Artist of Obama “Joker” Poster Image Identified — and He’s Not a Conservative

Not a conservative? Are you sure?

The guy says he didn’t vote in 2008, but he was a Kucinich supporter.
Right-wing nation: Self-identified conservatives outnumber self-identified liberals in all 50 states of the union, according to the Gallup Poll. At the same time, more Americans nationwide are saying this year that they are conservative than have made that claim in any of the last four years.

“Writing in the Washington Post, Philip Kennicott suggested that there was something racist about depicting the president as The Joker.”
I know that whenever I saw a Batman movie with the Joker, first words out of my mouth were “there is the racist”. I mean, who didn’t? And the Goblin in Spiderman, with his high tech gadgets, obviously a cryptic racist statement with inter-city cellphones of young black youth. And what about mother Theresa? She didn’t do her charity work in Africa. So racist.

So when someone made the Joker pic of President Bush that was ok, but when someone does it to President Obama it becomes a racial issue? Philip Kennicott is just playing the race card like so many others these days…

Alkhateeb thinks adding the term “Socialist” was immature? The 20 year old “artistic creator” of the Obama/Joker image? He went on to say that his political interest is pro-Islam. The imagery suggests urban chaos? I would say Islamic terrorists have created a bit more urban chaos, say in New York?

I am amazed at the number of people who do not understand the very marked differences between socialism and communism. Socialism, as an economic system, is a system by which the many have the opportunity to have a say in how wealth is utilized. It is, ironically it seems, a democratic system of running an economy. Communism is a political system (not an economic one) in which the power is concentrated in the hands of a very few – and those few claim a benefactor status to the many (i.e. we know what is best for you). Socialist democracy is a system of government in which the government, at the request of the people, handles the public good (roads, healthcare, public spaces, etc) with the goal of allowing for the many to experience a more positive life. It is very basic. And not so bad.

The cries of racism by the left continue to ring so hollow and are based on nothing more than an inability to articulate an effective argument in defense of their own position. When in doubt, fall back on the tired claim of racism. The irony is that it seems the biggest racists are the very ones that always claim racism.

“Socialism, as an economic system, is a system by which the many have the opportunity to have a say in how wealth is utilized. It is, ironically it seems, a democratic system of running an economy. Communism is a political system (not an economic one) in which the power is concentrated in the hands of a very few – and those few claim a benefactor status to the many (i.e. we know what is best for you). Socialist democracy is a system of government in which the government, at the request of the people, handles the public good (roads, healthcare, public spaces, etc) with the goal of allowing for the many to experience a more positive life. It is very basic. And not so bad.”
I have to disagree. Socialism and Communism are cut from the same cloth. Communism is a complete system, economic and political. Both are founded on wealth distribution and shared production. Meaning, you keep only what you need, the rest of what you produce is shared. That sharing is facilitated by the government. You could describe democratic socialism the same as democratic communism. Don’t confuse the Soviet’s form of totalitarian government with communism. Communism was the economic vehicle of the Soviets, their government was a dictatorship. You could just as easily have a democratic communist state.
Shared production and wealth distribution are the bases of both systems, socialism is like diet communism. It relies an a hybrid system meaning, instead of the state controlling all methods of production, socialism largely controls the rewards of it.
Problem is that socialism feeds on itself. Social programs expand over time. As people realize that harder work just means more of their wealth distributed, they begin to give in to human nature and take the path of least resistance. For example, in Germany you can have up to 3 years paid maternity leave. Guess how many years they take on average? The full extent typically. You can call this a good thing cause it sure sounds good, unles your the one paying for it. When people realize their hard work pays for people to sit at home and get paid, they don’t work as hard.
You should really look at the psychological results of the years of Soviet rule. The lack of motivation to produce was widespread. People had no incentive to work or improve their lives. Generations of people essentially ruined by the system.

Schooner – I wish you guys would cease bringing up some Canadian movie. If you had a problem with that then your problem was north of the border. I never approved of it either and I couldn’t stand Bush. P.S. The attack happened when he was in office.

