My second column in The Times.  Check it out here or below.

Obamanalia: Re-energizing our economy since 2008

BY PETE SEAT
Times Columnist
Thursday, February 19, 2009

The old campaign refrain of “Yes, we can” turned to “No, you can’t” when the White House counsel’s office embarked on an effort to crack down on entrepreneurs working to shimmy up the economy just when the road started to get bumpy for President Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

Why do we need an $800 billion to $1 trillion piece of legislation when President Obama has already brought us a stimulus via the countless stores and mall kiosks around the country peddling Obama paraphernalia — or Obamanalia?

It seems that if you can produce it, package it and sell it, Obama’s face has been glued or stitched on it.

Not only do these ubiquitous items make the perfect gift for loved ones during the holidays, but they can also be a family friendly window shopping game the next time you’re out in Chicago or Washington, D.C. I call it, “Obamanalia: The Game.” It’s really easy, too. You get two points for finding key chains and magnets; five points for T-shirts and hats; and 10 points for posters, bobbleheads and life-size cardboard cut-outs. Bonus points are available if any item includes the words “Yes We Can” or “Si se puede” or if you catch Montel Williams hawking limited edition coins while channel surfing.

But wait, you can earn a whopping 50 points if you spot a home with Obama painted on the side or a car with his mug on the hood. Both are sure-fire ways to help the declining real estate and auto industries. Signed, sealed and delivered, as they say.

While we’re at it, why don’t we start selling Obama stock? No more rescue plans needed!

It is ironic and awkward to see all these items floating around because liberals love to complain about the evils of free market capitalism. It is precisely the spectacular union of a free market and Obamanalia bearing the likeness of the current King of Liberal-land that is pumping tons of money into our sluggish economy.

All this goes to show that Obama, the 44th president of the United States, really is quite the celebrity. Republicans spent a lot of time mocking his celebrity status during the campaign, and they had a point. He’s recognizable (but what president isn’t?) and marketable (very marketable).

While Access Hollywood, Extra and Entertainment Tonight devote countless hours to covering the White House (something they never did before), the real question is not how much Obamanalia can be sold to the public, but will his policies help bring the country back to firm financial footing?

If only they would realize the real fix will not come from any of Obama’s left-leaning policies; in fact, those will probably hinder our progress.

Instead, the cure has been born in the form of every conceivable consumer good on the market sporting the Obama’s likeness. Why else would we be subjected to this unless it was for the good of our nation?

Pete Seat, a Schererville native, is former deputy assistant press secretary to President George W. Bush. He can be reached at peteseat@gmail.com. His column appears in this spot every other Thursday. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer’s and not necessarily that of The Times.