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    Dagblog Picture Vote: the Obama-Joker-Socialist-Bandit of LA

    By Larry Jankens on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 11:01am | Humor & Satire

    Obama as the Joker

    The juxtaposition of pop culture and politics is nothing new.  The allegory of Wizard of Oz and early 20th century politics, Sonny Bono and Ronald Reagan, almost every “news” graphic on the Daily Show, and politicians’ new fascination with twitter, all demonstrate the inevitable intersection between that which entertains and those who govern (intentionally or not).  Hence, we have the case with the Obama-Joker-Socialist-Bandit of Los Angeles.  

     

    In case you haven’t heard, a certain someone (who I can only assume is under the employ of a right wing nut job) is going around the LA area posting pictures of Obama as the Joker with the word “socialist” underneath it.  Because we all know any politician who wants to accomplish something valuable to the public through political means is a socialist.  [sigh]

     

    But as it turns out, putting Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker-face on to politicians is nothing new, Vanity Fair did it to W in 2008, and there are pictures out there of Palin with green hair and yellow teeth too.  So I submit to you, loyal (or not so loyal) Dagblog reader, of the three versions of juxtaposing the Joker onto a politician, which one is the most 1) disturbing; 2) appropriate; 3)  laughable?  Please submit your answer in the form of a comment.  

     

    Obama as the Joker

     

     

    Topics: 
    Humor & Satire

    Comments

    In my humble opinion:

    1)  Disturbing:  The W picture is most disturbing because of the look on his face.  It's as if he's ready to gouge somebody's eyes out to prove a point.  Which, incidently is kind of what he did while he was in office.

    2)  Appropriate:  Sarah Palin's idiotic grin and manical ramblings are too apt to ignore.  When you listen to her speak it's like she has a chemical imbalance and thinks that buy pursuing her political career she'll be satiated, you know kind of like the Joker and his criminal career.

    3)  Laughable:  Obama, a socialist?  Ha!  He was born in Kenya too!  Too funny.


    by Larry Jankens on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 11:08am

    This is obviously a political statement about the health care proposal, however it really ticks me off when people start claiming its Racist.  You cant seem to poke fun at anyone these days that isnt white without being called a racist.  The creator of the poster should probably come forward, hes made a name for himself.  Congrats on having courage to show your beliefs, even though I dont agree with them!


    by Wes (not verified) on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 11:25am

    Wes, perhaps the "artist" didn't have racist intent in mind when he created the Obama/Joker poster. However, this country's 233 year history includes racism. That is a fact that is not deniable. First, there was slavery. Then, there was oppressive discrimination, including denial of the right to vote. There was also systematic demeaning of racial minorities, which included white men dressing up in black face and going on stage and acting like the racial stereotype they held of African Americans. It wasn't funny then. It's not funny now.

    It doesn't have to be racist to be offensive and in poor taste. Unfortunately, we cannot escape our history and whenever an African American is demeaned, we have to wonder if racism is a factor, and not just because there are countless examples of it in our past, but because so often it still is.


    by Orlando on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 12:42pm

    This is a great comment, O.  There's a tendency, as we've recently seen once again, to see things through this lens, but the reasons for this tendency aren't illegitimate.  However, that doesn't mean that there's necessarily racism afoot.  Even more complicating is that racism has become less and less overt.


    by DF on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 1:25pm

    1. Disturbing: The Obama one. First, props where they're due: it's creepy in the way its creator clearly intended. Secondly, due to our racial history, Obama in white face doesn't sit well with me. I'm not suggesting there was anything racially intentional in that, however.
    2. Appropriate: The Bush one. Unlike Palin, who's a mere pretender (although legitimately insane), Bush really did sow deaths on a large scale. I think he's also arguably insane. (The Bush doctrine?)
    3. Laughable: The Palin one. First, because like you, I'm trying to mention them all. Secondly, I can laugh because I'm fairly certain her political future is over. If you think it's not certain, please don't try to convince me I'm wrong. You wouldn't tell a child Santa Claus didn't exist, would you?

     


    by Nebton on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:07pm

    I'm fairly certain her political future is over.

    It depends how you define "political career." Palin certainly hasn't demonstrated that she has broad enough appeal to win a presidential election or even a nomination, and she shows no sign of wanting to run for a congress or senate seat out of Alaska. Therefore, she's unlikely to hold a political office again in the near future.

    But she has demonstrated that she can attract a large number of fervent supporters. If she runs in the primary, she will be a force even if she doesn't win, and she has sufficient stature within the Republican party to be play a significant role in party politics.

    As for the long term, after the furor and comedy of the '08 election die down, I'm sure that she could win a congressional seat in Alaska if she wants one and possibly a senate seat. She could also be a politically astute appointment for a future Republican president who wants to throw a bone to the right wing.

    So if meant in the broad sense, I'd be happy to take odds that Palin's political career is not over.

    Still I agree that the Joker is not the most appropriate image for her. I'm thinking Scarlet Witch:

    Occupation

    		 Adventurer; formerly witchcraft tutor, housewife, terrorist

    Base

    		 Mobile; formerly The Works; Avengers Compound, California; Avengers Mansion, New York

    Group Affiliation

    		 None, Formerly Avengers West Coast, Force Works, Queen's Vengeance, Secret Defenders, Lady Liberators, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

    The Scarlet Witch can tap into mystic energy for reality-altering effects; this power was formerly limited to the creation of "hex-spheres" of reality-disrupting quasi-psionic force to cause molecular disturbances in a target's probability field, resulting in spontaneous combustion, deflection of objects in flight, and so on. She later became able to alter reality on a far greater scale, creating entire armies of enemies from nowhere. Although the Scarlet Witch has been trained in basic sorcery techniques, she lacks the specialized mystic training required to fully control her power.


    by Michael Wolraich on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 2:22pm

    Well if the picture is racist, then what is the picture of Sarah Palin? Is it sexist? What about Bush? Is it mean or disrespectful? Ain't it a hoot that everything is cool until the person you make fun of is black? Get over it you idiots, hes black and his face was made up to look like the joker! If it was a white or any other color of person, the statement is the same...Socialism! Why cant we say anything negative about this president without feeling guilty? Why are we accused of being a racist? Boo whoo! the president aint getting what he wants to destroy the country without a fight, what a shame!


    by Jerry C (not verified) on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 7:58pm