There is indeed a big difference between what is being down with Obama and what was done with Bush.
The protests against Bush were due to his careless leadership, wars, and industrial nepotism.
The protests and the joker image are a protest how Obama looks.
The racist right is at it again. They are more upset with Obama for trying to fix health care and provide an economic boost to all of us then Palin’s craziness, Sanford’s love addiction, Craig’s seedy life, Perry’s secessionist, Limbaugh drug abuse and all the faded and immoral leaders of the GOP.
Give us all a break and keep quiet

Who wants to bet me that they (libs) Joe the Plumber this guy? I wonder if he is here illegally and if so, what will happen to this “poor” transgressor?
My advise……”RUN DUDE!!”

BTW….. “love your work, bro!!”

KR – Get real. There is no doubt in my mind that the right views ALL Muslims as terrorists. For one thing it is written in the Bible.

So in other words tylerkad, when the left created pictures of bush painted as the Joker, it was ok. when the left made racist remarks against Michael Steele and Condi Rice, it was ok. When the left threw oreo cookies at Michael Steele, again it was ok because it was coming from liberals. So now, lot of people are unhappy with what Obama is doing, they protest and all of a sudden it’s a racist thing to do.

can see the left wingnuts now with thier torches, ropes, and shovels.I hope this guy gets police protection… but I don’t think he can hide from Rahm emmanuel and the obama thugs
Posted by: stardate: 2731.1 | Aug 18, 2009 12:03:53 PM
Yes I do believe he will be getting a dead fish delivered to him.

“I’ll say it, Mr Alkhateeb: socialism is evil”
“And, I’ll say it, too. Socialism is evil. It kills individuality, creativity, freedom.”
This is really funny. Surely the most evil countries in the world are the socialist ones. Like Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and let’s not forget, Norway, the home of the Vikings. Let’s tell those Norwegians that they were better off with a volatile tribal system of government as they are currently too evil.
Creativity and individuality is certainly falling in countries like Iceland since they became a socialist democracy. Bjork and Sigur Ros are actually aliens and have assumed a humanoid appearance.
The architects of Finland, known for being some of the most talented and creative in the world, have had one of their deepest secrets exposed. They are all heroin addicts. It worked for jazz, and it’s working for Finnish architecture.
The Scandinavian people, ranked in a number of research articles as being the world’s happiest, are certainly fighting an uphill battle as their freedoms have been severely curtailed by being subjected to extortion in order to make sure their neighbor doesn’t starve to death and die of pneumonia simultaneously. Because if they did I would feel so much better and free and freedom and freedom.
Don’t even get me started on healthcare.

Obama hung with radicals his whole life. The socialist/pornographer/poet Frank Marshall Davis. Weathermen Underground leaders William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Went to socialist/communist meetings in NYC during college, where he met William Ayers, who was still a fugitive.
During law school, Obama recd a six figure advance to write his memiors. He couldn’t put it together and the contract was revoked. He went to another publisher and had William Ayers ghost write it.
The proof is in comparison to Ayers’ book, Fugitive Days, and Obamas book, Dreams of My Father. Jack Cashill has put together the research on this.

“KR – Get real. There is no doubt in my mind that the right views ALL Muslims as terrorists. For one thing it is written in the Bible.”
Wow. Read the Bible much? Both new and old testiments were written BEFORE Muslims appeared. Crack a history book too.

“What a horrible horrible place.
Next thing you will be telling us about the horrors of 6 weeks vacation.”
I think its great too! Everyone would! Till you realize your paying for it. Then it’s not so cool anymore.
6 weeks vacation is awesome too. Till the factory you work at moves to Slovakia.

Ryan C, attacking the messenger because you don’t have a valid argument against the message.
It’s gettin’ old and stale, dude.

Jen I’m not even aware of some game. Had I been I would have thought that took things too far as well. Are you guys going to try to sit here at this moment and honestly try to suggest Bush got it worse than Obama? For one thing Bush got us into a bit of a Mission Accomplished and hence his numbers tanking. Funny thing about wars billed as cheap and quick. When they don’t work out that way the people get annoyed. This guy just got in and guns are being carried to where he speaks. This poster is but a SMALL example of rabid off the right.

So tell me folks, since Firas Alkhateeb has said that if had to choose a politican to support that it would have been Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich and not Obama, please tell me how you still figure him to be a “right wing nut” and not the liberal he really is? Can people like Angie in PA just not understand that not every liberal or Democrat mindlessly follows Obama?

“Ryan C, attacking the messenger because you don’t have a valid argument against the message.”
Yes how dare I attack Dennis Miller!
Sorry that your heroes are human garbage and you don’t like hearing that.

elizqueenmama:
“…Socialism…is not so bad.”
________________________________________
Nice try, but you are WAY off the mark on your analysis of the difference between socialism and communism (and didn’t even mention capitalism).
At it’s core, Socialism maintains the concept of “from each according to their ability, to each according to their DEEDS”…whereas Communism maintains the concept of “from each according to their ability to each according to their NEEDS.” Both promote an essentially classless society where the elites control the centrally planned government, means of production and economy and the citizens are all essentially lower/middle class laborers making similar wages. The biggest difference between communism and socialism is that communism rules its population by force and socialism elects its leaders, but overall they are basically the same.
Capitalism is based on the premise of individual and property rights. It is an economic system based on a free market, open competition, profit motive and private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism encourages private investment and business, compared to a government-controlled economy. Individuals and firms have the right to own and use wealth to earn income and to sell and purchase labor for wages with little or no government control. The function of regulating the economy is then achieved mainly through the operation of market forces where prices and profit dictate where and how resources are used and allocated.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the right views ALL Muslims as terrorists. For one thing it is written in the Bible.”
This needs to be labeled for what it is:ignorance

Jen I’m not even aware of some game. Had I been I would have thought that took things too far as well

plus, if this is the standard in which art is defined, it shows that “quality” has become extinct in america. america can not or will not be able to identify “quality” of any kind for sometime to come. welcome back the dark ages for mankind. the mind has de-evolved into that same state of loss.

These comments are a profound indictment of the American education system. Nobody here has the slightest clue what Socialism is, for one.
Posted by: Flash Override | Aug 18, 2009 12:32:23 PM
Please share with the class

Yes how dare I attack Dennis Miller!
Sorry that your heroes are human garbage and you don’t like hearing that.
—————–
Curious why you spend an inordinate amount of time on the blog of a man who appears regularly on Dennis’ radio show if that’s how you feel about DM.

I do not care if it is legal to carry assault rifles in public view in AZ.
Too bad. I don’t like plenty of laws either, but I deal with it. Besides, plenty of people carry firearms around Obama every day.

Now can all the liberals start apologizing for all their knee-jerk reactions and insults towards conservatives?
I’m waiting…
Crickets chirping. But it’s typical of the left, just ASSume things before they are confirmed. Idiots.

“Curious why you spend an inordinate amount of time on the blog of a man who appears regularly on Dennis’ radio show if that’s how you feel about DM.”
I happen to think Tapper is tough but fair.
And unlike right wingers, my dislike on 1 man does not spread to all that associate with him or anything he does.
I will not watch Bordello Of Blood because its a god awful movie not because Dennis Miller is in it.

Posted by: Secondlook | Aug 18, 2009 12:43:24 PM
These comments are a profound indictment of the American education system. Nobody here has the slightest clue what Socialism is, for one.
Posted by: Flash Override | Aug 18, 2009 12:32:23 PM
Please share with the class
—————————————-
friendo, that is EXACTLY what the far lefto is banking on….

“Artist of Obama “Joker” Poster Image Identified — and He’s Not a Conservative”
Therefore, the Joker-bama poster is now no longer Racist.

Flash,
Perhaps you would choose to stay at a govt-run hotel when you go on vacation, as opposed to one that competes in the free market….yeah, right.
Folks know enough about socialism to know it is about as American as….our President.

The fact is, this is another racially charged jab at our President. You all think it is ok to openly belittle our President based on his skin color? This artist needs to be charged with a hate crime, and locked away.

they still dont know who did the Bush caricture of the OMIGOD the Joker

BTW, I had a friend that worked the polls in Ohio. She witnessed some things first hand. It’s ridiculous to suggest it’s only one side on that one.
Politics are ugly on both sides.
============
Which was exactly my point if you go back and read my first post to you. Emotional honesty. Toss out the hyperbole that one side is worse than the other or “talk to me after a liberal gets shot.” It’s all bunk. Both sides are hostile and that’s the problem. I’m tired of the blame game because there is so much to go around that it’s a stalemate.

Steph, perhaps we should lock up anyone who criticizes the President, since it might be viewed as a ‘hate crime’.
Maybe we should start with that list of e-mail addresses the WH now has in their possession.
Or, perhaps the President can start a policy of ‘pre-emptive’ arrests and arbitrarily round up anyone that might think to invoke racial fears or hatred of our Dear Leader.
Let’s march through the streets and break the window glass of businesses that aren’t showing support for him and his policies…bunch of racists, they all are.

*yawn* I tire of the predictability of the race card being used. I’m not afraid of being called a racist because I don’t support Obama’s socialist-leaning policies. It’s ironic that those who cry “racist” would seek to enslave all of Americans even further by a behemoth federal gov’t that lays claim to the fruit of our labor.

The president is a Joke..I wish I never voted for him. His policies are now finally starting to backlash on him.

The fact is, this is another racially charged jab at our President. You all think it is ok to openly belittle our President based on his skin color? This artist needs to be charged with a hate crime, and locked away.
Posted by: Steph | Aug 18, 2009 1:01:25 PM
——
The “artist” (technically, the photoshopper) is Palestinian. It wasn’t racially motivated. I know that would work better for your purposes, but it just isn’t so.

Alkhateeb is right, there is no substance to POTUS, just another smooth talking game show host

Am I the only one who thinks Philip Kennicott is an idiot?
Posted by: David |
No you are not.

If the Joker-bama poster supports Republic or Conservative he would be regarded with “RACIST”. This is so sad CHANGE Obama trust in Democratic Country.

Fine RJ, stay in Canada if the system is so great.The fact is, the President is dishonest when he says-
1) there will be a ‘net savings’ over time when this is all said and done (show me ONE U.S. entitlement program where this is true)
2) ‘Only ‘the rich’ will have to pay for it’.otherwise, it is really a choice between a red pill/blue pill’ (that is simply not true, especially for the long term)
3) ‘If you have insurance now, nothing will change’ (that is impossible when you add 40+ million people to the current health care system, with no plan to grow it to support the new pool of insured, and, offer employers an incentive to switch plans)
4) ‘If you have medicare, nothing will change’ (answer 3 says it all)
No one needs Rush L. or anyone else to tell them the President is witholding the hard truth, on purpose, so it will pass.

nobosy had a problem when g. bush was portrayed as a chimp, so get over it turn about is fair play

“This artist needs to be charged with a hate crime, and locked away.”
More evidence that liberals are fair minded, tolerant, compassionate and of course morally superior to the rest of us.

“WHY SO SERIOUS BARAKMAN?! HYEA YA YA YA YA YA!”

I lived in Toronto during SARS. Inept comes to mind. Many died. None did here.
However, to think that things can continue as status quo? As the days roll on more and more companies are dumping the bennie. It’s going to get way worse.
Republicans had their shot under Bush and ignored it.

Is he getting any royalities on this? Is Time seeking damages for use of a red and black rectangle?

Look, if George Bush would have said-
‘Removing Saddam is going to cost trillions of dollars, thousands of some of our finest American’s lives, the sacrifice of tens of thousands of families and in the end, the U.S. will be portrayed as a warmongering nation among the Left and Europe even after having liberated a totalitarian regime that gassed its own people’, no one would have supported the war at all.
In other words, he had to be dishonest about it in order to sell it.
Just as the President is doing now with healthcare.

I totally agree with RJ. You are so right!!!! The poster should be of Rush.

And he’s not a Conservative? Making assumptions are we? No democrat thinks what this guy is doing is socialist? I know the left has gone over the edge, but no ALL the democrats, have you?

