Barack Obama's faux presidential seal bites the dust

So much for that presidential-looking seal on the front of the lectern during a Barack Obama appearance Friday in Chicago.

Widely mocked (here, here and here, to cite but a few of the items that wryly took note of it), the intrepid Marc Ambinder of TheAtlantic.com reports that the insignia will be consigned to some closet to gather dust.

He writes: "I'm told that Obama recognizes that it was a silly mistake, that the universal reaction at (his Chicago headquarters) was, "Boy, was that dumb.' "

We doubt there will be much argument with that conclusion.

The Swamp's Mark Silva has his take on the seal imbroglio here.

Ambinder's full post can be read here.

[UPDATE: Obama's communication director, Robert Gibbs, confirmed to CNN that the seal was history. “That was a one time thing for a one time event," Gibbs said. And, he must hope, the type of one time mistake that won't be repeated.]

-- Don Frederick

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Wm Tate]

Time after time after time, Obama has had to rescind an earlier decision because it was a mistake: from the important (his pledge to accept federal funding, naming Jim Johnson to his Veep selection committee, etc.) to the trivial (the use of this E Plurubus Barackus seal),

Yet he would have us trust his judgement, despite his track record?

-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[Alessandro Machi]

This wasn't just a silly idea, Barack Obama actually broke the law. That's right, Barack Obama could actually have been both fined and jailed for using part of the presidential seal as his own.

But just as taking his name off of the Michigan ballot was done to endear himself to Iowa voters and was later excused, Obama always gets the pat on the back and is excused from any actual responsiblity for his actions.

I can see Jan saying Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, about now.

http://www.HILLARY-WINS.com
http://www.CaucusCheating.com
http://www.FAIR-REFLECTION.com
http://www.WallStreetChange.com

[Mitch]

Veritas Possumus:

Truly I am a Possum.

In Possums there are truth

[Jean]

Barack Obama will pull every trick he can think of just to get elected. He's not experienced enough in politics or qualified to be president, and he appears more stupid as time go by.

[jose]

He just threw that seal under the bus. Obama reportedly said, "It's not the seal I thought I knew."

[Sally]

Does anyone talk about real issues anymore?

I really hope this isn't the "American Idol"ization of this once great nation.

[Solomon]

What's the big deal ? The symbol was only a symbolic gesture to the presidency. He knows that he's not the President, and the last time I checked, he's campaigning to be president. The problem: white America and the media is saying, we like you, but, hold on blacky, not so fast.

The bottom line: we whites don't want the Negro to get ahead of himself. He must take it slow and give us a chance to say how he must play the game by us to win the presidency, and if you don't play by our rules, you lose....

[patricia]

oh please ... having been in the political ad biz for a long time, that was probably the "brain fart" of someone just graduated in graphic/advertising design. (or at least one would hope).
it IS silly ... reminded me mostly of Twig's "Commander in Chief" patch which I always thought should have been stitched backward to he could reassure himself when he looked in the mirror ....
If that's the worst ad gaffe of the campaign we're getting off easy ....

More attention should go to McCain's aides comment on how much a terrorist attach would benifit old John ...

[Jake Hess]

imbecilic, like everything else associated with this candidate

[NLC]

How can anyone defend this action by 'let's talk about isssues' crapola...American is not a place or even a people it is an idea, a belief, a 'shining city on a hill' as extolled by presidents from Lincoln to Clinton.

We must be reminded from time to time of what separates 'Gods' from 'Men'.

Pentheus suffered a terrible fate for far less trespass.

Please review the definition of 'hubris'. In this man it is breathtaking....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris

[Alessandro Machi]

So some of us think it is kind of big deal, and some others think it's irrelevant. Still, who actually thought it up, and why did everybody else go along? That's the part the gets me.

Not one person to say, "Barack, you have to earn that first before you can display it."

[TrojanLoyalist]

Wonder why the LA Times' circulation continues to go down that toilet? Falsifying news stories and slamming one candidate over another might be part of it. The seal was created for one event and the Times like the rest of the media echolalies the erroneous story that it was the new campaign logo.

[Proud American]

I thought Obama has already won the presidency! He just could not wait to CHANGE our Presidential Seal. He just could not wait to CHANGE our constitution to fit his agendas! He just could not wait to CHANGE our ways of life. He is realy scary and dangerous! ARE THE CHANGES WE WANT?

[BCC]

My wife's a Latin teacher; she loved the seal.

[Betty]

He just threw that seal under the bus. Obama reportedly said, "It's not the seal I thought I knew."

Posted by: jose | June 23, 2008 at 02:58 PM

Good one!!!! It must be getting mighty crowded under that bus. LOL!!!!!!!

[VJ Machiavelli]

I guess having a seal beats riding around in a tank.

Obama the "bitter" seal of approval

VJ Machiavelli
ps If you want to see what life is all about visit http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com and take the time to play and watch the video of our lives vs the lives of our solders.
It will be the best 5 minutes of your life.

[jps]

That seal is so seally...even illegal
I can't believe a presidential candidate does this
What's next, giving driver licenses to illegals?

[kukki]

POWER OF THE PEOPLE !! The net. the blogs and the seal bites the dust.
f they had their way they would still have it but the furor it created amongst the people is what ended the rule of the seal.

