• February 13, 2012

Baskin Robbins Heath Ledger Shake has 288,000 calories!IMPORTANT UPDATE ON OBAMA-JOKER POSTER: Even though creative people are liberal by nature and street artists played an interesting role in the election of liberal Barack Obama, who is widely supported by creative people, because they are liberal, “the art community is not meeting its duty of always questioning those in power,” because they have not immediately turned on Barack Obama, the president they just elected because they want him to be president. But just as a wife beater must always beat his wife, even if he loves her and doesn’t want to beat her, an artist MUST hate Obama, even if he loves Obama. Now where would such rote/contrarian insanity be published? [Reason]

{ 79 comments }

Mild Midwesterner August 7, 2009 at 3:05 pm

The eye shadow makes Obama look like the singer in Green Day.

Bearbloke August 7, 2009 at 3:06 pm

I’m offended.

jagorev August 7, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Patrick Courrielche is a marketing strategist, art community consultant, and co-founder of the non-traditional advertising agency Inform Ventures, LLC. Follow him on Twitter at

“Art community consultant” has to be the most bullshit job title since “generational consultant”. STOP making up fancy words for “unemployed”, people!

american mutt August 7, 2009 at 3:06 pm

No, I think the issue is it’s only been 9 months and artists are lazy and we like to take our damn time so fuck you REASON. I’ll turn against Obama when I fucking feel like it.

ManchuCandidate August 7, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Wouldn’t it be easier and less boring to say: “Hey, I’m irreverent so fuck you”?

shadowMark August 7, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Slutty flight attendant.

Barrett808 August 7, 2009 at 3:10 pm

This poster displays the best technique I’ve ever seen from conservative propaganda. Of course, the message is completely incoherent, but that just goes with conservative ideology.

american mutt August 7, 2009 at 3:11 pm

I’m going to have to write about this image as well now that everyone who knows nothing thinks they can critique it now.

user-of-owls August 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Oh crap. I put all my money into socialist realism futures, and now these goateed layabouts have turned on Barry?

V572625694 August 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm

[re=381084]jagorev[/re]: You’d think that as a “marketing strategist,” he could devise a strategy to persuade someone in the job market to give him one. Then he could join the “arts funding community.”

El Pinche August 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Firstly, we’ve done this already with Walnuts. Alsoly, it doesn’t make any sense.

freakishlystrong August 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm

But just as a wife beater must always beat his wife, even if he loves her and doesn’t want to beat her
Redneck Underwear…Exposed!

V572625694 August 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Oh, and be warned: the first sentence of the article will make your brain ache with rage.

magic titty August 7, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Maybe the poster is just Barry cartoonifying himself?

Anyway, whichever commenter sincerely writes “Why so contrarian?” in this thread must die.

user-of-owls August 7, 2009 at 3:14 pm

So THAT’S what a barbaric yawp looks like!

Nerdalicious August 7, 2009 at 3:15 pm

[re=381088]shadowMark[/re]:
“Slutty flight attendant.”
I am now organizing a “Fire ShadowMark Rally” at wherever you work. And quit picking on my daughter(s) Tree Branch and Birmingham. ~Sarah P.

Nerdalicious August 7, 2009 at 3:17 pm

Ok, they won. The angry anti-health care Night of the Sick & Fat Ass, have officially shut down the town halls in August. I hate to say this but they won this round. Prez & Co. better step up and fast.

widget09 August 7, 2009 at 3:17 pm

Yeah, I like the short that shows Barrack morphing to Hitler. Real creative, meanwhile, The zombies have basically shut down all of the town hall meetings, that’s what I call rational discourse. It’s starting to feel like the Weimar republic.

kdaddy August 7, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Hey, I can fill a bunch of mason jars with urine, stick little copies(upside down) of that
photo in them, set up a table at the next townhall Health Reform riot, and make some nice
jack.

SmutBoffin August 7, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Art is whatever it wants to be! Unless it isn’t, then it is anti-art. (Or something. Fuck it.)

Anyway, my point is: I sent in my completed free art test to Art Instruction Schools and they still haven’t gotten back to me. I think Obama has something to do with it, because I made a REALLY good fucking turtle/pirate/thing.

user-of-owls August 7, 2009 at 3:22 pm

[re=381111]widget09[/re]: It’s starting to feel like the Weimar republic.

Without all the fun decadence.

Carrie_Okie August 7, 2009 at 3:25 pm

[re=381101]El Pinche[/re]: ALSOLY +1000 for ALSOLY.

Joshua Norton August 7, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Picture needs some apples.

