Portrayal of President Barack Obama as Joker stirs roiling ... of President Barack... · Portrayal of President Barack Obama as Joker stirs roiling debate ... Chicago college student

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Portrayal of President Barack Obama as Joker stirsroiling debate

By Justin George, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Sunday, August 9, 2009

It's the anti-"Hope" poster. • Just as the red-

and-blue-shaded Barack Obama became an

iconic, grass roots image that helped Obama

take the White House in November, a new

depiction of the president has emerged from

the underground, this time with apparently

less benign intent. • It is a picture of Obama

mashed up in the same white makeup,

raccoon eyes, red lips and jagged, knife-

scarred cheeks that Heath Ledger made

famous as the Joker in The Dark Knight. The

word "socialism" is printed underneath. •

Blogs report that the picture first surfaced as

a poster on a Los Angeles underpass early

this month. The image was photographed and

uploaded and soon went viral, carrying the

label "Socialist Joker" or "Health Ledger."

Conservative blogs are distancing

themselves, but revel in the portrayal of

Obama as a villain trying to steal health care

for the government.

The image blurs together two icons whose

popularity peaked in 2008: Obama, the

nation's first black president, and Heath

Ledger, whose chilling portrayal of a cinematic

villain — and his own premature death —

forged a legacy.

It has gained national media steam,

appearing on Web sites for ABC and CBS

news, as well as the Drudge Report. The St.

Petersburg Times wrote about it last week,

after a Facebook page claiming to promote

the Pinellas County Republican Party posted

the picture. County Republicans said the page

wasn't theirs.

It's hard to say where the image originated.

Some think a Republican operative created it.

A National Review Online blogger traced it

back to a Flickr photo posted in January by a

Chicago college student who had mocked up

a Time cover featuring Obama.

Who turned it into a poster is anyone's guess.

If the image was made to spark strong

reactions, mission accomplished.

Some say the picture isn't as evil as a

government plan to annex health care. Others

say Obama is fair game since George W.

Bush was portrayed sprouting devil horns,

elephant ears and Alfred E. Neuman's "What

me worry?" gaze. Others call the Joker

picture clearly racist because of Obama's

whitewashed face, darkened eyes and

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There are 107 comments Oldest First

It’s unclear where the image of Barack Obama as the Jokeroriginated, though a National Review Online blogger traced itto a Chicago college student who mocked it up from a Timemagazine cover.

Entertainment

elongated lips.

Daryl Cagle, a cartoonist for msnbc.com and

past president of the National Cartoonists

Society, called the idea "stale." He went to

politicalcartoons.com to prove his point.

Inserting the word "joker" in the search engine

produced several political figures whom

cartoonists transformed into jokers in 2008.

President George W. Bush. Sen. John

McCain. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan

Karadzic.

"This is just a blunt idea," Cagle said. "Bad

guy, socialism, it's not very sophisticated."

In the Batman movie, the Joker plays a serial

killer and anarchist. But some right-leaning

commentators say the "socialism" tag fits.

They defend the image by pointing out that

Vanity Fair put Bush in the same mask in

2008.

"It is starting," wrote Thomas Lifson of

American Thinker. "Open mockery of Barack

Obama, as disillusionment sets in with the

man, his policies and the phony image of a

race-healing, brilliant, scholarly, middle-of-

the-roader."

Others say the office of the presidency

shouldn't be dragged into the mud at all.

"Personally, I despised the way MoveOn.org

types vilified President Bush while in office

and would like to see all presidents treated

with more respect," wrote Mickey McLean of

Worldmag.com, which studies issues from Christian perspectives.

He likened the Joker to one of the most "Satanic" characters of all time.

The loudest protests come from those who see Obama in white face as a hurtful reminder of America's dark

history.

Toby Miller, chairman of media and cultural studies at the University of California at Riverside, said he saw

the posters driving around his home near Venice Beach. He said the image seems meant to shut down

conversations, not foster them like a lot of provocative political art.

"The previous president was portrayed in devil-like ways and that too was nasty and ungracious and so on,

but that doesn't have the same freight as the racialism of a black man," he said.

The Washington Post 's Philip Kennicott wrote that the artist is trying to connect Obama with the

unpredictable and seeming danger of urban violence.

"The only thing missing is a noose," LA Weekly writer Steven Mikulan said. That led another blogger to

point out that the LA Weekly once depicted Bush as a vampire on its cover.

As the discussion roiled, some commentators used the Joker's own words to bring levity to the situation.

Why so serious?

Justin George can be reached at [email protected] or (813) 226-3368.

