Utah company cancels plans to sell Obama sock monkey doll

A company in Utah has canceled its plans to sell a Barack Obama "sock monkey" doll after critics called the portrayal "racist."

The Sock Obama doll was reportedly created by David and Elizabeth Lawson of West Jordan, Utah, as a way for citizens to show their support for various candidates. But the Lawsons said they were shocked by the anger and tone of the negative emails they received about their product.

TheSockObama Company initially blamed critics, who they said had "chosen to misinterpret our plush toy. It is not, nor has it ever been, our objective to hurt, dismay or anger anyone," the company said.

Acknowledging their own naiveté, the company said "we don't think in terms of myths, fables, fairy tales and folklore."

But civil rights leaders and others were offended by the product. Jeanetta Williams, president of a local Utah chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the toy ''pure racism at its extreme.''

Under pressure, the Utah company pulled the toy from production and issued an apology on its web site. "We are very apologetic to all who were upset by our toy idea," the company said in its apology. "We will not be proceeding with the manufacturing of this toy."

The Utah company had contracted with Binkley Toys, a custom-toy manufacturer, to mass produce the doll, but the toy company itself was apparently caught off guard by the furor and did not realize the doll might cause offense. Company owner Rob Bishop said "my company is not just about 'dollars' and Binkley Toys Inc. prides itself on its social responsibility."