Sorting out the facts in Obama-Joker 'socialist' posters around L.A.

Los Angeles residents voted for Barack Obama is large numbers last November (69% compared to 29% for John McCain). So it's somewhat surprising that a controversy over a public critique of the president would start on the streets of L.A.

But that's what happened today. Details are sketchy, but there is apparently at least one street poster in L.A. showing the president as the "Joker" character with white face, red lipstick with the word "socialist" under it.

There has been a lot of commentary on the poster but little detail about where it is and who put it up.

According to KTLA News, Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson is calling the depiction politically mean-spirited and dangerous. Hutchinson is challenging the group to come forward.

American Thinker claims the posters "are spreading across" the city and has a photo of one on a freeway onramp. Says the site: "It is starting. Open mockery of Barack Obama, as disillusionment sets in with the man, his policies, and the phony image of a race-healing, brilliant, scholarly, middle-of-the-roader."

Bloggers found that first reports of the poster in L.A. surfaced in April -- so it's unclear why it became such a Web sensation today.

 In any case, now there are photos of the post in Atlanta.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: KTLA News

Comments

[Gary Kirkland]

Has Earl Ofari Hutchinson not read the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Did he call the comparing of Bush to Hitler "politically mean-spirited and dangerous?" I smell hypocrisy and a double standard here. I might be wrong.

[Schigolch]

If the shoe fits, wear it.

[dyinginla]

.....who cares who did it? It's great.....Print Baby Print!!!!!!!!!!

[Claire]

Question: where was Hutchinson's outrage last year when Vanity Fair featured a similar poster depicting Pres Bush as the joker?

[Colister Slater]

And!! I recall seeing many posters of Bush around Los Angeles. Remember the first amendment ..

[voxdoc]

Brilliant use of satire to make a point. Obama is finally being seen for what he is, a "joker." When he claims he does not want to run the banks, the auto companies, etc., he is trying to trick people into believing he is not a socialist. When he blatantly lies about people being able to keep their private insurance when he is on record as stating he favors a government run single payer system, he is "joking." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bY92mcOdk

[Timray]

"Dangerous"????? what the H??? do we not remember the poking fun at Bush??? hell we took shots at everyone since Cater??? Dangerous??? Earl Ofari Hutchinson is the ignorant one here......hey Dubya.....see this???

[bart]

In Republicanland, its fine to give a CEO a $7 million dollar bonus when he crashes the company. But its socialism if you give a middle class family a tax cut. Republicans wrote the book on Socialism.

[Tomy Truth]

What's wrong with the truth?

To quote Jack Nicholson, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH..."

[Stephen Voss]

Someone has put up a poster. They inked in a photo and wrote the word "socialist." Like the mustaches you used to draw on photos in grade school. This is not a story. The fact that Fox and Drudge report it does not make it a story. The Times's silly talk that this poster shows that people no longer respect President Obama is ... silly talk. The real news is that the LA Times thinks this is a story. I have been reading the Times for over 50 years. That means I was reading it back when it was a serious newspaper. No longer ... it seems the Times aspires to imitate Fox and Drudge. If someone wants to write a story about the sad decline in serious newspapers, it would be worth reading. The Times is no longer the one to write it.

[ichooseliberty09]

He is trying to push us towards a European Union "Socialist" model...very true. Not welcomed here in the states...minimalize the government role in our life and respect our liberty and rights. He does report to Rham Emmanuel who reports to George Soros who reports to the European elitist...we all have to report to someone...sooo...this poster is very symbolic on how people feel and what the media is blacking out...just sayin!! I just just did a little more research than the Obamatrons...wake up!

[AAAAANDRE]

Oh, we've been mocking Obama all along.
Your blinders have kept you from seeing it!

[el guapo]

Good likeness.....much better than the fairy.

[Bill]

We59-I'm confused. Did Obama invite children to drink beer? You're an idiot.

[HenryFordsGhost]

well well well. You know this could be a liberal fed up with Obama's resistance to gay marriage or a marijuana advocate.

[True American]

I think it's funny as He11! You can't hide the truth! Oblahblah gives new definition of POTUS.

[scott]

Wow, this is stunning. How you get "socialist" from the word printed as "socialism" is beyond. (CLEARLY printed below AND above the image, not just "under it")

LA residents did not "is" for BO, they voted "in". Is this even a serious journalistic try?

So, a small suggesting, try sorting out your own facts to make a cohesive and comprehensive, (read factual), web post/story.

S

[George]

Just a waste of paper and ink. The idiots and fools who did this are barking down the wrong ally. Socialism: social security, thank god the government is not involved, medical and medicare, well good the government is not involved in that, health insurance for government officials, good the government is not involved in that, veterans medical care, according the Bill Kristol the best medical care for the protector's of Democracy, and thank god the government is not involved in that, what a bunch of jerks who continue to cry about "Socialism" and government. Hello you far right clowns it has been here for quite a long time. How do you think this country runs?

[Michael]

If I had a dime for every time Bush was "cartooned" I would be able to pay for the Socialized Medicine that Obama wants. I think it's great that the left is getting a little sample of their own medicine for once. Too bad they don't like the taste of it. They are just upset because the poster is actually an ace.

[JB]

Pair the image with this famous chart:
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/

Al Queda couldn’t do this much damage in their wildest dreams. I don’t know what others have gotten out of his first 6 months, but to me he sure comes across as a madman bent on destroying America.

[GC]

Bank bailout, Cash for Clunkers Fiasco, Healthcare destruction, and the Crowley-Gates racist accusation revealed Obama for the affirmative action incompetent that he is.

[Nancy Keeler]

You wouldn't have heard them screaming if someone had done the same thing with a picture of George Bush. Get over it.

[costamesaray]

Anytime someone writes, paints, or otherwise makes a critical comment about "Oboma", the black community has a fit. Why is it that only blacks can question this president? He is after all "OUR" president and we are free to question his politics without race being thrown into the mix.

[Jerome Melgar]

Oh no! Someone is degrading The Messiah! I bet if it was Bush on there they wouldn't be much upheavel over it.

[Melis]

I see one poster every morning as I get on the 101S at Argyle. It is the second one in the same spot since early in the year. The first seemed to be painted over by the city's anti-graffiti effort. So ironically, both sides could argue that the other is wasting tax dollars.