The Boom in Worthless, Useless Obama Merchandise

Never underestimate the power of our countrymen to turn a truly historic, uplifting event into some crass commercial gambit. It's the American way to make a buck off of every dern thing so Barack Obama's election, of course, is no exception.

Even before becoming the nation's 44th president, Obama had spawned hundreds, if not thousands, of cottage industries.  But since Nov. 4th, the Obama schlocky artifact business has exploded.

Undoubtedly, you've seen the nonstop television ads for commemorative coins (print a picture of Obama on a half dollar and charge $9.95 plus $6.95 shipping.  Nice profit margin.) And then there are the decorative plates ("strictly limited to 65 firing days."  Translation: Strictly limited to the number of hapless saps who will fork over money for this). 

On the right are photos of some other Obamamemorabilia.  Top: Celebrate the holiday season with Obama Christmas cards (Okay, I admit, it. I really like these!)  Center: Your very own glow in the dark Barack fridge magnet.  Bottom:  My favorite of all the Obama paraphenalia and the packaging speaks for itself.

It's not just the street vendors, eBay entrepreneurs and online schlock stores that are making bucks off the Obama brand.  Both Newsweek and Time published special commemorative editions of their mags and reportly both were selling out within hours of hitting newsstands.  MSNBC is offering a DVD compilation of its election coverage. And you'd never know that the newspaper industry was on its deathbed if you judged only on its Nov. 5th sales. (Almost every major paper went to expanded printings.)

Here's comedian Lewis Black's commentary on The Daily Show mocking the Obama junk: