'Obama Bucks' originated on a liberal website
Oh, the irony. That "Obama Bucks" image sent out by a Republican women's club in San Bernardino County, which featured a photo of Barack Obama on paper currency surrounded by a potpourri of racially-charged Jim Crow-era images? Turns out it wasn't created by club president, Diane Fedele, but was lifted from Please God No, a satirical website devoted to skewering the Republican right.
The originator of Obama Bucks -- we'll call him Joe the Blogger -- is no stranger to the tasteless joke and the offensive image. Steeped in the scorched earth impudence of "South Park" and following in the irreverent footsteps of the Onion, Joe the Blogger's site has drawn scores of outraged comments for posts about dead Boy Scouts, Heath Ledger, genital odor and the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, which uses the N-word.
If Obama Bucks was going to draw much fire, Joe the Blogger always assumed it would be directed at him. To have the very Republicans he mocks misunderstand the satire and go up in flames for his work leaves him bemused.
"It’s horrible and funny at the same time" Joe the Blogger said. "I feel bad for the poor lady who did this, but how stupid do you have to be not to see the racial aspects?"
Fedele came under fire for the mailer and for her subsequent claim that she didn't notice the image's racist nature. Even as she apologized and her fellow club members disavowed the mailer, the story -- and reactions to it -- shot around the world.
Though Fedele's caption ("Obama talks about all those presidents that got their names on bills. If elected, what bill would he be on ????? Food Stamps, what else!") associated Obama with food stamps, Joe the Blogger said he merely Googled around and found an image of play money on which to display as many racist stereotypes that would fit.
"It was so over-the-top and obviously racial and offensive, and that was the point of it," Joe the Blogger said.
Warning -- Joe the Blogger's site, an equal opportunity offender, is full of truly tasteless stuff. That said, I suspect its hit counts are about to go through the roof.
-- Veronique de Turenne
This is by far one of the most ignorant things i've personally seen someone create since that new york times political drawing. This is outrageous yes i may be only 15 years old but this is just not the right thing to do. Im mixed and my dad wants obama and my mother is wishey washey on both but even she sees this as a direct blow to the African American Culture. To connect all African Americans with cool-aid, fried chicken and watermelon is racist but to then say food stamps help for them to pay for these racist "neccesitys" racist people think all black people eat is outrageous. My thoughts might be unorganized but, i feel very offended by this "Dirty Joke"
Posted by: xavier evans | October 20, 2008 at 10:43 AM
In this day and age it is prepostrous for that woman to say she hadn't noticed the racial overtones of the message she sent out. If she is that ignorant she shouldn't be allowed to use a computer If her great grandmother were alive and read the note she would have known what the message conveyed.
Posted by: Alonso | October 20, 2008 at 10:59 AM
The Obama bucks my have orginated by the women's club but we all know they knew exactly what they were doing.
Posted by: Struggling | October 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I think its a real stretch to call Please God No a 'liberal' website. Its satire. Not everyone who thinks the current right-wing establishment is appalling and pokes fun at it's ridiculousness can be labeled politically 'liberal.'
Posted by: Ben | October 20, 2008 at 11:44 AM
The woman who sent the mailer is simply a liar. I cannot believe for one second that there's someone out there who simply 'didn't know' that there was a stupid negative stereotype about fried chicken and watermelon, or kool-aid and ribs. Even if the stereotypes are stupid, pointless and ridiculous, EVERYONE knows that they are intended to degrade and humiliate. To claim ignorance of this is like walking down the street wearing a swastika T-shirt, then saying, "oh, is that offensive? I had no idea there was a racial aspect to it." If that's true, which I doubt, then your ignorance is of such a blatant and shocking level, you're still a racist anyway.
Posted by: Sean K | October 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM
The Know Nothings have taken over the Republican Party. That's why moderate Republicans and even those who are more to the right but have a conscience are starting to speak out.
Posted by: plankbob | October 20, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Perhaps we could overlook all of the negativity involved in OBAMA BUCKS if we were able to print the OBUCKS and finally be free from the claws of the FEDERAL RESERVE. OBUCKS AS LEGAL TENDER! wouldnt require so many tax increases.
Posted by: Milton Z. | October 20, 2008 at 12:57 PM
i dont find anything wrong with freedom of speech.
Posted by: jeff | October 20, 2008 at 01:14 PM
There is absolutely nothing wrong with freedom of speech. It's so wonderful that people are free to use devious politics, and to show their stupidity. When they are allowed to do that, it undermines their positions, and everyone benefits. Everyone should be free to be as stupid, vicious and nasty as they want to be.
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt."
EJDubya
Posted by: EJDUBYA | October 20, 2008 at 01:32 PM
I am not an American and have never set foot inside the US. Even I know that fried chicken, ribs, and watermelon can be considered racist in this kind of situation.
Kool-aid, on the other hand...I had no idea.
Posted by: Charlene | October 20, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Veronique, this is truly awesome!
Posted by: teri sforza | October 21, 2008 at 09:12 PM
I think that the Obama Bucks piece is a scream! It is totally funny! If people can't just take it for what it was meant for - HUMOR!!! I don't know if any of you morons out there know any people who happen to be "of color" (I guess I can't even write black anymore?) I grew up with lots of people of color and we all ate and drank the foods depicted on the Obama Bucks. So what is so despicable? Instead of worrying about something so stupid as this, why don't you all look into the Ayers, Rezko, Akorn, and all the other scandals that surround Obama? This man is a scumbag and if the main stream media sent 30 lawyers out to find the true dirt after him and then tried to get him to "answer" a question about it.... maybe people would not be so excited about him!!!
Posted by: Fred | October 22, 2008 at 07:18 AM
" I think that the Obama Bucks piece is a scream! It is totally funny! If people can't just take it for what it was meant for - HUMOR!!! "
I'm positive that many early Americans also thought it was funny and humerus
to watch People of color being slaughtered and hung from trees .
What kind of moron would find years of segregation and abuse ...funny !
It's not just the words or the pictures that offend me ... but it's evil and harsh
overtone of past and present racism in America .
Over 500 years and nothing has really changed ... Where Is the Humor In this ?
Posted by: Corey Fike | October 23, 2008 at 09:55 AM