That is all.

Min August 7, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Hey, now. The racist art community is doing more than its fair share, if all those emails are to be believed..

My choice. My Wonkette. August 7, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Rote/contrarian is a pretty good way to describe the political philosophy of American libertarians. “We agree with the Right that corporations have an inalienable right to exploit people, but we think heroin should be legal, for liberty.” Apparently, Drew Carey is their standard bearer. Now excuse me, I gotta go masturbate to a picture of Ayn Rand, because I didn’t grow out of either masturbation or Ayn Rand by the time I was 18, like a lot of people.

SayItWithWookies August 7, 2009 at 3:27 pm

So this guy’s argument is that artists should make fun of President Obama even if they present a viewpoint they think is ridiculous and idiotic. Sure — because having the opportunity to do things they don’t like is the reason people leave the corporate world and do art. Then again, a libertarian lecturing artists is sorta like a Bedouin critiquing a boatbuilder.

President Beeblebrox August 7, 2009 at 3:27 pm

Reason, ftw! I’ve never seen a magazine try to hard to be hip and fail so epically.

freakishlystrong August 7, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Hope and Change is turning into Hate and Rage….

slavojzizek August 7, 2009 at 3:31 pm

[re=381084]jagorev[/re]: More bullshit than ‘marketing strategist’ and ‘non-traditional advertising agency’?

queeraselvis v 2.0 August 7, 2009 at 3:31 pm

[re=381084]jagorev[/re]: Also, Follow him on Twitter at=I have no friends/clients/life because I’m 43 and still living in Mom’s basement.

King of the Dipshits August 7, 2009 at 3:35 pm

It was bad enough that Obama nominated Sotomayor who overtly advocates discriminating against whites by not allowing them to discriminate against blacks, now Obama is openly mocking Caucasians by wearing “whiteface.”

TGY August 7, 2009 at 3:37 pm

This man is an art community consultant? So, he herds cats for a living.

kth August 7, 2009 at 3:37 pm

This is just the art-crit version of the truly dumb-assed complaint that, because Leno doesn’t tell as many jokes about Obama as Bush, therefore liberal media bias.

Incredulicious August 7, 2009 at 3:40 pm

[re=381134]My choice. My Wonkette.[/re]: I’m 33 and I hope I never grow out of masturbation. What is wrong with you?

SmutBoffin August 7, 2009 at 3:41 pm

On a related note, how many column-inches and blog-grafs have been wasted on this piece of throwaway 4chan faggotry, anyway? Everyone with a fucking shingle out proclaiming “I R SERIUS ARTIST” has weighed in by now.

facehead August 7, 2009 at 3:46 pm

[re=381084]jagorev[/re]: I bet he’s just an art community organizer.

engulfedinflames August 7, 2009 at 3:52 pm

“Those who can do. Those who can’t do teach. Those who can’t teach consult.”

imissopus August 7, 2009 at 3:53 pm

You put whiteface on a black guy, it’s going to come off as a racially charged image, you doof. Were you sick the day they taught American History in American History class?

SayItWithWookies August 7, 2009 at 3:53 pm

[re=381148]TGY[/re]: No, it means that he “advises” several old rich ladies who have art galleries as a hobby as to what’s art and what’s trash. It’s inconsequential that neither of them can tell the difference, as long as all parties are happy with the results.

Humpback August 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Damn! Just when I changed my avatar.

Canmon (the Inadequate) August 7, 2009 at 3:56 pm

Owning Photoshop doesn’t make you an ‘artist’.

gurukalehuru August 7, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Hey, Arts Community – broader strokes! more color!

your consultant, gurukalehuru

btw, I think Ms. Noonananny should write for those guys. Their mental illnesses seem to be compatible.

El Pinche August 7, 2009 at 4:05 pm

[re=381153]Incredulicious[/re]: Nah, look at David Carradine who was 72. He is the Jesus of Masturbation.

engulfedinflames August 7, 2009 at 4:07 pm

[re=381103]V572625694[/re]: “hosting events where artists paint live installations” such words are so much more revealing than the author knows.

My choice. My Wonkette. August 7, 2009 at 4:08 pm

[re=381153]Incredulicious[/re]: Sorry, just trying to finish a sentence. Didn’t mean to step on the “third rail of American politics.”

Godot August 7, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Perhaps this is drawing comparisons between “Cars for Clunkers” and the scene in the 1989 Batman movie where Joker gives out free money at a parade and then gasses the crowd with his Joker Venom. Though they should have made him look like the Jack Nicholson Joker and not the Heath Ledger Joker then. But perhaps applying that look to Barry didn’t immediately communicate “Joker” to the viewers? Who knows.

