Did you think Obama could get much more obnoxious? Well, brace yourself. He's started using his own version of the Presidential Seal.



He's not persuading people that he's ready for the presidency through policy proposals and debates, he's doing it through a slick marketing campaign. This isn't very complicated and it will probably look rad on t-shirts and bumper stickers. So, I'm betting the Obamanauts will love it. jk

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 9:59 AM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 9:57:29 AM

and that's "obnoxious" because.....

6/23/2008 9:58:39 AM

I like it a lot better than the old one. It's a lot less corporate (pepsi) looking. But I don't think logo's mean much of anything - this doesn't deserve a separate thread and could go in one of your many other Obama-bashing threads.

6/23/2008 9:59:08 AM

agent,

You're right. Poor word choice on my part. Pompous would have worked better.

Quote :

"having or exhibiting self-importance"

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pompous



PS* It's pompous because he presumes that he is important enough to warrant the creation of a seal similar to the office of the President (the highest executive office in the country). The only other way around is to say that Obama doesn't believe he's that important, but he's hoping the seal will make some people think he is. And I don't think that's much better.

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 10:02:20 AM

Quote :

"It's pompous because he presumes that he is important enough to warrant the creation of a seal similar to the office of the President (the highest executive office in the country)."

It's not pompous because that's the office he's running for - both he and McCain think they're worthy of the title, which could be viewed as pompous I suppose...

6/23/2008 10:06:41 AM

^ But by creating a seal like this he is presuming that he already warrants at least some of the same formal trappings of the Presidency--the same pomp and circumstance. The Presidency is a obligation of service, not a medal to flash around. John McCain understands that.

But I understand you're still in the cloud so you won't see it.

Oh well, I didn't make this thread to change anybody's mind. I just thought it was cheezy. I will go ahead and kill my own thread by just noting that Adolf Hitler had the same emphasis on change and using "artwork" (propoganda) to persuade the masses. He even made HIS own own logo!



Who would have ever thought Hitler would come back black!

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 10:14 AM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 10:12:54 AM

Yep that's pretty brazen

Go get em Obama (but vote no on the FISA bill ok)

6/23/2008 10:13:32 AM

Chomsky talks a lot in Failed States about the similarities of Nazi marketing tactics and American politics steady move to adopt all of the same tactics. It's not Obama, it's the whole system.


And calling him Hitler is stupid - but so are most of your arguments.

6/23/2008 10:15:15 AM

I think at this point you don't like obama so much that it wouldn't matter what he does, you'd just find a reason to make a thread to talk more shit about him.

6/23/2008 10:23:01 AM

Oh is it REALLY that stupid?



Sieg Heil, Comrade.

6/23/2008 10:24:34 AM

cause thats exactly what he's doing

6/23/2008 10:26:23 AM

You're just jealous because McCain can't raise his arms high enough to do it

6/23/2008 10:43:13 AM

it really does amaze me how against obama socks is. that's about the only way that one could go from edwards to clinton to mccain in just a few months.

6/23/2008 10:46:00 AM

once again obama's designers are merely taking cues from retro 70s/80s promotion and spinning it into 00s

it's absolutely genius marketing and i'll wager corporate advertising is updating their playbook

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 11:06 AM. Reason : pepsi: a choice of a new generation]

6/23/2008 11:02:21 AM

omg, you mean sometimes people raise their hands over their shoulders?

no way!

6/23/2008 11:06:47 AM

At least Hitler had plans for a renewable energy source (juden)...Obama thinks he can run cars on HOPE and CHANGE and whatever kool-aid he has you people drinking.

6/23/2008 11:29:54 AM

^ Winner

6/23/2008 11:33:57 AM

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN MIMICS MARKETING CAMPAIGN: PRESSES COME TO COMPLETE HAULT!

6/23/2008 11:47:42 AM

Quote :

"At least Hitler had plans for a renewable energy source (juden)..."

lol

6/23/2008 11:54:47 AM

Quote :

"He even made HIS own own logo! "

hey you idiot...you do realize that the swastika is a pretty ancient symbol that Hitler didnt make, right?

Quote :

"Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period. An ancient symbol, it occurs mainly in the cultures that are in modern day India and the surrounding area, sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol. It was long widely used in major world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism."

6/23/2008 12:52:00 PM

he sure looks energetic and full of life in that first picture

6/23/2008 12:58:33 PM

i think its kind of baller

6/23/2008 1:08:26 PM

^^^There's more to a logo than just the symbol depicted Nobody said Hitler created a swastika, or that Obama created the Eagle clutching whatever it's clutching. It's the imagery and associations that can be very powerful.