JJ I think you mean Facism, not socialism. Boy if socialism did all that we better start the revolution NOW! :-)

The fact is, this is another racially charged jab at our President. You all think it is ok to openly belittle our President based on his skin color? This artist needs to be charged with a hate crime, and locked away.
Posted by: Steph | Aug 18, 2009 1:01:25 PM
did you feel the same way last October?
=======================================
“Officials from the Secret Service, West Hollywood code enforcement and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated the display after receiving complaints from around the nation. The officials determined that the effigy is not in violation of any city, state or federal laws and is protected by the 1st Amendment, according to a story by The Times’ Victoria Kim and Raja Abdulrahim.
======================================

Typical ABC news reporting. One little jab at Obama and it’s racism. How is this even news worthy?

Why do the P.C. believers keep trying to convince us that Obama is ‘just’ black? He is not! He is half white and half black as everyone knows. He also was mostly raised by his white mom and white grandparents.

Crusher, there was indeed news on that (you guys always use that one). There was also never an arrest. Now, when they find the person and we hear rants about evil conservatives? Then I’ll consider this.
Paranoid? Nope. Good at understanding the feeling playing out. More will come.

Dear ABC News…What is the exact death toll between Palestine and Israel since 1967? From a video by a former CIA agent named Bauer (from back in the early 90′s) Israel had approx. 6,000 dead Palestine had over 30,000 dead. What is the current death toll and why is this one statistic so difficult for me to find?

We have been given post-modernism largely by progressive/liberal minded people. Since there is no objective truth and meaning is in the perception of the individual, there should be no more fuss.You think you see racism in this poster of Obama, fine, just stop trying to impose your values on the rest of us. Express your opinion and just go on with life. Stating your opinion doesn’t make it so. But obviously I realize you have no intention of living by the standards you try to impose on others.
Should you ever decide you want real dialogue, you always have the option to listen first. You have the power and votes right now, the ball is in your court.

Crusher, dont forget to add all the condescension speak, mockery art in lib papers, magazines and SNL skits of any conservative in government that they produced over the years. Just shows that they are ones who cant take their own medicine. Oh wait, just like sinlge payer health care. They want everyone to have it but themselves.

“Unflattering – grim” who’s to say. It’s appropriate given Obama’s Socialist mind set and his clownish approach to both domestic and foreign affairs.

I just knew it was some right wing tea party anti public health care nut, just knew it – wasn’t it?

Once again the race card is thrown out for all to see, for absolutely no good reason. I am sick and tired of seeing that stupid card just because I don’t agree with the idiot that was voted into office.
If it was a white woman in office we wouldn’t be throwing out the gender card!
Give it a break! You don’t have to like him and I sure don’t have to agree with anything that comes out of the side of his mouth. He’s a politician…easiest way to know he is lying is that he opens his mouth and speaks.

I mentioned the fire-bombing of Sarah Palin’s church and a lib responded with, “Oh yea, you guys always pull that one” routine. Yea, the fire bombing of a VP candidate’s church is “civil dialogue.” No big deal. Like ACORN threatening the lives of the children of AIG executives who had to send their families away for their own safety. Like Obama pal Wm. Ayers fire bombing a federal judge’s home while his young kids slept. Those bombers receive tenure and are assigned to “educate” our youth, when they should have gotten 30 years.

Firas Alkhateeb: thank you, thank you, thank you.
You are a national hero!

So what? Is making posters protesting the government leadership against the law now?

By the way it was the founders of our country that said socialism especially in the form of too much government in the guise of caring for the people is evil. Look up quotes from Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine for example.

I happen to love the comparison to Batman’s “Joker” villian because its exactly what Obama is like. Pretend to be for the people and use the media to trick them into not liking the heroes while at the same time plotting their demise (under the guise of it being for the common good).

Let’s face it, if the poster is racist, then the artist has to be a conservative, right? He may think he’s a Kucinich guy, but subconsciously he’s a raving right-winger. Nothing else fits the template. So let’s move on.

Did anybody try to find the guy who depicted Bush as the Joker?

@ Posted by: Steph | Aug 18, 2009 2:37:06 PM
You forgot to add the “/sarc.” tag at end of your post.

Well bush lied for 8 years and all of you ate it up, he dug a hole of no respect and buried the US in it.
now everyone seems to have an opinion. lol

This poster was created by a liberal (kucinich supporter). We have also learned that the swastikas that were painted on the Georgia representatives sign was put their by one of his liberal supporters. In almost every case the left is responsible for these acts and when they get caught the issue is quickly dropped. Remember the Tawnya Brawley case (racist black woman making up the whole thing)? Remember the Duke rape case (racist black woman again making up a story that the press ran with without researching)?
Enough with the race baiting already. No race is without sin and no one should be condemned for something they have not done.

Tell me: what exactly did George W. Bush lie about? WMD? He was told that there was WMD by his advisors (the same advisors Obama has – those people dont get voted in you know). He thought we would spread freedom and democracy to a place like Iraq and that the people would welcome us as liberators (that was his mistake thinking muslims would fight for democracy) they only want to fight other non-muslims guys! Look at Iran? What happened to their protests? Died down right? Why is that? Are they happy not being free or were there just too many anti-democratic people in positions of power? At least under GW Bush we didnt have over 9% unemployment and rising? He didnt propose to take over the healthcare system or bail out GM? In fact it was Obama that pushed porkulus and the bailout of big banks, GM and AIG (but not cut keep the executives from using the money as bonus pay money). Whats Obama done lately thats so great? Hand out money to people who wanna buy a new car and take on a $40,000 loan they cant really afford? Isnt that how this mess started? Bad loans? What else has he done? Let cigarette companies still sell cigs to 18 year olds if they dont put up billboards by a school? Have secret meetings with healthcare and drug companies readying them to get the contracts for his government takeover of the healthcare system (which is already failing in places like Canada and France)? Bad mouth cops doing their job on purpose (to divide black and white peoples opinions on key issues)? Is this something say Martin Luther King would have done? Get real.

I think too much is being read into the joker racist thing. the guy who plastered the posters on things like in this picture just looks like another petty criminal vandalizing property, who according to this article is not the same person who created the image, Alkhateeb. and of course there are other views out there that are not just democrat or republican. I think Alkhateeb found a creative way to express his opinion in our free society, even though I disagree with putting down Obama, but he does have a point that Obama is not all that much change from the past, but Obama is change from Bush’s 8 years which is what I believe Obama pretty much meant when he campaigned, with a subtle reference to also being more progressive than the past, but Obama copies Lincoln and lots of other presidents so he isn’t an anarchist changer, which I think is fine. I like Obama and I am a registered republican who did not even vote for him, but I like him a lot now better than what the Republicans are offering.

I’m waiting for the Washington Post and the LA Times to write retractions and apologies for framing the joker posters as “racist.”
*cue hold music*
do de do, do do do, de do de do…
Of course, I’m still waiting for the LA Times to release the Ayers-Obama-Khalidi video tape…
do de do, do do do, de do de do…

Its not against the law to hang posters! I happen to like the posters too. I dont care who drew it. Know who I dont like? Obama and Congress thats who!

Who is this Kennicott clown anyway and what gives him the right to put ANY thoughts into the artist head, nevermind racist thoughts. I have seen some pretty big reaches when it comes to pulling the race card, but this is a stretch armstrong reach. The artist was 20 years old, which means he probably didn’t see the Nicholson Batman which came out 20 YEARS AGO!!! Do you feel silly now Mr. Kennicott? You should.

“We have also learned that the swastikas that were painted on the Georgia representatives sign was put their by one of his liberal supporters.”
When did that happen?
Oh yeah….it didn’t.
The FBI is currently investigating the incident.

“Imagine the uproar if 95% of “whites” had voted for McCain instead of Obama…but this is exactly what African-American (“black” if you prefer) voters did in November.
Racists come in all colors.”
Channeling Manny Miranda?
““Hispanic polls, Hispanic surveys, indicate that Hispanics think just like everyone else. We’re not like African-Americans. We think just like everybody else.”
Of course over 90% of African Americans have voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate in the last few elections.
Also factor in things like Katrina, racist comments by GOP figures and voila…you have little if any African American support.
What Obama did do is increase African American turnout.

There was a full page photo of Bush like this in Vanity Fair. Where was the “outrage”? You liberal kooks are in the process of giving EVERYTHING back to the GOP. They don’t even have to do anything. Just sit back and watch lunatics bicker and lie. I LOVE it.

