Obama as 'Joker' Poster Borders Malice, Phantom Artist Mum

obama

» by K. Lattimore keyakay August 5, 2009, 14:23pm

A poster of Obama in make-up resembling the Joker, a character from the film "The Dark Knight," went viral immediately in the streets of Los Angeles, under the image is the word "socialism." The "artist" remains silent.

As if the picture isn't discourteous enough, the implication of Obama single-handedly reforming government and society into socialism completely undermines the mission and agenda of his presidency.

The phantom artist created the poster from the October 2006 issue of Time Magazine featuring Obama on the cover and added the "Joker" face to the shot, according to the Associated Press.

According to various reports, the poster has been circulated and spotted throughout different parts of L.A. and Hollywood since Monday (August 3), particularly on highway ramps and underpasses. There have been reports of poster sightings in Atlanta as well.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, L.A. activist and columnist has beckoned the creator(s) to come forward, announce themselves and explain the motivation behind the poster.

"Depicting the president as demonic and a socialist goes beyond political spoofery," says Hutchinson, "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."

On behalf of the staff here at HipHopWired.com, we join Hutchinson and encourage the mastermind behind the poster to make themselves known, exercise their freedom of speech and explain his/her intention. Such a statement deserves expounding. Otherwise, remaining mute could be rendered just as cowardly as white sheets and burning crosses. Just saying.

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  • Jack Hammershoy

    Racist?!? Phooey!

    I think the poster is fantastic!!!

    After all the mudslinging that Bush-- who I am NO fan of-- endured, Obama, like any politician, is fair game.

    I love the poster for a few reasons. I find it to be a very creative adaptation of a common photo. The imagery is very dark and sinister and perhaps exposes the darker side of this man so blindly loved and adored by millions. It raises concern for what little we know about his darker side-- who is he REALLY? What REALLY motivates him? IS he socialist? IS he the greatest con to have attained the presidency? What destruction to our great country will he leave in his wake? Is he the ANTICHRIST?!?

    What disturbs me as an artist about this poster is the pressure of abridged freedom of expression that the artist must feel that would have compelled her or him to post these in the dark of night. I am terribly afraid that our freedom of expression as artists is being quietly but firmly subdued. This, I believe, is evidence of that smothering of those freedoms that a person, whether an artist or a person simply expressing political opinions/dissent, should be fearful of voicing their opinions.

    I say, "Way to go Obama Joker Poster-poster!"

  • Jordan C. Alston

    the reason why people hated bush is because

    A) He cheated and stole his first election
    B) He was a dumb A$$. . .
    C) He ruined the nation after a decade of prosperity!!!

    Obama is that dude! Nough' said. . . The posters are wack. . .take them down