[Last modified: Aug 08, 2009 04:30 AM]

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Anonymous wrote:

I think it is simply brilliant political satire.

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Aug 8, 2009 6:21 AM

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0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

it's sad when when a public figure is so guarded because he is black. Obama is just a joker and

fool, as the picture suggests. Live with it.

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Anonymous wrote:

No, presidents shouldnt be ridiculed. But just because someone depicted Obama as the Joker

with a white face, doesn't make the issue racial. If there was a noose, hey, I'd be concerned...

but since there isnt, lets not jump right to race, shall we?

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Anonymous wrote:

Why is it, because he's black that this is more important than the fact that our presidents,

throughout history, have always been ridiculed? Let me guess, skincolor means more now then

ever? So much for equality.

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Anonymous wrote:

I miss Reagan,the way he use to crawl around on the floor with urine and dung dripping down

his legs. Funny though how his brain spoiled after he had gutted the funding for the mentally ill

in america.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

If the mask fits, wear it.

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Anonymous wrote:

Just another brilliant piece of political satire from a historically demonic racist nation.

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Anonymous wrote:

Well written story

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Anonymous wrote:

Race this Race that. SO sick of the race card. First of all Obama isn't black to begin with. His

mother was white and his father was black. That makes him our first Bi-Racial president.

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Anonymous wrote:

It is brillent, race is NO factor. The truth hurts. Socialism and the bankrupting of America IS THE

PLAN. WAKE UP AMERICANS. The government is not our savior and neither is Obama.

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Anonymous wrote:

Racist??? PLEASE stop using that "card". Obama is neither white nor black. He is BOTH. Him

being called a "black man" is racist in that the "white" part of his heritage is being ignored...and

frankly I'm sick of it.

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Anonymous wrote:

You have to understand that BO has been guarded and protected by ideological thuggery his

entire life. It's actually interesting to watch this protection in action, because we've never had a



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politician who has had this treatment his entire life

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Anonymous wrote:

every time this guy gets bad press they scream racism. He's doing a lousy job, he lied and

made promises and he is doing nothing but destroying us all the while whining that "george did

it to me" He is a joker. Get over it.

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Anonymous wrote:

Amen Bob & Louie

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Anonymous wrote:

Calling this image racial is tasteless and pointless. The image is brilliant, but irrelevent. By

making Obama into the joker, its opening the doors for racist remarks, like calling Bush the N

word if an image showed up with him in black face...

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Anonymous wrote:

with the words Evil under it. This image is chaotic in the sense that it might show people's "true"

colors. In the end, it changes nothing, Obama is our president & we stated his plans beforehand

we elected him & that's it! Pictures don't change it.

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Anonymous wrote:

I await the moment this presidency decides it needs to "overhaul" the first amendment to protect

those who this country has a history of treating differently.

I think, perhaps, George Orwell just got the date wrong.

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Anonymous wrote:

People need to lighten up. Stop being so "SERIOUS". STOP Making everything a race issue.

Black or white he still is doing a terrible job.

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Anonymous wrote:

Only a joker would want the federal government to stick their noses into owning and operating

private businesses. Why does't the media cover the privious administrations cartoon pictures?

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Anonymous wrote:

This has nothing to do with racism. With a different caption...sure, but the word 'socialism', then

your saying that all socialists are racists. If that, hey, all capitalists must be racist, as well. He's

a political figure and we will see worse.

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Anonymous wrote:

It isn't a one way street, Socialist is watering it down, it should have been Karl Marx and labled

COMMUNIST like the Democrat party and Unions

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Anonymous wrote:

This hit a nerve with the Obamaites because it challenged his "deity." For some reason, they

wish to look at what he says, rather than what he does. It's time we all took a close look at this

guy!



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Anonymous wrote:

This has nothing to do with racism. With a different caption...sure, but the word 'socialism', then

your saying that all socialists are racists. If that, hey, all capitalists must be racist, as well. He's

a political figure and we will see worse.

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Anonymous wrote:

Well they got the title "Socialist" right, as for anyone draging the office of President through the

mud, it would appear Mr. Obama is making a flip flop mockery of it.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Although I do like the guy, I accept that as the most influential leader in government in the

ENTIRE world right now, he's open to critique, satire and a good 'poking at' every now and then.

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Anonymous wrote:

Recist? This being said about the man who wrote my grandmother was a TYPICAL WHITE

PERSON in his book? I guess the shoe doesn't fit so well on the other foot. Was it alright to put

out a film about Bush being assasinated while he was still in office

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Anonymous wrote:

Deity? pffft..funny how I only hear that from freaks who give conservatives a bad name. I lean

liberal...but yeah, fair game, some seriously harsh things were done to Bush' image. Good point.