Hooray For Anything August 7, 2009 at 4:13 pm

Maybe it’s because politically inclined artists could make some sort of political statement against a smart, decent, earnest man whose making at least a serious and good-faith effort at trying to take on things most artists deem important or they could take on a bunch of crazy, old, possibly racist, angry white people who inexplicably don’t understand that medicare is a government program and decide that one is much more fun/easy than the other.

taylormattd August 7, 2009 at 4:14 pm

[re=381134]My choice. My Wonkette.[/re]: People grow out of masturbation?

Vacation Without Hats August 7, 2009 at 4:15 pm

[re=381153]Incredulicious[/re]:

I’m 33 and I hope I never grow out of masturbation.

I don’t think there’s any danger of growing out of masturbation, no matter what anyone told you. Better luck with those extender implant things that you can get by correspondence course.

V572625694 August 7, 2009 at 4:17 pm

[re=381179]El Pinche[/re]: Are you saying David Carradine died for our sins? Did we fap him to death? I’m sorry!

Gleep! August 7, 2009 at 4:17 pm

[re=381153]Incredulicious[/re]: Hmm I think you’re safe- at 40 I find myself forced to masturbate much more than I had to at 33- what with Mrs Gleep’s need for more beauty rest nowadays…

Snarkalicious August 7, 2009 at 4:18 pm

[re=381101]El Pinche[/re]: Just got done speaking with my friend, the ‘smart’ Republican. He says that you’ve stated the point while missing it.

Snarkalicious August 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm

[re=381202]Snarkalicious[/re]: He has been sack tapped. All is well. Well, it will be once I lampoon him for being gay after having a dude touch his balls.

Vacation Without Hats August 7, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Yes, because artists have a long tradition of accusing centrist pro-Wall Street Democrats of being Communists. Like, you know, Vincent Van Nixon and Pablo McCarthy back in the old days.

zambonirider August 7, 2009 at 4:27 pm

I am not sure I trust a guy who TWEETED FROM MICHAEL JACKSON’S MEMORIAL to be the true voice of the artistic community. Douche.

kth August 7, 2009 at 4:36 pm

[re=381167]SayItWithWookies[/re]: almost, except if they are really old, he has to poke them as well.

doxastic August 7, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Shorter every Reason article ever: Everyone else should do shit that they don’t like so that I may do nothing but shit that I like.

shadowMark August 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm

[re=381124]user-of-owls[/re]: If this were the Weimar republic would we be saying these things to each other face-to-face? And then, later, touching each other?

wheelie August 7, 2009 at 5:27 pm

[re=381154]SmutBoffin[/re]: “Faggotry”? Fuck you.

Just a wanker August 7, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Why did you have to put a link back to that fucktard’s article? I accidentally clicked it and then had to gouge my brain out. On the other hand, it summarizes the conservative attitude towards criticism perfectly: something you should do reflexively, not something you think about.

LittlePig August 7, 2009 at 5:47 pm

It reminds me of “This is not a pipe” more than anything else. Without the caption it would be simple idiot level “Obama is a joker”. But putting Socialism under a guy made up to resemble an anarchist makes it into a Zen riddle.

Damn Che Guevara hat on Boxxy made more sense that this.

desertwind August 7, 2009 at 5:49 pm

I just knew a libertarian douche was involved in this hash. Somehow.

Harvey Birdman August 7, 2009 at 6:18 pm

I’m stunned that a libertarian would traffic in tautologies.

[re=381134]My choice. My Wonkette.[/re]: To tire of masturbation is to tire of life. [is this officially a thread jack?]

natteringnabomb August 7, 2009 at 6:31 pm

Community art organizer is just Davinci Code for gaze organizer and this gazebo wanted to maturbate to a white Barry carricature because he is against inter-racial gaze marrige but this position is both anti-libertarian and anti -diahrreal.Futhermore the Nazis tried this in 1932 but went for moosestashes instead.I am now confident that because of this most sensible rebuttal I will have a community art organizer job tomorrow.

Ye Olde Fap-Smith August 7, 2009 at 6:45 pm

[re=381294]wheelie[/re]: You’d have to be familar with /b/ and 4chan in general to understand that smutboffin used to the term “faggotry” correctly. I’ve got teh ghey and I don’t mind.

prophet1195 August 7, 2009 at 9:15 pm
loupgarou August 7, 2009 at 11:13 pm

The Obama/Joker poster suggests that behind the white mask lurks teh black. Scarytime!

