Even American Girl Dolls Are Bummed About the Jobless Rate

Heads up, Washington: Even people who buy $100 dolls are nervous about the economy

Everyone is nervous about the economy, even the makers of expensive curly-haired dollies. In what normally would have been a friendly article about the introduction of two new American Girl dolls--the 18-inch cutie-pies wildly popular for their historical backstories and lack of hideously engorged breasts--the company's spokeswoman was forced to address the unemployment rate.

American Girl is introducing Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner. Cécile is black and Marie-Grace is white, but even though their story is set in New Orleans in 1853, they are best buds. They're meant to be bought together, and they cost $100 each. And that struck the Wisconsin State Journal's Judy Newman as a little tone-deaf:

Asked if consumers might be upset at the prospect of buying two expensive dolls at a time when the economy is still struggling and the U.S. unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, [American Girl spokeswoman Julie] Parks said, "We're not anticipating that everybody is going to buy one of each doll."

President Obama, take note: When even the people who buy their kids $100 dolls are nervous about the economy, you know you're in trouble.