Some people who are outraged by anti-Obama placards have forgotten that, only a few years ago, many people were condemning George Bush in terms as harsh or harsher.
Here is a picture I took at an antiwar rally in Washington in January 2007. The sign – “What’s good for the goose….. gandar” – refers to the recent hanging of Saddam Hussein had been hung after a kangaroo trial. (Saddam was guilty as hell of many things, but the trial process was a disgrace to the United States and to Iraq). The Bush administration was in such a sweat to use the Saddam trial to influence the US congressional midterm elections that the Iraqi government announced Hussein’s sentence – death by hanging – even before they had officially released the sentence (which was not released until after the US election).
The artist’s representation of George Bush could have been better, but so could the photograph itself. Some people may have been offended by the title I added to the photo: “Bush Swings by Congress.” (The full size version of the photograph is available at my Flickr site here).a>
You should write headlines for the N.Y. Post who had the fine sense of irony to scream, over a picture of Rove and GW :”Bush’s Brain is Leaking”….when it was disclosed that Rove was stovepiping in his usual manner.
But , as to this image, I am aghast and offended by the underwearism of the vicious attack, it plays on our worst fears by hinting that Texans wear Tighty Whiteys with their boots. Fruits of the Loom indeed.
I protest!
I have forwarded your comment to Bush’s personal liasons at both Jockey and Hanes headquarters.
Jim,
I disagree re: the artist’s representation. I think the muscle definition is a pretty good representation of a middle-aged, former Andover male cheerleader. And the g-string and colorful cowboy boots certainly reinforce this theme!
Wes, you and Dirk are going to have to duke it out over whether Bush had on Tighty Whiteys or a g-string.
I would guess – since the artist bent over backwards to make this a dignified presentation – that it would be BVDs- perhaps with the top covered by the chains.
…a G STRING!…yee gawds….at long last sirs, have you no shame? If it is a G String, I hope at the very least that it is Lizard Skin with a soft rabbit fur lining. Then again, when you squint yer eyes, it does kind of remind me of that old Burlesque Queen Hedda Lettuce.
I also posted this at Antiwar.com, where it generated the following indignant comment from Heathcliff Maw:
****
I reckon this dude is angry at my lack of anger over… something or other.
I was always under the impression that Bush had a deep-seated hatred of white people. I’m beginning to think that Obama hates black people and white people, making him a self-hating black and white man.
Personally, I find all these ugly drawings of Bush and Obama extremely offensive, but not nearly as offensive as actual photographs of these men.
The only way I know of to nip all of these offensive things in the bud is to abolish the federal government. It would save a lot of money and we would all be better off.
Plus, it would be good for the environment, because people wouldn’t be making so many damn placards.
How long would it take the Justice Department’s Hate Crimes unit to swing into action if someone “lynched” a likeness of Obama in the same manner?