Controversy: The poster, which depicts President Barack Obama as Batman villain The Joker has divided U.S. opinion

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Spoof poster of Obama's face painted as The Joker branded 'dangerous and mean-spirited'

A poster depicting Barack Obama as Batman villain The Joker has been called 'mean-spirited and dangerous' by the U.S. President's supporters.

The image, which has been adopted by Mr Obama's critics, shows him wearing the white face paint and smudged red lips of the character most recently played by the late actor Heath Ledger. Beneath the picture reads the word 'socialism'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/...n-spirited.html

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I don't think it's a big deal.

[natty bumppo 297]

who cares?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't think it's a big deal.

He's no Heath Ledger

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

oh nooos!

[Mark&Steph 0]

How dare they!? The Joker was the cheesiest villain in the whole Batman universe. And that's saying a lot.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't think it's a big deal.

It isn't.

Its similar to the campaign the Tory party ran against Tony Blair in 1997, seizing on a facial expression dubbed "the Blair stare" where he was depicted in billboard ads with demonic red eyes. That was worse in the sense that it was directly created and endorsed by a political party - this just looks like some random person having some fun with photoshop.

To be honest though as a piece of political criticism this kind of thing is entirely useless. Doesn't really serve much purpose other than to personally demonise the subject, leaving aside any actual criticism of the political issues that supposedly inspired it.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I find it creative and funny

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I find it creative and funny

I guess that says a lot.

[_Simpson_ 250]

It sure does, says I think its creative and funny.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There was a lot of this going on during the Bush administration - with all those images depicting him variously as a chimp or as Hitler.

Personal biases aside, this kind of thing only serves to further the political divide in this country, as well as promote childish attitudes toward politics. A non-issue at the end of the day - but it says a lot about how people approach politics.

[_Simpson_ 250]

There was a lot of this going on during the Bush administration - with all those images depicting him variously as a chimp or as Hitler.

Personal biases aside, this kind of thing only serves to further the political divide in this country, as well as promote childish attitudes toward politics. A non-issue at the end of the day - but it says a lot about how people approach politics.

I don't necessarily think so, I think most people will enjoy the humor of it, I don't think this poster is going to divide people or change there opinions on socialism and if it does well then Im not to concerned about what think to begin with.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its a stupid statement though - what connotation is supposed to be implied by the image of the Joker with a banner of Socialism under it?

Its the same stupid red herring argument that is wheeled out to suggest that anything "the left" does is somehow unamerican and that socialised policies (not that healthcare reform in its current form could reasonably be dubbed "socialist") can be equated to communism.

Its pretty idiotic.

Edited August 4, 2009 by Private Pike

[alienlovechild 75]

Personal biases aside, this kind of thing only serves to further the political divide in this country, as well as promote childish attitudes toward politics. A non-issue at the end of the day - but it says a lot about how people approach politics.

But Obama was supposed to be sign of national reconciliation. So much for that sentiment. So far his major achievement has been to bring a cop and college professor together over a beer.

There is a real point to be made behind the facepaint. It's good to have competing ideas and policies even when one party is running the show. It's not a complex statement but it shows not everyone is happy with the way things are going. There will be more visible disatisfaction in response Obama's flailing efforts on the economy. We are being told the recession has bottomed out and things will improve. The recovery will be be slow and Americans are impatient after buying into Obama as the agent of hope and change.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Its a stupid statement though - what connotation is supposed to be implied by the image of the Joker with a banner of Socialism under it?

Its the same stupid red herring argument that is wheeled out to suggest that anything "the left" does is somehow unamerican and that socialised policies (not that healthcare reform in its current form could reasonably be dubbed "socialist") can be equated to communism.

Its pretty idiotic.

Joker was evil, socialism is evil and only a mad man would try push it, I think thats what there were going for on that poster. I laughed at alot of the Bush things that were going on too, I just seen one here the other day that had him eating a corn on the cob and on the bottom it said this banana taste funny. I thought that was funny and got a good laugh over it but I in no way do I think he is that stupid.

I think your taking this way too seriously.

Edited August 4, 2009 by looking_up