Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist


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Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

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A poster depicting President Barack Obama as Heath Ledger's "Joker" character from "The Dark Knight" has sparked controversy after it appeared on the streets of Los Angeles

By Toby Harnden in Washington
Published: 6:37PM BST 04 Aug 2009

The poster shows the US president with white face paint, dark eye shadow and smudged red lipstick above the caption "socialism", in an apparent attack on the US president's efforts to reform health care and stimulus spending.

It is unknown who created and distributed the image, which some believe has racial overtones because it shows Mr Obama as a black-and-white minstrel in reverse.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, denounced the image and called on those behind it to reveal themselves. "Depicting the president as demonic and a socialist goes beyond political spoofery.

"It is mean-spirited and dangerous.

"We have issued a public challenge to the person or group that put up the poster to come forth and publicly tell why they have used this offensive depiction to ridicule President Obama."

A stark visual contrast to Shepard Fairey's popular red, white and blue image of the president-elect featuring the caption "hope", the "socialism" image has appeared as Mr Obama is facing a growing swell of criticism as he attempts to force through his $1 trillion health care programme.

The "socialism" poster has spread virally across the internet, crashing the website that first displayed images of it and rising to the top of Google's "Today's Hot Trends" list. Paper versions also appear to be spreading, with some showing up in Atlanta, Georgia.

Some Right-wing commentators have seized approvingly on the image. Thomas Lifson wrote on the conservative American Thinker website: "It is starting. 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."

The liberal tabloid "LA Weekly", which depicted George W. Bush, the former president, as Dracula on its cover in 2004, denounced the Obama-Joker poster as virulently racist.

"It has a bit of everything to appeal to the drunk tank of California conservatism: Obama is in white face, his mouth (like Ledger's Joker's) has been grotesquely slit wide open and the word 'Socialism' appears below his face," wrote its blogger Steven Mikulan. "The only thing missing is a noose."
Is playing the race card even worth anything anymore?
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Lundse »

Freakzilla wrote:Is playing the race card even worth anything anymore?
Guess not. This is just stupid - the inspiration for the image is blindingly obvious, so why confuse the matter with some stupid specualtion about how it might also reference... bla bla bla

(BTW, I also find the image itself quite stupid - socialism, or Obama's stance on healthcare, has nothing to do with the Joker's agenda or character. If you want to smear the guy, at least use something which sticks...)
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

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Lundse wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:Is playing the race card even worth anything anymore?
Guess not. This is just stupid - the inspiration for the image is blindingly obvious, so why confuse the matter with some stupid specualtion about how it might also reference... bla bla bla
Around here, racism has been a crutch for decades. It's all whitey's fault.
(BTW, I also find the image itself quite stupid - socialism, or Obama's stance on healthcare, has nothing to do with the Joker's agenda or character. If you want to smear the guy, at least use something which sticks...)
I didn't see the Dark Knight, yet. So I can't comment on the content of the poster. One interpretation I've heard is that The Joker played one side against the other. :?
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Eyes High »

I don't know why SOME people try to 'play the race card' in almost every situation. To me it's clear that who ever did this poster was simply calling the President a clown. In their opinion he is nothing more than a big joker. Simple and clear cut.

You know sometimes a tree is just a tree. Maybe if we as a people would stop trying to read more into things than are really there, then prehaps some of the disagreements of this world could be avoid.

I know there is racism in this world. But that DOES NOT mean that everything is racial motivated.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Rakis »

I don't see the issue either...

I've seen worst with W.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

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Rakis wrote:I don't see the issue either...

I've seen worst with W.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by SandRider »

exactly right, which is why I didn't comment earlier.

that kind of propaganda doesn't bother me.

calling the reform of the healthcare, which was the MAIN platform
point on which the president was elected (called a "mandate")
"socialism" with no alternatives except to continue to allow BigPharma
& the HMOs & insurance pirates to rape & pillage while poor folks die,
that gets me hot ....

and now that I think about it, the closet-klansmen that are upset
about "that nigger" are no different than the yankee assholes who
were all over W for being a dumb-ass cowboy unable to speak english.

(which wasn't true, BTW. Lil George never got close to a cow in his life ...)
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

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SandRider wrote:...calling the reform of the healthcare, which was the MAIN platform
point on which the president was elected (called a "mandate")
"socialism" with no alternatives except to continue to allow BigPharma
& the HMOs & insurance pirates to rape & pillage while poor folks die,
that gets me hot ....
Did the Democrats tell you there are no alternatives to Obama's healthcare deform?
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Rakis »

Freakzilla wrote:
Rakis wrote:I don't see the issue either...

