Barack Obama: Finger Lickin Good?

One German company's supposedly good intentions and attempt to capitalize on the success of President Barack Obama has been met with outrage on this side of the Atlantic. The company, Sprehe, recently began marketing a new fried chicken product called "Obama Fingers".

NYC Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) is mad and is calling for a boycott:

"It's racist and inappropriate. We should do all that we can to see to it that no [company] disrespects the first black President."

Todd Shaw, assistant professor of political science and African-American studies at the University of South Carolina, says that the stereotype is blatant and "broadly offensive" to African-Americans. "This sends a shiver down the spines of Germans and Americans, given our interesting histories of race and racism," he added.

Sprehe sales manager Judity Witting said that the connection between Obama and fried chicken - a stereotype that has long been associated with blacks in the U.S. - never even occurred to her:

"It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new U.S. President.

We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," Witting said. "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like [Chancellor Angela] Merkel."

The product packaging says that the chicken fingers are "tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast, coated and fried." It also comes with a delicious curry sauce for dipping.