Is this racism? The Associated Press certainly seems to think so: Forum sells ‘Obama Waffles’ with racial stereotype.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Activists at a conservative political forum snapped up boxes of waffle mix depicting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as a racial stereotype on its front and wearing Arab-like headdress on its top flap.

Values Voter Summit organizers cut off sales of Obama Waffles boxes on Saturday, saying they had not realized the boxes displayed “offensive material.” The summit and the exhibit hall where the boxes were sold had been open since Thursday afternoon.

Whether the intent was racist or not, it’s hard to believe that the producers didn’t know it would be taken that way. So the end result of this little stunt is to reinforce the image that the GOP condones racism (with help from the media, of course). Thanks a lot, guys.

It’s interesting to note, however, that in the Associated Press article on this “novelty item,” they don’t mention the incident that obviously inspired the “waffle” concept in the first place: Why Can’t I Just Eat My Waffle?

WASHINGTON (AFP-EJP)—-Democratic White House contender Barack Obama could not hide his irritation Monday when asked by a reporter what he thought about former president Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas last week.

“Why can’t I just eat my waffle?” the Illinois senator said as he ate breakfast in Scranton, Pennsylvania, according to MSNBC television pictures.

Pressed again for an answer, he replied: “Just let me eat my waffle.”

UPDATE at 9/14/08 1:19:32 pm:

Christianity Today has more info: Vendors asked to leave Values Voter Summit.

Underneath, it includes a “Barry’s Bling Bling Waffle Ring recipe rap”:

“Yo, B-rock here droppin’ waffle knowledge
Spellin’ it out, ‘cause I graduated college
Some say I waffle so fast, Barry’s causin’ whiplash
Just doin’ my part, made wafflin’ a fine art
For a waffle wit style, like Chicago’s Magnificent Mile
Spray whipped cream around the edge
Shake it first like Sister Sledge
Then say wit me, I can be as waffly as I wanna be!
(That goes out to my Ludacris posse)”