Obama Joker Poster

A new poster of President Barack Obama has begun to service in Los Angeles and Atlanta.  The poster as seen above depicts Obama with the Joker make-up from the movie The Dark Knight.

The image is startling at first, your first reaction: This is wrong.  The image is unsettling because everyone associates the make-up with a sociopath that creates nothing but chaos and mayhem.  To this character everything is a Joke.  The idea that our President is a sociopath and chaotic jokester is not a pleasant idea.

After the initial emotions settle down you need to realize that the poster is meant as satire.  You are suppose to laugh at the poster.  This is social commentary.

There has been some public outcry about the poster, but not to the extent I imagine it could or will be.

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.

I believe that this poster is acceptable.  It should not be taken down.  The group or person who created this poster should be allowed to post this image wherever they choose.  This is within our First Amendment Rights.  This is called Freedom of Speech.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

These are the words of our founding Fathers, these words have up held the act of flag burning and desecration.  Before you jump on the bandwagon that this poster is terrible, mean-spirited, and the creators should be tried and convicted of  a crime keep in mine all of the images depicting our previous president.  Here are a couple of examples.

Interesting an image of President Bush in a similar fashion as the Pres. Obama poster.

An image depicting President Bush sucking the blood of liberty.

Freedom of Speech should be upheld.