Hail To The Ch-Ch-Ch Chia Obama

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Two-and-a-half months into his presidency, Obama-mania is hardly letting up. While it's leading to big profits for some retailers, it's also leading to a backlash among people who claim all of the stuff with the President's image on it is disrespectful and in some cases, racist.

The latest is a special edition Chia Obama.

On the streets of Chinatown, while some say, "Oh, I think it's nice. That's kind of unique as a statue," others say, "Oh that's ridiculous," and "it's like the ultimate form of disrespect to me."

And some are even going as far as saying, "It's a little racist." Some pointed out that when the so-called hair grows, it looks like an afro.

And then there's the other Obama goods, everything from boxer shorts to shoes.

"I don't think it's over the top," said one man. "I have an Obama hat with Rhinestones on it. It's fun."

But how much is too much? In New York, Obama Fried Chicken and Pizza is the talk of the town but not because of the food.

One New Yorker says, "Watermelon and fried chicken and the minstrel show, the black face, those are racist stereotypes!"

But others disagree. The same man who liked the Obama Chia Pet says,"That's beautiful. Obama's Fried Chicken. That could be stereotyped too. But most black people like chicken."

"Why not, why not? Who says a president has to be so narrowcasted," asked WKYS radio personality Jeannie Jones. She says she chooses not to be offended by all of the Obama memorabilia.

Jones says, "We've got a popular president. Who would think we'd live to see a president that was part of pop culture?"

Responding to complaints, some WalMart stores in Chicago and Tampa have pulled the Obama Chia pets off their shelves. A spokesman for the company that makes Chia Pets says he's flabbergasted by the controversy. He says for those who feel as if the full-grown Chia hair looks more like an afro, he says you can cut it regularly.