Should Mattel Have Said Sorry to China?

"Gee, I didn't realize Mattel DESIGNED their toys to be painted with toxic lead! It's ridiculous that Mattel feels they must appease the Chinese. Mattel is OFF my Christmas toy list for this."  - Cirkl

"As usual, all sense of perspective has gone out the window here. Of course lead paint and other toxic ingredients should be eliminated from toys. But the danger from toys pales in comparison to our _daily_ exposure to pesticide and fungicide residues in our food supply. Anyone who thinks the former is more dangerous than the latter (especially for those eating lettuce, grapes, strawberries, and potatoes) is playing roulette with their health." - Alan G., New Hampshire

"Too bad American manufacturing has become so mealy mouthed. I, for one, am tired of hearing that consumers want cheap products, therefore, the manufacturers have to go to Mexico or China. Not so in my mind. The whole thing stems from greed by the corporations. Profit margins above all else. Sad, someone got caught, so suffer the consequences."  - Bill S.

"ABSOLUTELY Mattel should apologize to China! ALL problems with Chinese products have been portrayed as poor production in China, and this is utterly misleading. China produces what it is TOLD to produce by Mattel. In this issue it has tried to make China the scapegoat for poor/unsafe design when the responsibility for this particular problem lies with Mattel--NOT with China! It is very convenient for Mattel to blame China for this sort of problem. It is misleading to the point of being deceitful!" -  Gerald S., Massachusetts

"Two wrongs don't make a right.  Greedy corporate pigs like Mattel design a product to be made and sold as cheap as possible.  Then the greedy Chinese government cuts a deal with them to manufacture it using cheap labor and no quality control.  What do you expect?  Mattel should not have apologized to China.  China should have stood up to Mattel and said, hey, this stuff is junk and we can only make it worse." - David S., Texas

"They will do whatever they can to make money from 'Made in China.' It happened in the last 20 years and will keep going on until they find another 'Made in XXXX' to make money for them.  Remember, we are capitalism." - Lin G.

"This is clearly a case of Mattel trying to save face in China and maintain their relationships which provides inexpensive product for Mattel to sell in the U.S. Having some experience in China manufacturing, it is important for Mattel to maintain this relationship. There is a clear disconnect between the CEO and the VP based upon the two apologies that I heard on CNBC." - Ronald, Florida

"I am sure that Mattel didn't design the products to be painted with lead based paint. But where was the quality control oversight on both sides?" - Tory, North Carolina

"What government official got to the head guys at Mattel and 'talked them into' taking blame for 'design flaws' so that China would not pull the plug on all the US debt it holds??? Are you kidding me??? - C.C., North Carolina

"How does 'lead based paint' fit into a design problem? I don't think Mattel specified lead based paint in their spec. I doubt radiator fluid was part of the formula for toothpaste. I am sick to my stomach over Mattel's apology to a communist country and not their consumers in America." - Chris M.

"Mattel may well have designed flaws into their products but paint with excessive lead contact was applied in China, design flaws or no design flaws. I think the Chinese should be apologizing to Mattel and, more so, the American consumer." - Stanman

"Mattel should NOT have apologized to China. They should apologize to America." - Charles F.

"Mattel convicted China of misconduct in the public press, and they should apologize in the same manner. If there were allegations made in private, then Mattel should make private apologies also." - Steve in Maine