Big Bird, the unexpected star of the first presidential debate last week, must be starting to feel like a pawn. President Barack Obama's campaign team just released an ad featuring the Sesame Street character in response to Republican candidate Mitt Romney's assertion that he would cut funding to PBS in order to bring down the national debt.

"Big ... Yellow ... A menace to our economy ... Mitt Romney knows it's not Wall Street you have to worry about, it's Sesame Street," the ad mocks. "Mitt Romney — taking on our enemies, no matter where they nest."

The people behind Big Bird have asked Obama to take down the ad stating that they take no sides in political campaigns and never approved the message.

"Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns," Sesame Workshop said in a statement. "We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down."

The Obama campaign said they would take their request into consideration. In the meantime, Obama continues to run with the Sesame Street jokes. At a recent fundraiser in San Francisco, the president tied in a couple more characters from the popular children's program with the infamous O.J. Simpson case.

"You didn't know this, but for all you moms and kids out there, you should have confidence that finally somebody is cracking down on Big Bird. Elmo has been seen in a white Suburban. He's driving for the border," Obama said, even though Simpson's vehicle was a white Bronco.

"Oscar is hiding out in his trashcan. We're cracking down on them," he continued. "Governor Romney's plan is to let Wall Street run wild again, but he's going to bring the hammer down on Sesame Street."

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