Collectors Hunt for Obamabilia Treasures

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama inspired a lot of art during his meteoric rise to the highest office of the land. Paintings, videos, and songs are still trickling in, and some of it is good. But much of it isn’t. Much of it is, to put it gently, utter bird poop. But some of that bird poop is really funny, and, the Stimulist points out, that’s where BadPaintingsofBarackObama.com comes in. More»

Ceremonies fully funded by trinkets, donations

(AP) - Barack Obama's inauguration fundraisers had no problem capitalizing on a hot market for keepsakes. Obama-themed clothing, jewelry, rulers, and piggy banks raked in a grant total of $2 million for the inaugural committee. Even before the tchotchke change, the committee was already debt-free—the $53 million in individual donations disclosed earlier this week put total fundraising well ahead of the $50 million cost of the swearing-in. More»

Afro-sporting pottery planter 'didn't fit our corporate image'

(NEWSER) - Walgreens has pulled Chia Obama from its shelves, saying the Afro-growing pottery novelty “didn’t fit our corporate image,” the Chicago Tribune reports. “We didn’t want to be subject to any misinterpretation over the product,” said a spokesman, who said he was misquoted yesterday as saying that customers had complained that the bust was racist. “The word I used was ‘offensive.’” More»

(NEWSER) - Say what you want about the economy—“like for example, it blows”—but one business is booming: Crap with Barack Obama on it. From votive candles to toilet paper to “victory plates,” you can find the president-elect’s mug on just about anything these days, writes Sarah Hepola of Salon. She even tried typing “Obama sex toy” into Google. “God bless America: I was not disappointed.” More»

Planned Parenthood goes after Mitt, Mitt goes after Solyndra

(NEWSER) - Now that Mitt Romney has officially clinched the Republican presidential nomination, the fight is on. An update on the lines of attack being launched now that we know for sure it's Obama vs. Romney:

• The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is targeting Romney with one of its biggest political ad campaigns ever. A new video spot claims Romney will deny women access to birth control and cancer screenings, take away abortion rights, and not support equal pay for women. The campaign hits hard where it hurts, as Romney is already trailing President Obama among women, the New York Times notes.