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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

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|NEXT STORY »

Chicagoan 'Fesses Up to 'Joker' Poster

But Firas Alkhateeb isn't behind 'socialism' campaign

By Nick McMaster| Posted Aug 18, 09 1:52 AM CDT|

(Newser) – A 20-year-old college student from Chicago is the artist behind the now-famous image of Barack Obama as Heath Ledger’s Joker, the Los Angeles Times reports. Firas Alkhateeb made the image using Photoshop and Time magazine’s Obama cover when he was bored one day during winter break. It attracted over 20,000 views on his Flickr page, and was spotted by his still-anonymous collaborator, who added the “socialism” diss before posting it around LA and other cities.

Alkhateeb criticizes President Obama, and cautions against indulging in “hero worship.” But he doesn't agree with the dig condemning Obama's "socialism." It "doesn't make any sense to me at all," he said. "To accuse him of being a socialist is really immature. First of all, who said being a socialist is evil?"

The Obama/Joker poster.

What, here too? (©quinn.anya)

Obama/Joker poster plastered on a wall.

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47 comments

VIEWING:

MedicOni
Aug 18, 09 2:03 AM CDT

I want to meet the artist and shake his hand. Incredible poster, and true too Reply

-6

IN RESPONSE:

QueenAlli
Aug 18, 09 6:23 AM CDT

what's so artistic about copying?

IN RESPONSE:

SalParadise
Aug 18, 09 8:29 AM CDT

It is a pretty cool design, and if the subject matter were different I'm sure you'd agree. And beside, the artist even said he didn't agree with a lot of the socialism sentiment. Always nice to see some sanity in dissent.

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Aug 18, 09 10:16 AM CDT

The only thing that's true is that you are as dumb as the dude who added the word socialism on there. If you think obama is a socialist, or better yet a marxist like they first called him, than you need to go look up what those words actually mean.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

cognitivefilter
Aug 19, 09 10:38 PM CDT

@alli -- i think the poster holds creative meaning because it is a mixture of two very popular images, which together create a reinterpretation. it is very original in that it took two parts of popular culture and fused it for a third meaning. and emptycalm, last time i checked 'socialism' entailed big government involvement in implementing social services. there are many socialist undertones in obama's plans for the country simply because it is his administration who is proposing it. the PROBLEM is that people think socialism is a dirty word, when really it is progressive.

| 0 minutes ago

United_States_of_Entertainment
Aug 18, 09 2:17 AM CDT

Where can i get one of those? Reply

-2

| 0 minutes ago

Deebles
Aug 18, 09 2:31 AM CDT

Theory, theory, theory. For people who don't accept Evolution you do understand that you can't accept socialism--as the guy said. Theories are just that. There has never been a socialist or communistic country ever. Socialism like the Darwin which you don't believe in simply said that ALL the people own a piece of everything. Not on the planet. Communism was an idea that the people could own and rule. Ask every guy who died under Stalin if that ever happened. Got no problem with Obama in whiteface. I think the first black pres should expect that. But of all the scuzzes that we elected and him being just one more of the many--we never thought to call them socialists until FOX told you. Stop it--it makes you look stupid and like you never took a Political Science class. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Deebles
Aug 18, 09 3:08 AM CDT

And it is called Political Science because like science it is nothing but a bunch of theories that are worth as much as you think they are. If you like Rupert who gives you those theories fine--but I like how he also gives me Family Guy. To make money. You want to keep believing in shit that doesn't and has never existed? Then go for evolution. It's been proven true for a hundred years. Unbelievable that people will believe any crap. Socialism--hah, hah some lame ass theory that was proven to not work when your grandma was in diapers. You know what works? Let's see? Monarchy--Repubiic--Romans thought so. Democracy? Oh my God. That is the product of a couple of thousand years of men trying to rule themselves. You want to keep listening to FOX which tells you garbage? Fine, but do it on his cartoons which make fun of his news shows. He thinks you are uneducated and that you will believe anything. Some Australian nutcase is gonna rule your life?? Laughing at your scared of socialism all the way to the bank. He looks at the teller and can't believe that he makes so much money telling you fairy tales. Want some real news? Get off cable and go to the big three. As FOX would say through Stewie which makes him more money than that O'Reilley guy who used to be third chair on First Edition talking about who Jennifer was boffing until he went to FOX because all the real people left because they wouldn't play Rupert's game--you are all a bunch of easily manipulated people. Even O'Reilley is surprised by how little you question the background he lived as opposed to the one he writes about. He lies in his books!!! Just like Democrats lie. He lies because he know that the brainwashed never fact check. Actually, he knows that you will think I'm a secular progressive. A term--theory--he invented to keep you from learning about him. Now that is brilliant as Mao Tse Tung used to say who practiced all the same theories to get people to forget that they had a brain and just LISTEN to him. And he had no theory at all but his own pocket. Oh, and the five pussies he did every night. Weird, stupid people think he was a communist. As Krushchev said--a repugnant narcissist. Well, they are all around you.

