the human race regardless of our skin color. I love the Obamas and I’m White. :o) Besides, Our PRESIDENT is Black and White. An oreo cookie one might say. LOL And he is YUMMY! So get over your self and your hatred. It’s getting old already. This is a time to move forward not backwards. GO OBAMA and First Lady n Kids !!!!

OK, let’s try this again. lol Daloris, it’s people like your self that keep this “race issue” going. ( sigh ) It’s time to move past your hatred and show some love to our new First Family. Look honey, we are all from the same family-it’s called the HUMAN FAMILY. We just have different skin color that’s all. I love the Obamas!! Our President represents Black n White and everything in between. Like a YUMMY OREO COOKIE..umm umm good. :o) Love to the Obamas

DOES NO ONE REALIZE OBAMA IS BI-RACIAL???.HE IS HALF WHITE AND HALF BLACK.SO HOW THE HECK CAN THEIR BE ANY RACISM????????GROW UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This incidence reminds me “the cartoon drawings” which offended a lot of people around the world and they were angry about it. It was their right to act so.

THIS IS NOT THE 50″S,60′S OR 70′S BUT CREEPING INTO THE EIGHTIES WE START TO SEE PEOPLE WHO BIZARRE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND WE START TO SEE COPY CAT BEHAVIOE AT AN INCLINE. CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE. I APPRECIATE FREE SPEECH BUT THE SUPREME COURT JUST TURNED OVER A RULING THAT PORNOGRAPHY CAN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE WEB SITES. THIS ISN’T ABOUT THEY MARKETED THERE DAUGHTERS OR WHATEVER HOW STUPID. MICHELLE IS TRYING TO KEEP HER CHILDREN AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. I KDON’T REMEMBER HAVING A PATRICIA NIXON DOLL OR CAROLYN KENNEDY KDOLL BUT YOU CAN SEE AS WE SLIGHTLY ENTERED THE NEW AGE WE BECAME MORE CRAZY. IN A MARRIAGE WE USE TO SAY THE LITTLE WOMAN WINS THE LITTLE FIGHTS AND THE MAN WINS THE BIG ONE. IF I WAS MICHELLE I WOULD TELL MR. PRESIDENT “YOU FIX THIS BIG BOY OR I AM OTTA HERE? HE NEEDS TO KSTEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TELL THE PUBLIC BACK OFF !!!!!!!!!!! CYNDI

Is ABC asleep at the wheel? Why is that stupid racist bigotted daloris comment still posted? This is an affront to all. I thought ABC took off comments of this nature.

Some of the racist & political comments here…are disgusting and shows some of America is still ignorant when it comes to race and politics!!!
The two Obama children are very cute and people will cash in on this..not sure if this can be stopped. The girls are famous!

Thanks for the information on Dolores.
Dolores, wondering if you say these provocative things to have people respond to you for some ego boost or do you say these things because in your heart you really believe them.
It’s not about you.

Now this is making me mad! Michele is upset because of these doll replicas of their daughters and her husband just took off the ban to KILL babies in the safest places there should ever be, their mother’s womb! So while they are both pro-choice and wanting babies chopped up and sucked out, she doesn’t like these dolls! POOR THING, try evil thing.

dolores nuccio:
Stupid people like you can not spell!!!!
Is earning, ear rings!!
RACISM IS ON IT’S WAY OUT!!!!!
TOLERANCE OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUND IS IN!!!
GET USE TO IT!!!!

Unfortunately, the price of all fame in this country is living “in the fishbowl” – the First Family needs to realize and adjust – comprehending this concept which exists in a free enterprising society.
Their beautiful daughters are not being exploited or harmed in any way and the biggest influence in their lives will continue to be their parents who will keep them grounded and focused.

The question is did the toy company get permission from the first family to make these dolls?
If they didn’t then maybe the Obama’s ought to send them a stop order for not asking if this could be done.
On the other hand why have over the top parties and clothes when the country is facing terrible recession.
Who are the elitist now?

Anyone shoot Jay Z yet

Speaking as a foreigner, I am horrified that someone can publicly make such racist comments as Ms Nuccio has.
Similarly, although I believe Mrs Obama’s borrowed earrings have nothing whatsoever to do with the current debate, I would have been shocked to see her wearing a $1.70 pair from Walmart! Whether she and we like it or not (and I suspect she does), she is the US’s prime ambassador after her husband. She has to put on a show for the world, she’s the new face that America shows to the world (and she’s not there to please denigratory racists).
I thoroughly agree with Mrs Obama and her stance with regards to these dolls. Rank exploitation of two young innocents and, as a parent wanting to keep my kids’ feet on the ground, I’d be worried about the effects of ‘hero-worship’ and fantasy such merchandise might evoke. Aren’t these good enough reasons to object?
For those who argue that the Obamas ‘shouldn’t have used’ their daughters in the election campaign – what nonsense! You’d prefer that they kept them in a closet for two years and brought them out only for the inauguration?! You’d soon be asking questions and throwing a darned sight more mud then!
Personally, from a foreigner’s perspective, the Obama family looks like the most normal, sorted and open ever to grace the WH. You naysayers really don’t seem to comprehend or value the tremendous power of good they’re doing for America’s image.