That said, there should be a ? after 'Socialism' :P

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

This stupid sh*t is the reason there is prejudice and ignorance in the world still! & no I'm not

mad because I think this is a racist thing but it is an ignorance issue. By the way if your looking

for a "joker" try Bush out instead

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Anonymous wrote:

I LOVE IT! FUNNY! THE REVIEWS ARE AS SATIRICALLY POIGNANT AS OUR

PREDICAMENT ! I LAUGHED, I CRIED.....

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

People have nothing else to do but put things like this,like me. What if you are in his shoe, can

you do better. Wait you can't because they say we don't have the knowledge for that but

president's are just like us. Citizens put him their right!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

How come people can not make fun of a black president but in the past we have always made

fun of white presidents. Its not about black people its about a terrible president. All this don't

rock the racial road is wrong the office of pres opens u up

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Anonymous wrote:

Political satire is perfectly legal. It is done to every president. Get over it. Liberals can dish it,

well learn how to take it! And being protrayed as the Joker, is not racist. Ever seen a black joker.

Stop playing the race card.



Aug 8, 2009 11:35 AM

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Anonymous wrote:

If someone wants to take a little poke at him, so be it. Why should he be immune? No other

presidents have been....Ah we must enjoy our freedoms while we still have them! OH WAIT, I

guess this could be something 'fishy'! MUST TELL THE BIG BROTHER

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Jeez, people! The U.S. has been "socialist" since the 1930s. No one is willing to give up their

freebies, but no one wants to pay for them either. What's the big deal? And Obama? Doing the

best anyone can with the mess he was left with.

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Anonymous wrote:

Really? When someone disagrees with an Oboma Decision or policy is it always racism or could

it be that they have a legitimate point? How can we expect to fix our economy when so many

Americans won't work? People need to get off welfare to fix it ALL

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I AGREE, HE'S TRYING TO STEAL OUR HEALTH. WHY? I AM SO SICK OF ALL HIS NEW

IDEAS, ESP ON "HEALTH" FOR THE PEOPLE. LEAVE IT ALONE, OBAMA, THE PEOPLE OF

AMERICA, ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS. HE'S TRYING TO CHANGE

OUR COUNTRY. SAY "NO"!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

IT'S PAST TIME TO STOP OBAMA, I.E. OUR HEALTH PLANS. WHY? DOES HE HAVE TO

CHANGE EVERYTHING? VOTE HIM OUT.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Read the article, "Gotham?s Finest: How Obama Unites the Joker and Socialism While Dividing

the Art Critics" over at Brave New Post.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I HOPE WE ARE SEEING THE END OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.REPUBLICANS ARE FOR

THE RICH .ONLY THE RICH AND STUPID VOTE REPUBLICAN.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

If you come off saying it's racist, that only means that you yourself is, racist. Because a non

racist person would have never seen it that way in the first place. The race card should have

been dead a hundred years ago. get over it, MOVE ON ALREADY!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Good Pic! Bush was setup by Clinton & the Dem's and U all ate it up like sheep on a hill side.

booby-trapped the economy for Hillary to step in. oops didn't see nObama coming, but still got

their "control" they wanted. tax and spend. we are screwed!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Cody you are an idiot, "people need to get off welfare to fix it all" .. where are the jobs for these

people getting off welfare?

I guess in your fantasy world there are plenty of jobs and it's easy as pie? Freakin idiot..

educate yourself



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Anonymous wrote:

I'm getting this made into a T-shirt as we speak. Why didnt I think of this one - absolutly brillant!

Obamos!!!

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Anonymous wrote:

My question is why is it racist if its Obama. Sotomayor can say a latina can make a more

educated decision than a white man but thats not racist? Im tired of this double standard that

everyne calls racisim. We dont have a WET tv to go with BET.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

We also dont have all white schools. We cant have an all white college fund because thats

"racist". White history month? Dont think so. Get over all the hypocrisy. Im sorry but why should

I work 60 work weeks to afford health insurance when some drug

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

addicted person on welfare is going to get free healthcare from my tax money now? Cash for

clunkers? I dont qualify because Im 1 mpg over. This is ridiculous and has to stop. Anyone who

voted for Obama is an idiot. Dem. or Rep. has nothing to do with

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Anonymous wrote:

it. His views and ideas in general are not smart. Glad our tax dollars paid for a "beer summit"

because he shouted his uneducated opinion out and stuck his nose in it.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

People will use anything to continue to keep racism active in America. If they'd quit throwing it in

each other's faces, we wouldn't have near the problems. They are egging it on by making

everything into rasism. We need to let the past go. Move on.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Anyone who calls Obama a socialist simply doesn't understand the word.

