Unless you’re among the majority of Americans who don’t care much for voting (or unless you live in one of the world’s other 194 countries), you probably have heard that Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has a new “seal.” To wit:
Look familiar? It should. This is basically what happens when you mix equal parts campaign staffer, Adobe Photoshop, and the official seal of the President of the United States.
It took rival John McCain’s campaign about 20 minutes to release a scathing statement suggesting that it was actually a federal crime to rip off the Presidential seal:
Exit question: Is the Great Seal of Obama even legal?
“Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” [bold in the original]
Whaddya know — there is a law. The Weekly Standard is helpfully making the case that Obama’s team broke it. And a host of right-wingers is fanning the flames. Here’s one “Arrest Obama Now” example that kinda makes me wish Al Gore hadn’t invented the Internet.
But here’s the rub: If John McCain’s people in the Republican party really want to go all Guantanamo on everybody who tweaks the Presidential seal for commercial or political gain, they’d better send out the dragnet.
First on the list? The Ramones.
Next? This website, which lets you (literally) put your own text around the perimeter of the actual Presidential or Vice Presidential seal, and then download the finished graphic.
Finally? Oh yeah — the National Republican Senatorial Committee. For a $5,000 annual contribution, you can become a member of the “Republican Presidential Roundtable” to help elect more Republican Senators.
Which may be a fine idea, but get a load of the logo:
UPDATE: Thanks to Simon Scowl, we have another suspect to round up. The Republican scofflaws who make “John McCain for President” lapel pins. Tsk, tsk…
My left shoe was on stage for 3/4s of the last concert The Ramones had in Chicago.
This isn’t the same Presidential Seal I’ve known for 20 years.
Yes uh.. we um… can errr… change uh … stuff, and things. Did I mention I’m Barack?
Dee Dee Ramone for President!!
Ok stop pullig the Race card, you are only saying this because he is not white. Sarcasm by the way.
Sheena is first lady!
Sheena is first lady!
Sheena is… first lady nowwowowowow!
Vero possumus? My latin is pretty rusty, anybody know what that means?
Vero possumus = Very tasty road kill.
Zorg FTW on the Presidential recommendation! But vero possumus loosely translates to … wait for it … Yes We Can! or least that’s what I read on National Review.
But I must ask, is there some reason “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” was chosen for the post?
hey, you wanna talk similar, check out the house of representatives’ seal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Seal_of_the_House_of_Representatives.svg
that one’s almost identical!
Yeah … but somehow I think the government is allowed to do it. Regardless of how much they’d like us to think otherwise, the Republican Party and its campaign operatives are not a branch of government.
Literally, “truly we are able.”
Loosely, “Yes, we can.”
In the Deep South, “Yee Haw — a possum!”
But, but Max IS the President of the US of A, isn’t he?
http://maxforpresident.org/
President Max has a much better presidential logo in his office (involving gas and cigarettes)
I failed to find any screenshots of it on the internet. You need to run the game and visit either oval office or the carpet in front of Max’s desk.
Screw Max. He is weak. THIS is the man you want.
http://www.zod2008.com/
KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!
Funny you mention in the beginning “or if you’re one of the worlds other 194 countries”. Being a different country hasn’t stopped anyone from diving into our politics and giving undeserved opinions before. Chris Martin, Boy George, anyone? Everyone outside of the U.S. feels entitled to give an opinion on the upcoming presidential election so far as I can see. And when you call ‘em on it, they plea “But, but…American politics greatly affect the rest of the world!” Mind your own freakin’ business.
Nice graphics design. I like the colors and fonts.
Good thing Al Gore invented the Internet by demanding that government go paperless. Some of us do remember the fine details that shape the present. (National Performance Review initiative IT10) If this hadn’t happened, when it did, we would all be living under the thumb of non net neutral world.
– Jim - By the way, just because my site tends to have posts about Barack Hussein Obama being a reptilian cousin to Cheney and Bush, doesn’t make it right wing…. I think we are quite left leaning, for what ever that is worth. Im just glad he isn’t a Skull and Bones man.
Sorry to bust your chops, but Powerline did a better riff on this sillyness:
Fac me cocleario vomere!
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/06/020832.php
BTW, while I’m sure no one has tested it, I strongly suspect that it would violate first amendment rights for a variant of the seal to be illegal to use. I doubt seriously if any challenge to it would fail to strike it down.