I think that if it is offensive to the 1st lady to use her daughter’s names to market these dolls, then the names should NOT be used. Surely, these dolls can be marketed without using the 1st daughter’s names.

It is completely inappropriate. Have we not learned anything from our current global crisis? It is not ok do to just anything in order to make a buck!

Comments that Obama “used” his family are ridiculous. American EXPECT to know the family of their prospective president. And it would have made no difference anyway – these dolls would still be here – so it is 100% irrlevant.
I agree that people should be able to protect their own likeness and name. However, you have to expect *some* invasion of family privacy when you are the first family.
In my opinion, the Obama’s should threaten the company with legal action for using their highly recognizable names without permission. (Do you think Oprah or other celebrities would allow their names to be ‘used’ for dolls?)
The Obama’s can then demand the lion’s share of the profits from the dolls, which can be put towards a childrens’ charities. If similar toys are created in the future, this could raise a good chunk of money for charity over the next 8-years. This is a legacy the Obama children could be proud of.
A Canadian

Companies will do anything to make a buck. The media put them out there not
their parents.Don’t go there!! There was
no exploitation of the Bush twins.

I do understand why Mrs.Obama is not happy with the doll that look like her girls. Yes, the girls have been pushed into the limelight but they are not public domain. Their mother and father are but the kids should be off limits til they are old enough to make that choice for them self.

When it comes to children especially those under 18, parents rule. If it is Mrs. Obama’s decision not to have dolls made in the likeness of her children case closed, respect her.

Yes, at this stage of the game, it is inappropriate. However, it illustrates capitalism at its best. Hope it does not screw up the mindset of the children. It could have a positive impact on given sectors of society. Heaven knows we need it!

It’s inappropriate for a manufacturer to market these dolls without the Obams’s approval. The Obama’s are too classy to do this, but they should demand royalty payments.
Racism is out, Dolores Nuccio, get used to it.

“Only in America. . . ” There is no respect for privacy, much less for our children when it comes to business as usual in America. The finance ceos have proven that big business reigns here – they are above the law, and above the standards of ethical conduct.
Once the US public stops doing business with such companies this, too, shall cease. The First Lady has every right to put a stop to anyone creating an “image” of her children. Maybe shooting the idiots in their kneecaps would help.

MONEY GOT US IN THIS , SOMEONE IS TRYING TO , MAKE MONEY . OFF THE FRIST FAMILY’ S DAUGTHER’ S , AS DOLLS WHEN WIL WE LEARN !

Your children are your children, and if the first family saids the girls can be on the cover of a magazine and the magizine has permission,that’s different then taking it upon yourself to make a doll that looks like the girls just because you can.Keep letting them know their boundries,Michele,their your and the President’s children,not everybody that wants to make a dollar off them.

It would be OK – IF, IF – all the profits went to underpriveledged children in the USA and Africa.

I believe it is custom that the President’s children are off limits from political attacks, exploitation and invasion of privacy acts. This is a clear example of commercialism at its worst.

The dolls represents the worst of capitalism which, incidently, is why not only America but most of the world is facing the current economic meltdown:GREED- $$, profits at any cost!
In my opinion, every woman, whether a mother, grandmother, aunt, godparent, cousin or friend should do everything possible to DISCOURAGE the purchase of these dolls. The operative word is BOYCOTT. If there are no buyers, the manufactuers will take them off of the market!

Why do I feel like the Obamas are going to own a toy company?

I agree with the First Lady. These two little girls are the daughters of the President of the United States. He’s got a “big” job to do. Trying to keep the girls in a “normal” setting is probably next to impossible now. However, the dolls may have positive effects on other girls their age.

I think sometime we as a people throw common sense, respect and decency right out the window. As a parent, I am proud of my children and show them off every chance I get. Why? Because I love them. This is hardly anthing thing new, many women with children, all across the globe, feel the same way about their children. I am certain that Michelle Obama, like many of us, feels the same way about her daughters. The only difference is that her daughters father just happens to be the President of the United States. For folks to place these two girls on a pedestals to be America’s role models is insane. Let them grow-up to be well-round young ladies like their parents are trying to raise them to be. While their father is a very public figure, let’s remeber that Barack Obama is just like the any other man… he put his pants on one leg at a time. The Presidency is a job with enomous responsibilities. As an elected official to the highest office, our expections should be high but to add his children to the mix is absolutely not a good thing. For any business wanting to exploit them demonstrates once again the integrity of the individuals that runs them. And as we have been witnessing for the past few years or so, it’s that lack of integrity that has the US in the current economic crisis that it now sits. If you still can’t fathom just how much decency, respect and integrity some of us lack, read the posting by Deloris Nuccio, she is a clear example of the idiosyncratic thought process that continues to keep america stagnated.

Even tho I may not agree with the toy makers, when the family is in the public the whole world is watching. They are open to everything. One person made mention that no other presidential children had dolls made in thier image. And just because the dolls have the names they do there’s no guarantee that they are named after the two girls. (even tho it is more likely than not) Also, I have a theory in that as the first black president, that is why they will be through more than anyone else. I feel for them, but they knew what they were getting into when they signed up about their daughters. They will have to get used to it, because it will probably get worse before it gets better. I just pray that nothing happens to them because of all the publicity. Even if we didn’t vote for him, he is now our president and we must show respect.