And only a racist would complain about this being called what it is -- racist.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

The only rights we'll have left when Obama is done with us will be what the government tells us

are our rights... The Bill of Rights per Constitution will be gone.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Yes we have about 3 1/2 more years of this Joker. If you want to know more about the way he

works look up Saul Alinsky RULES FOR RADICALS. Anybody disagrees with him or Dem. party

will use these rules to step on and attack anyone they see as threat

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

People need to lighten up. Everything Obama says or does, or even something related to him

causes uproar. Stop worrying about it. He hasn't commented on it, and doesn't seem worried

0 0 Report Abuse



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Anonymous wrote:

A lot of hoop-la over what? A silly picture. Everyone just needs to grow up & get on with the

business at hand of fixing the problems our country is facing. Anyone who is president is always

the target of jokes & so on.

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Anonymous wrote:

Boo Hoo, Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Does Obama want his mommy????

Bush had much worse done to him by the left so I don't really care.

And if anyone is "racist" it is Obama! He should have kept his mouth shut about his friend Gates

arrest!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Sticks and stone may break his bones, but satires cannot hurt him.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

There are reasonable and thoughtful comments on this site. But many read like propoganda and

hate. If that had been stopped in the Bush, Clinton, Reagan eras we wouldn't have to live with it

now. Dems and Repubs got rich off us in Congress. Wise up.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAN...................................

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I think The Riddler fits Obama better. Everything he says is a riddle!!!

Well, now that I think obout it, the Joker is correct because every he says is actually a JOKE!

just sounds like a riddle!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I like the article - the sting of just one uncharitable characterization of Obama and the

anticipated race-offensive responses begin. Such sensitivity...just wait until they dipict him and

Lenin, Stalin and the devil. Indeed, "Why so serious?"

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Shirley, Americans aren't happy with our healthcare. That is why he is trying to change it.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

To Bob from Alabama: If only the rich & stupid vote Republican, than only the poor and stupid

vote Democrat. Don't be so dogmatic; both parties have the capability to do evil & stupid things.

Choose your candidates wisely...

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

To Bob from Alabama...What does political party have to do with the subject? You guys just

can't let it go can you? It must be an awful sickness you are living with. Only "stupid" continues

the course you are on. Grow up.

0 0 Report Abuse



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Anonymous wrote:

Wait 'til halloween...

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Anonymous wrote:

I am a classical scholar and philosopher who lives under the poverty line. I vote Republican.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Obama should be going after the insurance companies and repeal the anti-trust exemption and

stop anti-competitive behavior by the insurance companies. Government should stay out of the

healthcare system.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

The simple fact is that many who oppose Obama do so for the simple fact that they can't stand

to see a man who isn't white in a position of power. Many who argue about his ideas don't

realize that most of his ideas, like health care, aren't new.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

It is so pathetic to see the people of this country in an "us vs. them" mentality like the average

politician looks at issues. Instead of doing what is best for this country and its people, so many

people on this post look out for themselves only.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

This is a person that claimed to want honesty and transparency, and all he did was lie to

everyone about who he was and what his ajenda was. He Lies, and the sad thing is his

followers are not bright enough to see how they have been played for fools

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Oh please!! If this poster gets Americans seriously thinking about the issues, than it's a good

thing. Besides; it's just a poster. There are much more important things to concern yourself over.

BTW: Since when was Political satire considered racist?

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Remember the identical Bush picture? It is amazing how Obama and Bush look alike when

their socialist makeup is on.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I'm tired of people who take this kind of stuff too seriously and people who still have their

panties in a bunch over the race and are in turn going above and beyond to get people to dis-

like him, I don't care about what he does as long as he doesn't

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Mess up this already messed up country further or launch us into a nuclear holocaust.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

No one bashed George W. Bush in his first 9 months of his presidency back in 2001, so why

when the Black Man becomes president, people begins to talk crap? And it hasn't been a year

yet and people became ignorant. He's not God so shut up.



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Anonymous wrote:

finally obamas face has been put into terms people can understand.

talk about racist? Obama seems to be the only one stil playing the race card.

Obama's Health Care Project= Socialistic Insanity

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

All these comments, but atleast half of you people voted for him. Everyone was so excited about

his "man" everyone yelled and screamed and even cried when he made a speech. Please.. this

si the c-h-a-n-g-e you wanted. I for one did not vote for this!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Does anybody know where a can find the poster the article was talking about that shows Obama

in a noose? Or maybe being hosed down by the fire department, or maybe sitting in the back of

the bus? Since when does the joker have racial undertones?