-9

IN RESPONSE:

United_States_of_Entertainment
Aug 18, 09 4:11 AM CDT

I really like the poster asshole.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

United_States_of_Entertainment
Aug 18, 09 4:14 AM CDT

I don't watch FOX.

IN RESPONSE:

BackAgain
Aug 18, 09 6:13 AM CDT

Call it whatever-evil is evil.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
Aug 18, 09 6:35 AM CDT

The above rant by Neeley was paid for by the following sponsors: ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, The New York Times, Move On, Acorn, PETA, Green Peace, AFL-CIO and the Socialist Workers Party.....

-2

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Aug 18, 09 6:53 AM CDT

lame...just cause the print is small, doesnt mean it was an advertisement...

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Aug 18, 09 7:14 AM CDT

"like science it is nothing but a bunch of theories that are worth as much as you think they are" - this is where I stopped. The shear ignorance displayed in this comment alone is shocking to the system. "flight" nothing but a theory, "energy" nothing but a theory, internal combustion engine nothing but a theory, "the internet" ....... Again, your statement renders the rest of your post impotent.

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 8:01 AM CDT

Neely, if you want a thread all to yourself, it's called a "blogspot" and you can get one.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Aug 18, 09 8:43 AM CDT

There you go limiting speech, prowlerzee. If it looks like too much to read, don't read it.

| 0 minutes ago

armywife
Aug 18, 09 3:16 AM CDT

i'm an obama supporter and i have to admit, that IS a kick-ass poster. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

United_States_of_Entertainment
Aug 18, 09 4:12 AM CDT

totally kick ass art.

| 0 minutes ago

jagerhans
Aug 18, 09 4:28 AM CDT

I am a foreigner fan of Obama , but I must admit that this poster is really smart. This is acceptable criticism, nothing to deals with assault-rifle-sporting nutcases at speeches or all the filthy rightwing garbage that was thrown at Barack so far. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

justme
Aug 18, 09 6:13 PM CDT

What's the definition of filthy right wing garbage? Is it similar to filthy left wing garbage thrown at people who oppose Obama? Look around . This country accepts the idea that even idiots can post their opinions. Fortunately, voters are mostly not followers of either wing.

IN RESPONSE:

jagerhans
Aug 23, 09 9:50 AM CDT

hmmm... gun toting racist lunatics who talk a lot of shit like that 'birhter' thing and say that your nation is under God's judgement is a satisfactory answer?

| 0 minutes ago

jagerhans
Aug 18, 09 4:37 AM CDT

however, your fears with "socialism" are just plain grotesque. come on. get your heads out your stars-and-striped asses and look around you: UK, Italy, France have 'socialized' , not ''socialist!' health plans, and only a psychotic could say that these are socialist countries. I'd love to live in a social-communist system but unluckily (for me) we are light years far from socialism. These accuses of 'socialism' are clearly just a scam to frighten people . Reply

IN RESPONSE:

BackAgain
Aug 18, 09 6:17 AM CDT

Then get the f. out and move to N. Korea dimwit.

-7

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Aug 18, 09 6:47 AM CDT

learn to read..."I am a foreigner fan of Obama ," he's already not a resident, why are you telling him to leave. and typical konservative, someone brings FACTS to the discussion, and your natural response is that they have to leave the country....brilliant!

IN RESPONSE:

Fiskebolle
Aug 18, 09 6:58 AM CDT

Where is your evidence that socialism can be found light-years away? Scientists can come up with a lot of interesting data of planets beyond ours but they haven't even detected life yet - much less their political systems.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

jagerhans
Aug 23, 09 9:55 AM CDT

luckily the hostile answers i got are so stupid that i don't even have to bother about talking back, they explain it all by themselves.

| 0 minutes ago

BackAgain
Aug 18, 09 6:15 AM CDT

And Neely he is not BLACK he is a half breed. Why ignore half his DNA. Split hairs hairs over the word socialism but ignore half his race. Reply

-8

IN RESPONSE:

QueenAlli
Aug 18, 09 6:27 AM CDT

Please stop with that argument. No one is listening to it. When your grandchildren read about Obama in the history books, he will be always be referred to as the first Black president, NOT the first half white or mixed race, etc.

