We hesitated before posting this picture. We still aren’t comfortable doing it. However, there is no way to convey the inappropriateness without the visual. We are going to post this montage for 24 hours, with reservations, and then take it down so as not to further contribute to something we don’t approve of. Update: as an alternative, we took the President out of the picture.
Congratulations to Loudoun Insider for calling out the Loudoun County Republican Party for their inappropriate Halloween montage featuring President Obama with a bullet hole in his head. According to Too Conservative Blog:
LCRC Goes WAY Too Far
By Loudoun Insider
This cartoon montage just arrived as part of an LCRC email blast. I am no fan of Barack Obama, but putting up a photo of him as a zombie with a bullet hole in his head???????????? Like him or not he is the legitimately elected the President of the United States and Commander in Chief of our armed services in a time of war. THIS IS DISGUSTING AND SHAMEFUL. Someone should send this to the US Secret Service.
WTOP.com printed that Governor McDonnell went on record opposing the depiction of such violence and said forcefully that it wasn’t to happen again:
Gov. Bob McDonnell, through spokesman J. Tucker Martin, called on the Loudoun GOP to “apologize for their actions, and to immediately ensure that such imagery is never used again.”
Virginia GOP Chairman Pat Mullins said such an image “has no place in our politics. Ever.”
Loudoun County GOP chairman Mark Sell said in an email response to The Associated Press that the graphic was “a light-hearted attempt to inject satire humor into the Halloween holiday.”
Chairman Sell needs to grow up and exercise some judgement if that is what he thinks. Remember how appalled most of us were when some reporter threw a shoe at President Bush? Many of those who were outraged weren’t Republicans. They were Americans who had seen their president threatened. I think the same sentiment leaps out at us here.
As outraged as people might be over the political situation in Loudoun county, we all need to remind ourselves that not all Republicans would be this irresponsible and that most Rs don’t condone such behavior. There has been a great deal of unrest over in Loudoun and lots of infighting. One of the sheriff’s candidates got a good wrist slapping for sending inappropriate messages/pictures. That should be an indicator that things just are a little out of control.
Our blog has not been involved in Loudoun politics. We won’t be, even though there is certainly some overlap with candidates. Again, three cheers and a hat tip for Loudoun Insider for taking the high road.
Boo Hiss to the Loudoun County Republican Party for exercising very poor judgement. Some things just aren’t funny.
Kudos to those Republicans for policing their own ranks when it needed to happen. It is far more effective to read that they did it than the Democrats hollering and yelling about it. It makes the behavior less likely to reoccur.
Thanks to Big Dog for calling attention to this story.
This was all over the evening news. HORRIBLE!
The dark master has been dealing with Loudoun elections. Expect a lawn jockey at the barest minimum. No wonder they are so out of control.
I agree. Zombie Obama is inappropriate.
Some in Loudon want to make this country into a third world dictatorship, where legitimately elected officials are lined up and shot. They do not respect the fact that we are a civilized people.
It’s not just Loudon County. Here is what is going on in Fairfax County: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/anti-democratic-text-messages-in-northern-va-prompt-lawsuit-complaints/2011/10/31/gIQA0cVdaM_story.html
Northern Virginia Dems are suing to stop these text messages. The messages sound like something very similar to what a candidate in Gainesville has been saying. Hmmmm–kinda makes you wonder doesn’t it?
The Washington Post quotes Chairman Sell of LCRC:
Mark Sell, chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, issued a statement that said:
This just doesn’t sound like assuming personal responsibility to me.
@George S. Harris
I have gotten lots of mailers from Republicans with the raise your taxes comments on them. Most are trying to tie the local candidate to Obama. Works for me. I don’t have that much of a beef with him. He isn’t trying to raise my taxes, that’s for sure. I am not the 1%.
Actually I think this blog is a pretty good example of what is said about Democrats. Just yesterday there was an attack on Clinton, calling him a liar and a cheater. Why? He isn’t running for office. I also thought everyone knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Clinton was a favorite of Elena and mine. Hell, even Pokie likes him.
Its a one way street. Talk about Democrats and sacred cow Clinton like dogs but don’t say tea bagger. shudder.
This is not the first time that a Republican organization has distributed images such as this. You had the Obama Dollars and the Obama Monkey images sent out by Republican Organizations. Very unprofessional. What some fail to realize, is that if you sent something from the Organizations email address, and you are an official – you are sending that message on behalf of the Organization.
How about the Republican party in Tuscon (Giffords district) raffling off the same model of Glock that was used to kill an maim? http://news.yahoo.com/republican-gun-raffle-giffords-county-draws-criticism-144334277.html I do not have a problem with them raffling off a hand gun – but use a little common sense, and sensitivity, to the fact that that model gun was just used to kill people, and severely injure a sitting Congresswoman.
Yeah, I know the Dem’s do the same, I have none on the top of my head right now.
I followed this yesterday as it went viral. Kudos to Loudoun Insider and many of his Republican posters for condemning the image. The rest of the image was stupidly grade school as well. It’s nice to know something can go from local issue to national news so quickly with round condemnation from a variety of high ranking Republicans.