I've seen worst with W.
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There you go :)
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by SandRider »

Freakzilla wrote:
SandRider wrote:...calling the reform of the healthcare, which was the MAIN platform
point on which the president was elected (called a "mandate")
"socialism" with no alternatives except to continue to allow BigPharma
& the HMOs & insurance pirates to rape & pillage while poor folks die,
that gets me hot ....
Did the Democrats tell you there are no alternatives to Obama's healthcare deform?

not takin' that bait, buddy.

except to direct you to last week's Daily Show
where John Stewart (the most trusted newsman in America)
led Bill Kristol by the nose into saying that the military had a
top-notch healthcare program, OMG, run by the guvmint .....

I love watching Bill sputter & become speechless ....


and also, at this point, you can't really say "The Democrats"
as if they were a cohesive unit, all on the same page. We've
always been a "coalition" party, (read them Blacks & Jews & Gays & The Unions)
with alot of different agendas. This is becoming more apparent with the
party in control of the government, & still fighting like bitches.

as opposed to "The Republicans", who are now composed solely
of the conservative right-wing & the radical fascist right wing ....
................ I exist only to amuse myself ................
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I personally feel that this message board, Jacurutu, is full of hateful folks who don't know
how to fully interact with people.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Freakzilla »

SandRider wrote:
Freakzilla wrote:
SandRider wrote:...calling the reform of the healthcare, which was the MAIN platform
point on which the president was elected (called a "mandate")
"socialism" with no alternatives except to continue to allow BigPharma
& the HMOs & insurance pirates to rape & pillage while poor folks die,
that gets me hot ....
Did the Democrats tell you there are no alternatives to Obama's healthcare deform?

not takin' that bait, buddy.

except to direct you to last week's Daily Show
where John Stewart (the most trusted newsman in America)
led Bill Kristol by the nose into saying that the military had a
top-notch healthcare program, OMG, run by the guvmint .....

I love watching Bill sputter & become speechless ....
I saw that, actually. I watch the Daily Show all the time. I saw that particular interview on YouTube, though.

But I'm not sure what your point is. The VMA has it's share of problems too. I haven't been to the VA for medical treatment but was thinking of going just to see what it's like. I have a buddy that goes all the time, they give him prescriptions for free. He's got dissability though. My step-dad goes there for heart medicine. I've never heard either complain.

IF the government can run a "top-notch" healthcare system like the VMA, why do we need to start from scratch with a new system? Just fix Medicare and Medicaid, which the govornment has fucked up. Why isn't that an alternative?

and also, at this point, you can't really say "The Democrats"
as if they were a cohesive unit, all on the same page. We've
always been a "coalition" party, (read them Blacks & Jews & Gays & The Unions)
with alot of different agendas. This is becoming more apparent with the
party in control of the government, & still fighting like bitches.

as opposed to "The Republicans", who are now composed solely
of the conservative right-wing & the radical fascist right wing ....
Yep, thank god for the Blue Dogs! :D
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

This isn't racist at all, whoever pulled the race card on this one should be shat on by Obama and the media alike.

That said, if one more ignorant fool calls him a socialist I'm going to force that fool to buy a plane ticket and spend a year somewhere that is ACTUALLY socialist so they can learn what the hell they're talking about. Giant innaccurate generalizations like that make fools out of all of us.




Oh, and I love you SR. You bring me joy. :D
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by SandRider »

I'd agree with an expansion/reform of Medicare/Medicaid.
The insurance company's lobbyists stand in the way.
As they do on any fundamental change to the system.

which is why, as I've said before

THE HEALTHCARE "DEBATE" IS BULLSHIT.

the issue now has been focused on the "uninsured", a small
group (as you've pointed out) instead of the profit-mongering
by BigPharma & the insurance pirates.

the main point was lost LONG ago -
is heathcare a basic human right or a commodity ?

as long as America is a captialistic-consumerist society,
EVERYTHING is a commodity.

including things like justice - ask O.J.

remember the comic strip Bloom County ?

the politician comes to school to give a talk
& Milo just jumps up & starts screaming

MONEY TALKS !! MONEY TALKS !!


and that, kiddies, is why I hate america ...


luv you, too, Thing.
get a tattoo of me on your neck ...
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

SandRider wrote: luv you, too, Thing.
get a tattoo of me on your neck ...