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Aug 18, 09 6:51 AM CDT

um...HIS RACE IS EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD BE IGNORED!! and "half-breed?" WHAT ERA DID YOU JUST WARP IN FROM? i guess you are literally 'backagain' to spread the hate...

IN RESPONSE:

Fiskebolle
Aug 18, 09 7:00 AM CDT

Let's gang up on that horrible man, he brought up a fact we'd rather conveniently ignore.

IN RESPONSE:

JaneMP
Aug 18, 09 7:45 AM CDT

President Obama prefers to be called black. What kind of idiots tell a person of a mixed-racial background what he should call himself? You say government TELLS you what to do and yet you think you have the right to tell someone else what race he is!

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 8:08 AM CDT

omg, Jane, you are going to have the most horrible hangover when you put down the Hopium pipe! Can you just FEEL the groupie defending her OMessiah and telling everyone what Obama "prefers" to be called? LOLOLOLOLOL! Well, those of us in the reality-based community remember exactly when Zerobama dropped the mixed heritage "American story" mantle he was actively campaigning with and decided to become "African American" ---a heritage he had little experience with, seeing as his absentee father was African, not AA, and he spent half his childhood in Indonesia, and half in Hawaii, which has its own unique melting pot.

IN RESPONSE:

lowstar
Aug 30, 09 12:17 AM CDT

What racist garbage. First off think about the term half breed, I wasn't aware that humans had different breeds. It's 2009 and there's an African American in the office(see that's a person with roots in Africa who now lives in America, which you think implies different breeds) so please start acting correct. Actually pay attention so issues and join the debate with something besides your retarded dribble.

| 0 minutes ago

QueenAlli
Aug 18, 09 6:32 AM CDT

This guy said we shouldn't hero worship. How does this photo make you think that you shouldn't hero worship? If that was his intent, then he should have made him human, brought him down to earth, or shown him picking his boogers or something. Not refer to him as the super villian, the Joker. If the artist is being honest about his hero worshiping concept, he gets an epic fail. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
Aug 18, 09 6:40 AM CDT

Your right Obama isn't a Joker, he's more like a Lex Luthor type of super villain minus the intellect.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Aug 18, 09 6:49 AM CDT

you're wrong...and not only does your grammar suck, so does your comparison...

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
Aug 18, 09 7:17 AM CDT

This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment.

-5

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Aug 18, 09 7:19 AM CDT

So we know who's behind the original work, but not who did the second. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 8:14 AM CDT

If by "the second" you mean the idiots who added "socialism" to the poster, we do know. Infowars, the notorious conspiracy-theory site, claims credit. Their theory is that the super-elite ruling the world is going to use socialism to control the wealth and that it's a hoax that socialism is for the people.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Aug 18, 09 9:18 AM CDT

Could you point me to where they actually publish their claim?

| 0 minutes ago

Reader60610265
Aug 18, 09 8:29 AM CDT

It is what it is, a poster . If you like it keep one if you don't tear it up burn it are through it away , But it's still _just a poster Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sache
Aug 18, 09 8:52 AM CDT

I can take a poster of Obama as the joker if you do one portraying Bush as a monkey's ass and Cheney as the devil. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Reader60610265
Aug 18, 09 10:10 AM CDT

it doesn't bother me ether way . Like I said it's just a poster. It was done by some smart ass collage student that didn't have anything better to do .

| 0 minutes ago

AmiBlue
Aug 18, 09 12:55 PM CDT

And now he's getting another round of media attention. I assume this kid will be a republican operator. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kansas1946
Aug 18, 09 4:48 PM CDT

Frankly, I think the picture is cute. Obama is no more a socialist than George Bush, so it is just a "cute" red herring. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

aces08
Aug 18, 09 11:20 PM CDT

"To accuse him of being a socialist is really immature. First of all, who said being a socialist is evil?" Shit, finally someone said it. But to reiterate socialism does not equal fascism people and the word socialism does not need to be feared because fox news and the right will use it as a scare tactic against social progress. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cognitivefilter
Aug 19, 09 10:39 PM CDT

the joker was a criminal. he burned that big pile of money, remember? obama, since he is for wall street, is essentially doing the same thing: letting us know that our money is meaningless. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

View all 47 comments »

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