Germany Food Company Sells Fried Chicken Called Obama Fingers

German Food Company Honors Obama, Offends World

March 16, 2009

A German company has its very own funcooker on its hands. To pay homage to America and its new president, a German purveyor of frozen-food delicacies launched a new product — Obama Fingers. "Tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast, coated and fried" It's like chicken. Like fried chicken.

Oh. Whoops! But can we really expect a German food company to know (though maybe market research could've checked?) that fried chicken is tinged with years of racial stereotyping in the US? A company spokesperson said it was simply trying to capitalize on the fact that American food is trendy and selling right now. And, really, what is more American than that?

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44 Comments

stephley 4 years

"booglass, I think you are way over the top here. I think you need to broaden your horizons. Just because you are a liberal American, not everyone in the world has your body of knowledge, and obviously you have a limited understanding of other cultures." What was it you said about ad hominem attacks?

stephley 4 years

Grandpa 4 years

booglass, I think you are way over the top here. I think you need to broaden your horizons. Just because you are a liberal American, not everyone in the world has your body of knowledge, and obviously you have a limited understanding of other cultures. I had to be married about 15 years, and my wife and I went to visit one of her cousins at there Summer home. There was about 60 yards from where we parked to the summer home on the water, when we got out of the car, I saw the cousins on the porch, and raised my hand in greeting palm out, and I could see they were flustered, when we go to the door, the husband pulled me aside, and suggested, I don't use that as a greeting. Apparently The hand out palm forward in Greece is like the middle finger here in the states. So maybe we can say it was embarrassing, but no one believed I was being maliciously offencive.

booglass 4 years

omigosh - Just because it doesn't exist as stereotype in Dutch or German culture doesn't make it any less offensive. I certainly don't think any products sold in the US under similar circumstances would be given a free pass. These are the realities of of our every shrinking world.

booglass 4 years

UnDave35 4 years

That's an intersting perspective omigosh. To answer your question, the KFC's don't need to close because they don't have "Obamafingers" on the menu. Most Americans don't have a problem with Obama's color. It's his socialistic policies that have us up in arms.

UnDave35 4 years

That's an intersting perspective omigosh.To answer your question, the KFC's don't need to close because they don't have "Obamafingers" on the menu. Most Americans don't have a problem with Obama's color. It's his socialistic policies that have us up in arms.

omigosh 4 years

Well, I'm from Holland (next to Germany) and I had no idea that fried chicken was a racial stereotype, so I can understand why this company didn't either. But I think some people are overreacting here. Should all KFC's in Germany then also close down because they sell fried chicken? Here in western Europe we don't see it as such a big deal that Obama is colored- that is not the thing that defines him for us- so we don't really think about how things could be interpreted as racist. We just think he's a cool dude. So why not make chicken fingers with his name. It's a lot better than Bush-fingers!

omigosh 4 years

Well, I'm from Holland (next to Germany) and I had no idea that fried chicken was a racial stereotype, so I can understand why this company didn't either. But I think some people are overreacting here. Should all KFC's in Germany then also close down because they sell fried chicken?Here in western Europe we don't see it as such a big deal that Obama is colored- that is not the thing that defines him for us- so we don't really think about how things could be interpreted as racist. We just think he's a cool dude. So why not make chicken fingers with his name. It's a lot better than Bush-fingers!

StolzeMama 4 years

Aren't chicken fingers his favorite? Or am I mistaken? I never really got the whole fried chicken/black people thing. Where I am from, there are more whites at popeyes and kfc. I guess maybe because i am younger and not from the south. :shrug: I agree... the golden gate bridge?? Is that the only thing they can come up with that looks american?

HappyKate 4 years

People will make of things what they will. It is not racial unless it was meant to be and this was out of love for Obama (and capitalizing on that!). Lets move on people :}

janneth 4 years

Ugly packaging, does not look appetizing to me.

avantgardeology 4 years

its only stereotyping if you let it be. simple as that.. Its food, get over it!

Michelann 4 years

It's pretty clear to me that the intent of this product was to honor (and by honor I mean mooch off the success of) President Obama, and not to insult him with some bizarre racial stereotype. So I know there are no 'good' stereotypes, but as far as stereotypes go, this one isn't so bad. I'd much rather have people think I like fried chicken (and believe me, I do) than think I... I don't know... can't dance (even thought I can't).

Michelann 4 years

genesisrocks 4 years

I think Nazis would be racist against black people. That's where I see the irony. As for the chicken I don't think they meant it as an insult. Must be one of those things that gets lost in translation and comes off as racist.

genesisrocks 4 years

I think Nazis would be racist against black people. That's where I see the irony.As for the chicken I don't think they meant it as an insult. Must be one of those things that gets lost in translation and comes off as racist.

bluesarahlou 4 years

"I also just pictured Obama with Wolverine-type metal claws, but instead of claws, they were these chicken fingers." Most awesome mental image. Ever.

bluesarahlou 4 years

"I also just pictured Obama with Wolverine-type metal claws, but instead of claws, they were these chicken fingers."Most awesome mental image. Ever.

Carrie Sue 4 years

Hey, you asked :) I should put in that I'm not at all offended here. If they feel like placing Obama fingers on the market, let 'em!

Carrie Sue 4 years

Hey, you asked :)I should put in that I'm not at all offended here. If they feel like placing Obama fingers on the market, let 'em!

stephley 4 years

:oy:

stephley 4 years

:oy:

piper23 4 years

I'm not offended. They look pretty tastey to me. Not a big fan of curry though.

Carrie Sue 4 years

To fully explain would bring down the wrath of the liberals on me, so.... Here goes :): The rise of socialism in the mid 30's comes to mind when I think of Germany (under the leadership of a cruel dictator, but I'm not making that particular comparison here). Also the comparison that has already been made concerning fried chicken and the south.

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