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Any of those that still think Obama is this country's savior, is in denial. I hope those that voted

for him will start kicking themselves soon, when they realize he is ruining this country and

tearing it apart.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I cannot believe the level people, corporations and special interest groups have stooped to.

They have become as unAmerican as you can get and are a disgrace to our country.

How sad.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Not black: African American. STAT:All ppl originated in Africa by biblical & archeological

standards there4 Washington was the first pres of African descent. Fact:Obamas dad is white.

Racism is made up by people 2 ignorant 4 rational thought.live&luv

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Bob from Alabama, you're an idiot!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Looks like an image make-over, at least an improvement over his mommies jeans.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Republicans can?t figure out how to cut holes in their hoods without poking themselves in their

eyes, or trying to make the guilty look like the victim !!!!

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Why is the Media so concerned about where it originated from, they should be more intrigued on

why it was put up. Sadly, the elitist media believes they know exactly what the American people

want...because Congress and the White House says it is so.

0 0 Report Abuse



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Anonymous wrote:

Maybe this JOKER can pull a birth certificate out of his hat?

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Anonymous wrote:

Not all of America is happy with our health care system. I live near the border and would trade

with my Canadian neighbors anytime.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Warning to Seniors: Obama's healthcare plan could sentence many seniors to death sentences.

Do you want the gov't to decide who is worthy to receive certain medical treatment?.......

Obama's current healthcare plans do make him a JOKER.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

President Obama isn't going to let this worry him. It's just another attempt from the far-right to

take him off his game. Obama's Presidency is working and republicans can't stand that.

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

Liberals Declare

Freedom "UNFAIR"

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

I like Cagle and feel he has it right, I mean if you can make fun of other presidents, why not this

one too??

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

...but it was okay to portray President Bush with the same make up on a poster a few years ago

now was it ??? HYPOCRITES !!!! Or how about picturing President Bush as a monkey, I

wonder what would happen if Obama was portrayed as a monkey ???

0 0 Report Abuse

Anonymous wrote:

President Obama is a peaceful man with a vision for peace, equality and unity for everyone. He

finds time amist his enormous responsibility to America to be kind to people and laugh. How

was your health ins pre-Obama. Yes, thats what I thought.

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Anonymous wrote:

How many "Race Cards" are in the deck, let alone how many have been played, that the

Demoncrats are using?

This "Race-baiting" technique is getting so stale, it has turned into a story like "Peter and the

Wolf."

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Anonymous wrote:

LOL why such a big deal over a poster. Has anyone seen the poster over at norml.org web site.

Its a college pic of Obama altered ever so slightly making him look as if he is smoking a joint.

YES WE CANNABIS. Thats the real change. Tax and Regulate!!!

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Anonymous wrote:



Aug 8, 2009 11:11 PM

Aug 8, 2009 11:12 PM

Aug 8, 2009 11:23 PM

Aug 8, 2009 11:27 PM

Aug 8, 2009 11:32 PM

Aug 9, 2009 12:42 AM

Aug 9, 2009 12:46 AM

I?ll tell what we love. We love his lies, makes us feel like we have a president. Which president

hasn't lied, BO is just been more good at it. We love his Spending so we get now(or not get)

and have our grandchildren pay for it. NO we got a JOKER.

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Anonymous wrote:

This doesn't pass the Smell Test. it's just more Southern GOP Racism.

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Anonymous wrote:

How sad everything reverts to racism. When it was president Bush,itwas acceptable, Now that it

is a wannabe demigod in Obama who happens to be black,it is racist. Get over yourselves,you

left wing crybabies,and learn to take a joke.For crying outloud

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Anonymous wrote:

First of all hussein is NOT BLACK.I read his father was ARABIC KENYAN,even if dad was

black mama was WHITE making him 1st HALF BLACK pres.All that dosent matter he is a

dangerous leftist.Bob im poor (stpid?) im a rep,ever drove in huntsville STUPID.

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Anonymous wrote:

They did the same thing with George Bush.

Get over it with the phony double standard here.

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Anonymous wrote:

President Obama is bigger than this juvenile attempt to vilify him. While I find the Obama/Joker

image unplesant, as an American I support the freedoms which allow the expression.

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Anonymous wrote:

This poster is great and accurate. I'd like to commission several more labeled: Racism, Fascism,

Marxism and Communism. They can be marketed under the title "Ism Schism". Instant classic,

and a must for every art collector or thinking person.

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Portrayal of President Barack Obama as Joker stirs roiling ... of President Barack... · Portrayal of President Barack Obama as Joker stirs roiling debate ... Chicago college student