It’s a fine line, they stepped over it. Good to see McDonnell show leadership.
I am truly encouraged by the comments from our posters on this subject!
I can see the atempt at humor, especially considering the popularity of zombies in the horror genre. Anyone who has read Max Brook’s “World War Z” which is being adapted to film by Brad Pitt, has seen the recent remakes of George Romero’s classics, or watches the most excellent TV series “The Walking Dead” can see this as an attempt at humor. That said, just because you make a joke, don’t expect everyone to laugh. Some might get truely offended. Some may feign offense. In this case, depicting the President as a dispatched zombie was in extremely poor taste. Outrage has been expressed. Rebukes issued. Appologies (sort of) offerred. Now let’s get back to the issues.
I can see the attempt at humor also. But….once again, someone took it over the top. There is always one person in a crowd who takes things over the top. They should never be given a free rein.
I think the story here is that many R’s are policing their own and they will look better in the long run.
Contrast the Herman Cain situation….not so good.
It is so much better that the R’s are up in arms. The R’s will put out the fire.
Reason number 15247 I’m glad I live in PWC. I can’t imagine our local committee doing something this stupid.
Nancy’s looking good though……she must be thinking about the idea of a conservative sweep of Congress and the White House.
Now that’s funny! I had one of those “coffee out the nose” moments here.
Well, the alteration of Obama’s image is clearly not a bright move. That’s just common sense. At least they showed Pelosi the respect of not altering her image at all.
@SlowpokeRodriguez
Talk about a “coffee” moment….. 🙂
@Steve…EEEEEEWWWWWW! Mrs. T and Miss A are going to get grossed out.
I think what was done to Pelosi is fair. That is caricature.
Clearly the presidential one is just bad judgement and taste on many levels.
What dominated the news today was not Cain but Perry. His aberrent behavior that resembled someone smoking crack cocaine had everyone talking. What is his problem?
Perry is cracking under pressure. The whole “I suck at debating, so I’m just not gonna do it” thing was probably the last nail in that coffin. Sending him to debate Obama would be like sending a lamb to the slaughter. Perry’s just finished. He’s got 15 mil to blow through, then he should be finished.
Don’t they exaggerate features in caricature?
ignore button on.
In the spirit of Halloween, I think a zombie Obama is ok. The bullet hole is not.
The problem is the whole idea is expressed wrong. Obama is no Zombie. His followers? Good God Yes, but NOT Obama. Obama knows exactly what he’s doing. The bullet hole is just stupid, but actually, the whole concept is goofed up.
I hadn’t seen the Perry speech you were talking about, Moon, until just now. I was thinking about another part of the debate when he just stumbled over words for a couple minutes straight. This latest speech in New Hampshire? Wow, he’s really coming apart! It’s a hair uncomfortable to watch a guy go through this, but you can’t look away!!
I never liked Perry anyway. He’s more “another Bush” than Juan McAmnesty was!
Yes, the one in New Hampshire. It is embarrassing to watch for sure. He got off on the wrong foot I think. He came swaggering in to town with an ego the size of Kansas. It was all BS & B in my opinion.
Now I just feel sorry for him.
I don’t think Bush and Perry are anything alike. Bush’s parents are New England bluebloods. Regardless of how Bubba-ish Bush the son got, he never seemed like Perry to me.
@Moon-howler
Rather amazing how little there’s been in the papers about the NH speech. It was painful to watch. Can’t help but wonder what Mrs Perry had to say about that.
I’ll bet he’ll fold before the next debate. At least I HOPE so.
Good Observation! You are quite right!
I would like to see the serious candidates roll out now. Obviously, we can’t have Perry sprinking Fairy dust and whatever it is he is toking as a president, nor can we have someone who doesn’t realize that China has had nukes for 50 years. Santorum doesn’t believe in birth control. Paul lives in fantasy land. Let’s see, who is left=
Romney, Huntsman, Bachmann, Gingrich, Jeb Bush could step in.
I think the hardest thing for conservatives to swallow is going to be that they have to select someone who is electable. I now see at least 2 subdivisions: Conservatives and Republicans. The Republicans will choose Romney. Conservatives, you have to find a viable candidate. I would suggest Huntsman but I guess he isn’t really a conservative in your eyes. I think the Chinese experience makes up for a whole lot of con-cred. Being from Utah also ought to do it.
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
Of course, GWB could always enter the race again……”Miss me yet?” would make a great theme….. 😉
“nor can we have someone who doesn’t realize that China has had nukes for 50 years”
That is not what Cain was saying. He was referring to China’s efforts to construct a blue water navy. In order to have a Blue Water navy, you must have nuclear powered vessels, which the Chinese do not have in numbers at this time. While China is a global economic power, militarily they are a regional power. In order to be a global military power, a nation must have the ability to project power and control sea lanes. To to this, you need a navy with long legs, or a nuke-powered navy. This is what Herman Cain was talking about.