Okay, so this dude/artist is a kid and a left wingnut, but IMO, a wingnut just the same. Note my wrinkled nose. I’m soooo not into wingnuts.
I didn’t really think this was art at first (hence, I agree with art thief in some ways), but I find the poster really disturbing. It hurts my soul–as Heath Ledger did in the movie and because it seems so grossly unfair and sinister. Maybe it is art if it could bother me so much. I hate the thing. Hate. it. It does conjure violence, menace and harm and sinister, twisted bad guys and a dark world. There could be racism involved but I could see the same kind of thing being done to Bush or white dudes in power, so I don’t think that’s the motivation.
What a world view. Glad it’s not mine, but I believe in free speech.
I do agree the kid is going to get a heck of a lot of attention and he may want to RUN as someone put it(although I don’t think the libs plumbered the Plumber alone– there were some mighty fine assists from McCain, the Plumber himself, the spectacle, the press, the news a country album was forthcoming and so on and so on and so on.)

I am against Obama as much as I was against Bush. The same CFR/bankers/lobbyists are lining both administrations. Its not about left and right. Its about global elitists who are hijacking governments all over the world and fully plan on implementing a one world government.
Why Gordon Brown just gave a frank, and for “intellectual” ears only speech at TED called Wiring a web for global good, stating explicitly that he and Obama and many other world leaders are working to create “global institutions” that will transcend national governments. Read Rothkopf’s book, “Superclass” and then ask yourself why Brown’s words sound familiar.

“In some way its the precise counterpoint to Fairy’s “HOPE” poster in that instead of turning an image of the President into heroic figure of the future, it turns that image into a clownish buffoon from the past.”
To me this poster reflects the “clownish buffoon of the present.”

Leaving aside the argument of “unpredictability” for a moment, this poster basically takes Jim Crow and blackface and inverts the skin tone and eye color while leaving the giant red lips.
I don’t think Mr. Alkhateeb had this in mind when he made the image. I think he simply combined the two most prevalent faces in pop culture circa Winter 2009; certainly his analysis of his thought process does not sound particularly sophisticated in the quote above.
However, I do think the image ignites the hearts of Obama’s most fervent detractors because it touches on the racist iconography of the past in a way that’s once removed and therefore “safe” to use.
In some way its the precise counterpoint to Fairy’s “HOPE” poster
****
Wow, C. Excellent, excellent post. No wonder I hate the thing so much.

The people who searched out this artist were using their job positions to engage in a personal attack. Had this been a conservative cartoonist, playing with photo shop, they would have done their best to destroy him or her. Its’ even possible that their ‘spot-light’ of sorts, could attract dangerous attention on such an artist.

The title of this story is misleading and obviously slanted toward conservatives as the artist is as much a conservative as he is a liberal – he said so himself. Therefore, he is a conservative….and a liberal and a republican and a democrat.

“Kennicott called the image a “subtly coded, highly effective racial and political argument.”
There are 300+ million opinions in this country, what’s so authoritative about his? Because he said it doesn’t mean it’s worth taking the time to even read.
The media routinely interviews “experts” to weigh in on matters that they have a vested interest in. You’ve got to learn to think for yourself, or you’ll be easy prey for the spin meisters.

Obama—is BIRACIAL, why are you calling him black? If he were black, he would have 2 parent, and 4 grand parents who are black. Biracial people are blessed from both sides. Obama, will always be the most popular president EVER to grace the halls of the white house!

Kennicott needs to grow up about racism. I’m sick of people who make it their game to spread the words racism and nazi around so freely that when we see racism its like screaming chicken little.
This poster is not racist. It is a political statement. You cannot prevent racism by watering down the word to drivel.

Obama—is BIRACIAL, why are you calling him black? If he were black, he would have 2 parent, and 4 grand parents who are black. Biracial people are blessed from both sides. Obama, will always be the most popular president EVER to grace the halls of the white house
Posted by: Steve | Aug 18, 2009 6:01:40 PM
**************************************
I don’t know where you get the ideal that Obama will always be the most popular president to ever grace the halls of the white house. As it is going now he seems to be in the running with Carter as the worst. He has no leadership abilities, no knowledge of the world or business and only wants to tax money and fund things that no one wants except for a very small part of the country. If he is able to get out of office with a better approval rating than Bush it will me a big surprise.