No...



I agree with you, I don't think this healtcare thing is going to get far.



And it's a right (I think I backed that up amply from the charter of human rights the other day), but that doesn't necessarily mean much in any given country.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

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SandRider wrote:I'd agree with an expansion/reform of Medicare/Medicaid.
The insurance company's lobbyists stand in the way.
As they do on any fundamental change to the system.

which is why, as I've said before

THE HEALTHCARE "DEBATE" IS BULLSHIT.
I agree, but is the answer, being insurred by the government (one-payer system)? What has the US government EVER run well, besides the military? Where does your faith in them being able to do so now come from? And what makes you think government insurance won't do the same thing the private companies are doing? ESPECIALLY WITHOUT COMPETITION!

Why you want to pay more for worse treatment, I can't imagine.
the issue now has been focused on the "uninsured", a small
group (as you've pointed out) instead of the profit-mongering
by BigPharma & the insurance pirates.
Legalizing marijuana would bust the pharmecutical companies. :pray:

The government could easily force the insurance companies to be more competative. I like the insurance I have now. I'd like it more if it was a little cheaper. We don't have to abandon the system we have for a beauracracy.

How about doing something about frivolous malpractice law suits by freeloaders? Oh wait... that will never happen with the liberals in power.
the main point was lost LONG ago -
is heathcare a basic human right or a commodity ?

as long as America is a captialistic-consumerist society,
EVERYTHING is a commodity.

including things like justice - ask O.J.

remember the comic strip Bloom County ?

the politician comes to school to give a talk
& Milo just jumps up & starts screaming

MONEY TALKS !! MONEY TALKS !!
MEADOW PARTY IN '12!

Don't blame me, I voted for Bill & Opus.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Freakzilla wrote: Why you want to pay more for worse treatment, I can't imagine.
Just out of curiosity, what makes you think it would cost more for worse? I'd would be really hard to figure out the exact numbers up here but we seem to pay less and live longer and healthier, and have fantastic doctors. Not perfect, but not worse, and not more expensive as far as I know (could be wrong, would love to see the real $$ numbers, but I ain't holding my breath).
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by SandRider »

the government has never "run the military" well.

and I'm not say the VA system is any good, at all, Kristol said that -
the point there was that one the hand he says the government can't
run a healthcare system and on the other says they can - which is it ?

if the government sucks so bad @ healthcare, turn the military hospitals
over to the HMOs.

& no, I don't think the federal government will do a good job at running
healthcare. but I think they'll be fairer to normal people. I'm against
the MONEY TALKS !! assholes that run everything, anyway. I'm against
"the rich", the corporate barons, the uber-consumptionists with yachts,
and "estates" and all that excess while human beings starve and die.

if they had the moral fiber to actually re-distribute their own wealth for
the good the other people on the planet, I'd be all for them. They don't
and every now and then the cogs have to stop the machine & kill the rich
and start over.

Bill Gates is a good example of the bullshit. Oh, he gives all this money to
humanitarian work. Not really. Small, Small percentage, and still overcharges
for his bullshit software. (the new office package is over $500. really ? fair
market price or gouging ?) ( oil companies, too.)

so no, I don't have "faith" in the "messiah" Obama and the government,
but I know for damn sure that the corporations don't give a fuck about
people.

MONEY TALKS !!



& how you'd get me sucked into this ?

ahhh, drinking straight coffee this morning ....gettin' riled up.

we'll go fix that raight now ...
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Freakzilla »

A Thing of Eternity wrote:
Freakzilla wrote: Why you want to pay more for worse treatment, I can't imagine.
Just out of curiosity, what makes you think it would cost more for worse? I'd would be really hard to figure out the exact numbers up here but we seem to pay less and live longer and healthier, and have fantastic doctors. Not perfect, but not worse, and not more expensive as far as I know (could be wrong, would love to see the real $$ numbers, but I ain't holding my breath).
I can't give you real number but our government isn't into making a profit (unless it's under the table), they're into giving money to deadbeats. I don't know of anything they've run that wasn't cheaper in the private sector.