Wet Work August 7, 2009 at 11:26 pm

And while you’re at it, I’d like it to match my sofa.

Buttwad.

aleks August 7, 2009 at 11:38 pm

I always figured that Joker for a socialist.

nader paul kucinich gravel August 8, 2009 at 12:00 am

Left and rights of passage, black and whites of youth.
Who can face the knowledge that the truth is not the truth?
Obsolete absolute.

Anthrax Intimidation.
JFK RFK MLK Malcolm.
Israel-first dual-nationals.
InfoWars on a PrisonPlanet?
A very RawStory on PressTV.
Whistle-Blower leaks multiply.
Beware the divide and conquer.
Both parties are corrupt to the core.
Honesty compassion conscience guts.
Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil?
Elite Ruling Class Greed or “public servants”?
Independents agree on more than we disagree.
AIPAC 9/11 Bankers Extortion Blackmail Bribery.
Wall Street Bailout Bill: Bush McCain Obama et al.
Poodles, Puppets, Sham debates, & Scam elections.
Has the Government & Propaganda Media lied to you?
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Chronic lying as career path, intellectual prostitution for paycheck.
DNC & RNC have both sold out the country in order to enrich themselves.
Future of a Nation that can not trust the Government & Propaganda Media?

Realignment of American Politics:
Anderson Baldwin Carter Choate Clemente Gonzalez Gravel Kaptur Kucinich McKinney Nader Paul Perot Sheehan Ventura

SarahPalins2HeadedLovechild August 8, 2009 at 2:24 am

Cool Christmas tree npkg!

Wait? Am I supposed to think Obama is a socialist Heath Ledger now?

SarahPalins2HeadedLovechild August 8, 2009 at 2:26 am

[re=381358]natteringnabomb[/re]: Yeah, but where’s Mulatto Heath’s long form birth certificate, huh?

Redpony August 8, 2009 at 4:31 am

OMG that part about “Where would such rote/contrarian insanity be published?” I totally love Reason like a Paultard on … whatever Paultards really like (Reason?). But that was a perfectly delivered snark. Respect.

SmutBoffin August 8, 2009 at 2:35 pm

[re=381294]wheelie[/re]: Shit. Sorry.

That’s just the lingua franca of that particular interweb archipelago, but that doesn’t mean it can be just tossed out there like that.

wheelie August 8, 2009 at 9:01 pm

[re=381729]SmutBoffin[/re]: We’re cool. I’m not au fait with The Four Channel or whatever, so I took it at face value. I have called of the angry picket at your workplace, and any turds in your mailbox can just be returned to sender . . .

Or, better still, forwarded to Charlie Krauthammer, who looks very like the Joker.

I will cover any surcharge.

wheelie August 8, 2009 at 9:03 pm

[re=381830]wheelie[/re]: Ack. I have called off . . .

Oh fuck it, no-one is reading this anyway.

wheelie August 8, 2009 at 9:10 pm
lulzmonger August 8, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Shit, originality isn’t exactly their strong suit, is it now?

Funny thing is, this poster would be truly incendiary if they’d simply put Obama’s own “Hope & Change” slogan under his shooped mug, instead of the dreaded (& hilariously inept) s-word. Making your opponents stop & think = WIN … serving up the Same Old Bullshit to appease the few remaining True Believers = FAIL.

Methinks their life-long romance with Ye Olde Dogge-Whistle is going to chew them a new one.

Wingnut’s aren’t CRAZY … they’re just AHEAD OF THE CURVE … as long as you pretend that “The Dark Knight” didn’t come out more than a year ago.

LoweredPeninsula August 10, 2009 at 3:39 am

[re=381091]Barrett808[/re]: I was thinking the very same thing. This is probably the most sophisticated conservative art I’ve seen in awhile if even the theme has been done to death. Alas, these are still conservative artists, and the actual content of the poster makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever. Maybe when they can combine the art with a cogent political messages they’ll get a good piece of political art. Is it bad to say that I’m almost kind of heartened to see that is about ten steps above typical conservative ‘art’ which used to include of photoshoping clipart watemelons on the White House lawn? lol Talk about lowered expectations.

BTW, I think it’s really kind of shameful and/or embarrassing the reaction to this in a lot of the left blogosphere, and I say that as a African American and flaming liberal. I can’t for the life of me see how anyone with any kind of no-nonsense personality could seriously construe this to have be some kind of grand, racial statement. This seems to be one of the first conservative art pieces that isn’t using some stupid, racial bullshit theme.

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