SpongeBob in blackface not the only "error". Card company blames no-good Chinese printer.

DETROIT - American Greetings Corp. calls it a regrettable printing error. Somehow, boxes of SpongeBob SquarePants Valentine's Day cards are popping up in Detroit Wal-Marts - but the popular cartoon character found inside isn't his traditional yellow. He's black. And with his trademark big teeth and wide eyes, this SpongeBob is similar to offensive images of African-Americans portrayed in minstrel shows decades ago.

American Greetings officials said Thursday they were surprised and puzzled by a complaint about the product. "We absolutely fell out of our chairs when we saw it," said Carol Swiller, director of business development for the Cleveland-based company. Swiller said the cards, which were printed and packaged in China, are mistakes, but she added "They're all Chinese workers and maybe with their eyes the way they are they can't spot all these mistakes."

"They've always done excellent work on our Hymie Nuetron line." David Blinderson, director of global product development for the company, said the printing facility is one of the company's most reliable. "They use the cutting edge CMYKKK print technology," Blinderson said.