Cobb bar selling shirts combining book character's picture, Obama's name - AfroChat - African American

Moe17 · May 14th, 2008, 03:52 PM

sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books.

The T-shirts are being peddled by Marietta,GA bar owner Mike Norman at his Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Cobb County. They show a picture of Curious Georgie peeling a banana, with the words "Obama '08" underneath.

, HE HAS LOST HIS MIND!!!

Article Continues:
Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt | ajc.com

sephari · May 14th, 2008, 06:07 PM

you mean you didn't see this one coming a mile away?

mlr710 · May 14th, 2008, 07:54 PM

The publisher of the Curious George books has threatened to sue this clown...so these T-shirts are no more as of today.

Moe17 · May 14th, 2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sephari

you mean you didn't see this one coming a mile away?

Of course, I didnt think anyone would have the b***s to do it!

mlr710 · May 14th, 2008, 11:02 PM

Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt
Cobb bar selling shirts combining book character's picture, Obama's name

By JAMIE GUMBRECHT, CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 05/13/08

The publishing company that owns the Curious George image says it is considering legal action to stop the sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books.

The T-shirts are being peddled by Marietta bar owner Mike Norman at his Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Cobb County. They show a picture of Curious Georgie peeling a banana, with the words "Obama '08" underneath.

Rick Blake, a spokesman for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns Curious George, said Wednesday that the company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts.

"We find it offensive and obviously utterly out of keeping with the value Curious George represents," Blake said. "We're monitoring the situation and weighing our options with respect to legal action."

Norman has said he got the T-shirts from someone in Arkansas. He started selling them at his bar -- known for the provocative, ultra-conservative political slogans often posted on signs out front -- in April but said he has no plans to mass market them.

The sales came to light this week when a loose coalition of local groups called a protest of the T-shirts.

About a dozen protestors rallied against the shirts Tuesday afternoon, condemning them as racist and asking Norman to stop selling them.

Norman acknowledged the imagery's Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey.

"We're not living in the (19)40's," he said. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears -- he looks just like Curious George."

Marietta native Pam Lindley, 47, joined Tuesday's protest after reading about the controversy.

"I don't want people to think this is what Marietta is all about," she added, motioning towards the tavern. "This is what some people think the South is still like. Marietta's come a long way but I guess it's still got a little ways to go."

She said she'd like to see the city ban Norman's provocative musings regularly posted on a sign out front of the bar, which is near Marietta's downtown square. Those who gathered Tuesday say they will continue their campaign against Norman's "hate speech."

But his defenders are just as resolute. Mulligan's is a refuge, they say, in an otherwise hypersensitive world. Smoking isn't only allowed at the bar, it's expected.

"This place is a diamond in the rough," said Gene McKinley, a Woodstock engineer among the patrons Tuesday. "People here are genuine and honest. It's the one place I can go without having to worry if I'm offending someone."

Norman said he fielded calls throughout Tuesday about his T-shirts. An ajc.com story about the controversy was picked up on the Drudge Report. "One guy in New Jersey wanted me to send him 100 shirts," said Norman, 63.

He said he noted physical similarities between the Democratic frontrunner and the cartoon monkey while watching a Curious George movie with his grandchildren.

Someone -- "probably a customer, I don't know" -- from Arkansas sent him the shirts, Norman said.

The Tennessee native said he's providing a public service of sorts, reminding people they have a right to offend.

"This is my marketing tool," he said.

May 14th, 2008, 03:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Moe17 Afro Resident Junior Speaker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Gender: Posts: 423 Thanks: 34 Thanked 26 Times in 22 Posts Rep Power: 7 Credits: 2,473	Cobb bar selling shirts combining book character's picture, Obama's name sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books. The T-shirts are being peddled by Marietta,GA bar owner Mike Norman at his Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Cobb County. They show a picture of Curious Georgie peeling a banana, with the words "Obama '08" underneath. , HE HAS LOST HIS MIND!!! Article Continues: Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt \| ajc.com __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *"Hello, Im real ...And You?"* Last edited by Moe17 : May 14th, 2008 at 03:57 PM.

May 14th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
sephari Afro Resident Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: by the sea Gender: Posts: 678 Thanks: 101 Thanked 73 Times in 50 Posts Rep Power: 16 Credits: 4,079	you mean you didn't see this one coming a mile away? __________________ They are people who call Africa "the motherland". What child isn't curious to know about his mother?

May 14th, 2008, 07:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
mlr710 Afr0 Resident Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Gender: Posts: 782 Thanks: 56 Thanked 173 Times in 123 Posts Rep Power: 11 Credits: 12,055	The publisher of the Curious George books has threatened to sue this clown...so these T-shirts are no more as of today. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

May 14th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
mlr710 Afr0 Resident Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Gender: Posts: 782 Thanks: 56 Thanked 173 Times in 123 Posts Rep Power: 11 Credits: 12,055	Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt Cobb bar selling shirts combining book character's picture, Obama's name By JAMIE GUMBRECHT, CHRISTIAN BOONE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/13/08 The publishing company that owns the Curious George image says it is considering legal action to stop the sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books. The T-shirts are being peddled by Marietta bar owner Mike Norman at his Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Cobb County. They show a picture of Curious Georgie peeling a banana, with the words "Obama '08" underneath. Rick Blake, a spokesman for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns Curious George, said Wednesday that the company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts. "We find it offensive and obviously utterly out of keeping with the value Curious George represents," Blake said. "We're monitoring the situation and weighing our options with respect to legal action." Norman has said he got the T-shirts from someone in Arkansas. He started selling them at his bar -- known for the provocative, ultra-conservative political slogans often posted on signs out front -- in April but said he has no plans to mass market them. The sales came to light this week when a loose coalition of local groups called a protest of the T-shirts. About a dozen protestors rallied against the shirts Tuesday afternoon, condemning them as racist and asking Norman to stop selling them. Norman acknowledged the imagery's Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey. "We're not living in the (19)40's," he said. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears -- he looks just like Curious George." Marietta native Pam Lindley, 47, joined Tuesday's protest after reading about the controversy. "I don't want people to think this is what Marietta is all about," she added, motioning towards the tavern. "This is what some people think the South is still like. Marietta's come a long way but I guess it's still got a little ways to go." She said she'd like to see the city ban Norman's provocative musings regularly posted on a sign out front of the bar, which is near Marietta's downtown square. Those who gathered Tuesday say they will continue their campaign against Norman's "hate speech." But his defenders are just as resolute. Mulligan's is a refuge, they say, in an otherwise hypersensitive world. Smoking isn't only allowed at the bar, it's expected. "This place is a diamond in the rough," said Gene McKinley, a Woodstock engineer among the patrons Tuesday. "People here are genuine and honest. It's the one place I can go without having to worry if I'm offending someone." Norman said he fielded calls throughout Tuesday about his T-shirts. An ajc.com story about the controversy was picked up on the Drudge Report. "One guy in New Jersey wanted me to send him 100 shirts," said Norman, 63. He said he noted physical similarities between the Democratic frontrunner and the cartoon monkey while watching a Curious George movie with his grandchildren. Someone -- "probably a customer, I don't know" -- from Arkansas sent him the shirts, Norman said. The Tennessee native said he's providing a public service of sorts, reminding people they have a right to offend. "This is my marketing tool," he said. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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