[TJ]

Now you know Obama's achilles heel - ridicule. There's more out there than we could possibly use so apply liberally (as is plentifully) and watch that bus shift into reverse.

[NO BAMA]

Seal - under the bus
Wright - under the bus
Ayers - under the bus
Mother - under the "typical" bus
Father - nominated for governor of 57th state
Johnson - under the bus
Public financing of campaign - under the bus
Hillary - under the bus
Trinity Church - under the bus
Rezko - under the bus before he wasn't

Hmmmmm... gonna need a bigger bus. Hey, got an idea, how about the Titanic??? YES WE CAN! And, YES WE WILL!

[bmc]

Barack Obama's already talking about 2016 being the end of his two terms as President!

Talk about arrogant. Barack Obama is breathtakingly arrogant, not to mention deceitful, calculating, smug and condescending. He's also inexperienced, unqualified, amateurish, and limited in foreign affairs. One has to ask: Where does this arrogance come from?

And, since we've just concluded two terms of an arrogant, smug, condescending, deceitful, dictatorial Republican president, who was himself inexperienced, unqualified, and limited in knowledge of foreign policy, I wonder why on earth would Americans want to endure another two more terms of the same?

[Solomon]

Heathcare on the Bus
Iraq War on the Bus
Home foreclosures on the Bus
Gas Prices on the Bus
College Education on the Bus
War on the middle class on the bus
Lost of Jobs on the bus
Interest rates on the bus
Floods on the bus
Fires on the bus
Change in Washington on the bus

These are the issues that concern Obama and not the seal.

Hmmmmmmm. ...gonna need to focus on concern issues. Hey , I got an idea, How about putting the seal on TOP of the bus and all the major issues get thrown under the bus. Yes we can! and Yes we will !

My point : we are focusing on the wrong issues and we get caught up with trivia matters and wonder why nothing gets done in Washington or our issues aren't addressed. We are more interested in a dumb seal, rather than the issues. Wake up America, it's a diversion.....The only people who concern themselves about this crazy stuff are the media and people who can afford $5.00 - $10.00 per gallon for gas and have good health insurance, and a great paying job."Don't sacrifice your children's future over media mania"

[MS BLUEGRASS]

The wheels on the bus go round and round....

The American people have spoken, over 18 million voices strong! Despite the caterwauling of the gossips and the pundits of the mainstream media anointing him, despite his gift from the DNC of installing him as the nominee, THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO CAN WIN THIS ELECTION. Hillary Clinton is the most electable, experienced, and SHE WiILL BE THE BEST PRESIDENT! Wake up superdelegates, Take note!
On the comments above, I wondered how long it would be before someone played the race card...ding ding ding...Solomon wins the prize! Six posts and he interjects! This message brought to you by one of 600,000 voices from Michigan...you know...where our votes count for 50 per cent of the rest of the U.S.

[Ryan]

You are all narrow minded. Does an entire article really need to discuss a logo? Do we have nothing better to do? How about all of you reflect on real issues like our economy or ending the war in Iraq.

Barack Obama does represent real change and it's sad that none of you can see it. You speak of inexperience like it's a bad thing. Barack Obama ran a better (and more organized) primary campaign than Hillary. He beat the pants off experience and proved he's more competent.

So far his presidential campaign is doing the same. It's time to focus on America people, not the individual.

[verna berg]

An empty suit of a candidate thrust upon the American People by THE MEDIA especially MSNBC.
I hate the fact that Senator Clinton will be campaigning with him on Friday in New Hampshire. I hope that will be the only time. Thank Goodness that President Clinton has refused to join them and will be in Europe working on his Foundation and continue to be an asset and an Ambassador for this great nation.
OBAMA NEVER!!!!!

[To Win]

Maybe Michelle stared at that seal for way too long and “for the first time in [her] adult life, [she's] proud of [her] country.” I wouldn't blame her for her delusion.

[Peter Truong]

Folks, that is what he promises to us - "CHANGE". So, first he "changes" the US President seal. Next, he will change American "up side down" to "down side up". Next, you make a guess.....LOL

[dean]

They instead should ask barack if he will give us all new alternitive energy cars while he steals money from people who work hard and olive drab hats with little red stars on them .stopping oil is the enviro wac'os while they still want plastic bread wrappers and ice cream buckets lightweight car parts and boats and airplane parts clothes .we still need oil !!!!! and he cant tell us all the energy we expend to make alt. energy trucking comp. would love pluging in there trucks every night to bring food to those idiots.Look up how much pollution is made in lithium batt. prod. for the hybrids more than driving a hummer oar makes trip around the world stopping maney times for pross... nuts ... ask about alaska north slope &gull island western us oil plenty of it ask why 87%of shore off limits to us but not communist china .w
We should not be ashmed of our achievments but some say we shouldbe let those people leave trade for nonlazey people baracks wife said their are peopl that have alot of pie and they should give some more of it away . maybe the people that get that peice of pie should get there own ingrediants and make there own damb pie . like ower for fathers intended it ,like they raised there own food or died the government dident feed them....

[Tom]

He's an ass! I think his ego is getting in the way of his brains and common sense. He has lost major cool points from me.