Quote :

"In his 1925 work Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote that: I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika. "

But I digress, due to Godwin's law.

I am rather fond of this blog, however:

http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/

In it you can find some rather amazing imagery of the man who some refer to as the messiah.


[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM. Reason : 2]

6/23/2008 1:09:45 PM

gunzz,

You're right, my analogy is totally flawed. Hitler's "logo" was derivative of historical symbolism while Obama's use of a semi-circle to represent a rising sun is wholly original to his campaign. Excellent Point.

You might also want to watch the name calling. It's clearly against forum rules. You might upset one of the mods.

PS* It seems I need to remind everyone that my comparison of Obama to Hitler was EXPLICITLY a joke. In retrospect, I should have added <joke></joke> training wheels to make things more transparent.

6/23/2008 1:12:49 PM

what is your problem Socks``?

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 1:19 PM. Reason : .]

6/23/2008 1:17:56 PM

you know what's funny? the holocaust. gets me every time.

6/23/2008 1:23:59 PM

6/23/2008 1:29:15 PM

Hell yes posting image macros unironically

6/23/2008 1:32:04 PM

you know obama wants to fry that bird

6/23/2008 2:19:01 PM

Quote :

"He's not persuading people that he's ready for the presidency through policy proposals and debates, he's doing it through a slick marketing campaign."

Welcome to politics sir.

6/23/2008 2:22:47 PM

Did you think Socks could get much more obnoxious? Well, brace yourself. He's on Obama's nuts again.

6/23/2008 2:25:15 PM

Obama, sponsored by Prudential.

6/23/2008 5:56:10 PM

Quote :

"VERO POSSUMUS"

Having possum on the seal will probably help to attract bluecollar voters that Obama desperately needs

6/23/2008 6:08:52 PM

This is by far the saddest thread of this election cycle to date.

6/23/2008 6:22:44 PM

i'm wondering how obama hypnotized me so good

6/23/2008 6:27:26 PM

6/23/2008 6:33:58 PM

good lord.

Socks`` makes a thread to set up his moment of glory where he calls Obama the "black Hitler".

Dude, your credibility has finally gone sub-zero. Keep it up, and you'll soon become a running gag on par with Salisburyboy.




its funny in a way, but on a deeper level it's really sad. I mean, who would have thought he would just lose it so completely.

mental breakdowns are tragic.

seek help, socks. medications are available.

6/23/2008 7:26:06 PM

Quote :

"once again obama's designers are merely taking cues from retro 70s/80s promotion and spinning it into 00s it's absolutely genius marketing and i'll wager corporate advertising is updating their playbook"

marko

So, Team Obama is simply recycling old ideas and marketing them as "change"? Yeah, sounds right to me.

6/23/2008 7:39:09 PM

it's been happening since ook ran against thag

continued on to when quavius ran against cordus

and it'll still be happening when zandar-5 runs against quator-beta

teenagers will always be angry and old men think they know better

rinse lather repeat til the cockroaches take over

6/23/2008 7:50:19 PM

If your presidential logo has the word "possum" in it

something has gone horribly wrong

6/23/2008 8:05:05 PM

Obama seals away design
The quasi-presidential seal is retired, days after its unveiling. (4 hours ago)

Quote :

"Barack Obama's campaign has shelved the quasi-presidential seal that it unveiled just Friday. Critics called the design a sign of bad judgment and arrogance. It echoed the official presidential seal, with a Latin version of his 'Yes, we can' motto replacing 'E pluribus unum' and his rising-sun campaign logo replacing the bald eagle's Stars and Stripes shield. It was on Obama's lectern when he spoke at a Democratic governors meeting. The GOP chided him, and national news organizations pounced on the story. 'There are no other plans in place for the seal,' said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan. 'It was used for that one event.'"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-trailseal24-2008jun24,0,661299.story

Yeah, it looks like "corporate advertising is updating their playbook," after all, marko. The chapter is titled "Lessons Learned: What Not to Do Concerning Mock Presidential Seals."

^^ Cool names, though.

