Tuesday, August 04, 2009
BARACK OBAMA
The Obama-Joker Poster Is Counterproductive
Meanwhile, in discussing the Democrats' response to opposition to ObamaCare at constituent meetings, today Marc Ambinder reports: "Another strategist with ties to the White House made sure to point out that a popular sign at these rallies features Obama, in Shepherd Fairy-esque ink, as the Joker (although it's not clear how many signs have been seen at actual rallies.)."
Has anyone seen the Obama-Joker poster at one of these rallies? I haven't seen it in the videos I've seen, but obviously they don't show everyone and every sign. But if we can't find any in the most widely-watched videos, can any Democratic strategist legitimately claim that it's a "popular sign"?
I actually don't like the Obama-Joker poster, for several reasons. For starters, this image is too "hot" — i.e., the Joker was a sadist and a psychopath, and Obama is neither. Obama's the opposite of Heath Ledger's portrayal; the Joker was a nihilist and Obama is a utopian idealist.
There's something particularly wrongheaded about using a character who says his purpose is to "show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are" to symbolize a politician in love with centralized planning.
As we watch the President's poll numbers drop, I feel like a lot of damaging memes are starting to stick to Obama — used car salesman, not stupid but doesn't know issues in depth (tonsil profiteering!), bad first instincts, a wimp on foreign affairs, melting before our eyes without Bush or McCain to run against... The "Joker" image doesn't fit any of those, and I think is too easily used as fodder for distractions.
By comparison, William Ayers seemed, at one point in his life, intrigued at the thought of "watching the world burn."
08/04 04:51 PM
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