I judge the quality of care in comparison to the the healthcare they run now, it sucks.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Freakzilla »

SandRider wrote:the government has never "run the military" well.
How do you know? I'm not talking about choosing their battles, that's done by politicians, not the military.

But the US Military is VERY good at what they do. The best, in fact.
and I'm not say the VA system is any good, at all, Kristol said that -
the point there was that one the hand he says the government can't
run a healthcare system and on the other says they can - which is it ?

if the government sucks so bad @ healthcare, turn the military hospitals
over to the HMOs.
Is that a joke?
& no, I don't think the federal government will do a good job at running
healthcare. but I think they'll be fairer to normal people.
Who are they? Illegal immigrants? Welfare cases?

300 million of us have HC we're happy with. Are those abnormal people?
I'm against
the MONEY TALKS !! assholes that run everything, anyway. I'm against
"the rich", the corporate barons, the uber-consumptionists with yachts,
and "estates" and all that excess while human beings starve and die.

if they had the moral fiber to actually re-distribute their own wealth for
the good the other people on the planet, I'd be all for them. They don't
and every now and then the cogs have to stop the machine & kill the rich
and start over.

Bill Gates is a good example of the bullshit. Oh, he gives all this money to
humanitarian work. Not really. Small, Small percentage, and still overcharges
for his bullshit software. (the new office package is over $500. really ? fair
market price or gouging ?) ( oil companies, too.)
Without those competing coorporations we wouldn't have made the inovations and advancements we have.
so no, I don't have "faith" in the "messiah" Obama and the government,
but I know for damn sure that the corporations don't give a fuck about
people.
And Congress does? :lol:
MONEY TALKS !!



& how you'd get me sucked into this ?

ahhh, drinking straight coffee this morning ....gettin' riled up.

we'll go fix that raight now ...
:twisted:
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Crysknife »

I'm with you Freak, the Govt doesn't run things well. But that's mainly because we keep electing idiot republicans that think exactly that. Why would they have incentive to change it if that's their whole philosophy? Govt. sucks, so elect me and I'll keep it that way! I'm not saying the other side is much better, but I honestly think they go into it with better intentions to help everyone rather than just give tax cuts to the richest of us.

As for the poster....It's stupid but I would never punish someone for expessing their thoughts.
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Freakzilla wrote:
SandRider wrote:the government has never "run the military" well.
How do you know? I'm not talking about choosing their battles, that's done by politicians, not the military.
But the US Military is VERY good at what they do. The best, in fact.
The best... I would say the "most" rather than best. I feel confident (based on the opinions of other people) that soldier for soldier there are countries (Isreal maybe?) that out do the US. But, the sheer numbers and missiles of the US military make that moot, so I guess you could say that that makes it better than the rest.
This is the kind of stuff that makes people leary of the US, statements that are really nationalist but not necessarily true. One of the best, of course, the biggest, of course, the best? Based on what? How do you measure "best"? Does the US have 10 more points for how fast their troops can carry out a certain manuver or something? I just don't get it.

I always hear (often from non-canadians) that Canadian troops are the best in the world soldier for soldier, but I don't go around saying that, or even agreeing with it when someone else does, because what the hell is that based on? Are there soldier olympics I don't know about? I'm sure it's partiotic BS. I'm sure our troops are good, but the best?
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by Freakzilla »

Crysknife wrote:...but I honestly think they go into it with better intentions to help everyone rather than just give tax cuts to the richest of us.
You think it's OK that the richest 1% pay 95% of the taxes?
As for the poster....It's stupid but I would never punish someone for expessing their thoughts.
1st Amendment RIGHT.

Which amendment promises health care? :wink:
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

Freakzilla wrote:
Crysknife wrote:...but I honestly think they go into it with better intentions to help everyone rather than just give tax cuts to the richest of us.
You think it's OK that the richest 1% pay 95% of the taxes?
As for the poster....It's stupid but I would never punish someone for expessing their thoughts.
1st Amendment RIGHT.

Which amendment promises health care? :wink:
I'm not falling for that this time.

See, I can learn. :D
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by GamePlayer »

That poster is awesome! :lol:

To all the haters: "Why so serious?" :P

I think I like it even more than Vulcan Obama :)
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Re: Obama-Joker Poster Denounced as Racist

Post by A Thing of Eternity »

I'd like to know who keeps pulling the race card for Obama (same person as got upset about that ape cartoon?), because that person is clearly an idiot.
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