6/24/2008 7:57:03 AM

im talking about the whole campaign when i'm talking about advertising...it would be foolish not to think he's doing some highly effective branding REGARDLESS of support for or against the candidacy

--

and this whole "mocking symbols" thing can bugger off

we've got people sitting their assess on stars and stripes lawn chairs and wiping their mouths on american flag napkins

like all aspects of political correctness, it's only offensive when convenient or when your guy isn't doing it

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 1:18 PM. Reason : +]

6/24/2008 1:13:32 PM

^ Um. . .I'm not sure what the hell you're saying--when I used "mock," I meant "imitate." I made no indication whatsoever that Obama was "mocking" (meaning "ridiculing") the presidential seal--that was your word. I used "mock," you used "mocking"--there's a difference.

And I think you're backpedaling a bit on your "genius marketing" statement concerning the seal at issue. But I grant you that Team Obama has been tech-savvy and done very well in branding and marketing their candidate. And the much more widespread Obama logo is one of the sharpest-looking logos I've seen in any context.



In any event, concerning the Stars and Stripes, I've only seen Obama's friends stomping on it, though:

6/24/2008 1:32:21 PM

marko
I'm essentially the only one that said boo about it in this whole thread so I'll have to assume the comment is directed at me.

I never called Obama out for "mocking" the Presidential Seal or even said his seal was "offensive". My beef (as stated previously) is that it shows a great deal of arrogance.

The Presidential Seal represents the office of the Presidency--the most powerful executive position in the country and essentially the only person chosen to represent the interest of all Americans at home and abroad. A bit unlike the American flag, which only represents the country as a whole and no particular powers or obligations held by any particular citizen, wouldn't you say?

If you really want to play the game of extreme comparisons, creating his own version of the seal is less like wiping his mouth with an American flag napkin and more like putting a crown on his head. That's why people didn't like it and that's why the campaign has decided to stop using it.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 1:44 PM. Reason : ``]

6/24/2008 1:44:06 PM

Quote :

"If you really want to play the game of extreme comparisons, creating his own version of the seal is less like wiping his mouth with an American flag napkin and more like putting a crown on his head. That's why people didn't like it and that's why the campaign has decided to stop using it."

I think that nails it. One thing's for sure: The Obama campaign dropped that seal like a hot potato.

6/24/2008 1:48:34 PM

when concerning "mocking" i'm referring comments like this i've seen on other sites:

Quote :

"Is the arrogant, condescending, snobbish Barack Hussein Obama in violation of Federal Law?? 18 USC Sec 713……. (a) Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great seal of the United Sates, or of the seals of the President or the Vice President of the United States,…………….shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."

Quote :

"I believe that Mr. Obama very likely HAS violated Federal law with this “seal”. However, prosecuting him would be next to impossible, especially for the current administration (”vast right-wing conspiracy” and all of that). “Politcal Correctness” would not allow it. Any attempt to prosecute would most likely spawn considerable civil unrest. I guess trampling Federal law under foot for the sake of getting elected really is “Change we can believe in”. In response to the post by legal blogger: please read part (b) of the law, I suspect that it is a bit more difficult to use any spin on Mr. Obama’s behalf to avoid this: TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 33 > § 713 (b) Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."

Quote :

"As a moderate, I’m trying not to overreact, but making a total mockery out of the Presidential Seal is in incredibly poor taste. The misuse of the bald eagle, now sporting the Obama “O” instead of the shield of freedom, is offensive. The “vero possumus” — in official looking copperplate font — is injecting a stale campaign phrase in the place of “e pluribus unum” or “in God we trust.” The very idea! Besides, the true translation is actually “truly, he is a possum.” (just kidding). I can’t believe that some more moderate advisor didn’t counsel against this sophamoric mock-up. It is presumptuous of Senator Obama to appear in front of such a perverted image. That’s “perverted” in the sense of “having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented.” This new “seal” should hit the trash heap quickly."

i'm not backpedaling on anything... the seal was slick graphic design and should be able to be used on anything they want

and honestly

it's not different from the posts i've been making all along concerning the image of the campaign

message_topic.aspx?topic=516265&page=1#11331134
message_topic.aspx?topic=444887&page=1#9585170

i wish i could find the thread where i posted early on similarities between this campaign and the pepsi ads from the 80s

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 2:09 PM. Reason : +]

6/24/2008 1:48:42 PM

I'm fucking Sick of seeing all the O- Obama 08 signs everywhere; and flags on cars (owner usually black)

6/24/2008 1:53:57 PM

GET A ROPE

6/24/2008 2:04:32 PM

^^^ Understood. But I haven't seen anyone here say any of that.

6/24/2008 2:08:24 PM

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 3:04 PM. Reason : zx]

6/24/2008 3:03:28 PM