Just when you think leftists can’t make bigger fools of themselves inisting that the perp was a “well-funded racist, white conservative” it turns out to be a clueless and kooky Palestinian Kucinich supporter, from Chicago no less.
LOL! What delicious irony.

whoops! this will now be treated as the non-story it always was.

I think history will have a different perspective than many current Obama supporters.

C, forgot to mention. it’s popularity came from one thing alone…the fact that the news media popularized it on the erroneous basis that it was further proof that most of the people who oppose obama’s administration are in the klan.

“it turns out to be a clueless and kooky Palestinian” – And since the right-wingers at the town halls were displaying the joker image on their signs it just goes to show the similarities between tthe kooks on the left and the kooks on the right. They have more in common than they care to admit.

“it just goes to show the similarities between tthe kooks on the left and the kooks on the right.”
You do have a point. Obama’s job performance numbers continue to drop across the entire political spectrum.
Today Gallup reported an all-time high 42% disapproval rating. Rasmussen reported 50% disapproval. Rasmussen also reported that only 35% of Americans thought the U.S. is heading in the right direction. Apparently Americans aren’t happy with Obama’s brand of CHANGE.

Oh come on….there is no comparison between Obama and Carter. Obama has already shown he is FAR FAR MORE inept than even the peanut for brains Carter.

love it…that’s a freedom of expression… and the rest is B.S.
love it …wish i could do something in photoshop, probably i will.

“Rasmussen also reported that only 35% of Americans thought the U.S. is heading in the right direction. Apparently Americans aren’t happy with Obama’s brand of CHANGE.”
Not so fast. People are more than twice as happy now as they were under George W Bush. Check the Rasmussen poll for for 11/2/09, just before Obama was elected. Only 14% thought the country was headed in the right direction.

Tacky, disrespectful and mean, but I will lay down my life to protect the rights of free speech…

In August 2001, Bush’s approval was 54%. Bush didn’t hit 35% until 2006, 6 years into his term. There’s some perspective for you.
Posted by: KR | Aug 19, 2009 9:42:27 AM
###
That’s scary. Why don’t they ever poll me, for crying out loud.
On the other hand, Bush never tried to do anything important until the aftermath of 9-11, and then the response was a no-brainer. And there wasn’t a lot of transparency or dialogue about anything he did do.
He also was handed a much, much, much better economy and deficit.

Ya, not a conservative. Just talks like one. I almost believe him. People like him frighten me a he ll of a lot more than socialism.

“Rasmussen also reported that only 35% of Americans thought the U.S. is heading in the right direction. Apparently Americans aren’t happy with Obama’s brand of CHANGE.”
Sep. 2003 GW Bush – A like number (52%) said the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 40% said it is the right direction.
Looks like Obama has a 3 year head start on Bush.

KR, you’re not taking into account their starting points. Obama inherited a huge mess; Bush didn’t.
In the days before the elections, NBC News/Wall Street Journal asked registered voters if they thought the country was headed in the right direction or was off on the wrong track:
Oct 2000 (Clinton days):
48% Right Direction
32% Wrong Track
Oct 2008 (Dubya days):
12% Right Direction
78% Wrong Track
BIG difference as to where the starting gates were positioned on the track.

When the Los Angeles Times reported early Monday evening the artist was a liberal-leaning Palestinian, most press members couldn’t have cared less.
LexisNexis and Google news searches identified the following major media outlets completely ignored the story:
The Associated Press
Reuters
AFP
The New York Times
The Washington Post
USA Today
ABC
CBS
NBC
MSNBC
Most of the coverage concerning Firas Alkhateeb was done by Chicago papers where he’s from, as well as Los Angeles where the first posters were apparently sighted. Some television outlets did reports at their respective websites including Jake Tapper’s blog (to his credit).
Gee, I wonder what kind of coverage we would have seen if the artist was a right-wing supporter of McCain/Palin.