@Steve, he needs YOU on his team. If you have to hire someone to explain what you said to a political team, you got problems.
We must have heard him make different statements.
@Moon-howler
Moon,
What you heard were soundbites, from an already edited, pre-taped PBS News Hour interview. Here is an example:
“”Yes, they’re a military threat,” Cain said on the PBS NewsHour, in response to a question from Judy Woodruff. “They’ve indicated that they’re trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes, we have to consider them a military threat.”
Nuclear capability…if taken in a general context, could mean warheads and delivery systems, ie. missles and penetration bombers. China has a limited ICBM capability, but almost no penetration bomber force. However, when used in the same sentence as “Aircraft Carriers” it is clear he is referring to China’s efforts over the last 20 years to transition from a littoral, or “brown water” coastal/territorial defense navy, to a “blue water” force-projection navy. His problem is, he was trying to cram too much “policy” into a soundbite, even though there is nothing inaccurate in what he said. Of course he knows China has nuke war heads, just as most everyone else who is at least reasonably informed. However, even the reasonably informed might not understand the difference between a “brown” and “blue” water navy, or understand that China, although having one of the largest land-armies in the world, has almost no capability to project military force outside of asia. But they are working to correct this shortfall.
What I find most intriguing (and distrubing), is no one seems to have picked up on the soundness of his China strategy, because the liberal press went into contortions over the nuke statement. When asked how he plans to deal with China, he said the best strategy is to out perform them economically. He pointed out that our economy is three times the size of China’s, yet it is growing at 1/8 the rate. Herman Cain stated that the best deterrant is for the US to have a sound economic policy, which spurs sound and sustainable economic growth. This will enable us to maintain our technological edge, and position us to maintain our sole super-power status. Sound pretty smart, forward-thinking to me…and I’ve read Alfred Thayer Mahon’s “Influence of Seapower on History” too many times to count. His assessment of China’s intentions, although flubbed in the explanation, is 100% correct.
That really isn’t what I heard.
Read the quote. He said they are developing their “nuclear capability”. He said they are “building carriers”. He didn’t say “they are trying to get nukes like Iran”, which would imply that they don’t currently have any. I am detecting a pattern here. If a Republican says something the slightest bit unclear, it becomes a national issue. They are “ignorant”, or it is implied they are using some controlled substance. If a Democrat says something like he’s been to “all 57 states in the union”, well, he simply mispoke. Nothing to get all bent out of shape about, you racist Republicans….
@Steve Thomas
Yep. Exactly. More of that double standard. Don’t you know that all Republican, especially ones that might beat Democrats are idiots? Reagan, Bush, Palin, and now, Cain. Its only those Republicans that say things that Democrats like that are “brilliant”: Romney, Huntsman, McCain (when he wasn’t running against them.)
Its never the fault of the reporter interviewing them that cannot discern a complex answer.
@Cargosquid
Kinda like when a drone reporter prattles on about “Automatic Assault Weapons”? That’s one of my favorites. If it’s got some black plastic on it, it’s an “Automatic Assaut Weapon”, including a glock semi-auto pistol. But then again, if you are a reporter, you don’t need to know anything about firearms, to present your story as “factual”. All you need is an agenda.
@Cargosquid
This sounds like a whine. If a Democratic candidate obfuscates the issue, you guys will whine about a lack of details. If a Republican does the same, it’s the reporter’s fault for not knowing instinctively exactly what he meant.
@Steve Thomas
Yea – like Faux News.
@Censored bybvbl
Like MSLSD, I mean MSNBC, Like CNN. Like ABC, NBC, and the co-conspiritors to fraud and libel, CBS news (Remember that whole Dan Rather thingy? I do). Like the Washington Compost. Like the New York Times…The left has the entire MSM in the tank, except for FNC, and WSJ. Oh yeah…and Talk Radio. What is your point?
@Steve, Who has abducted Steve? Bring him back.
Dan Rather over-stepped his bounds a time or two. Contrast/compare him to Steve Doocy. FNC is seriously bankrupt in the truth department…as much so or more than other news sources you mentioned. Now the Kos, I might agree with you.
@Moon-howler
My point is, you can’t use the argument “your news source is less credible, because I disagree with their point-of-view, while mine should be trusted, because I agree with their point-of-view” and have me take your argument seriously. For the last almost 3 years, those on the right have been called racists, because we oppose Obama’s policies. I have, for the most part, stayed away from this, choosing rather to focus on the results (or lack thereof) of Obama’s policies. But for the last few days, I have heard the left trying to destroy Herman Cain, making overtly racist statements. Now that hasn’t happened here, to my knowledge. No, he’s been called “ignorant”, or unqualified. The press has already labled him as a sexual predator, and that narrative is being pushed here and elsewhere. Sarah Palin is nothing more than a dim-bulb bimbo. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda. The left had pictures of George Bush with crosshairs on him during his administration, no condemnation that I can recall from the DNC. But let some knuckle-head (that’s right, a knuckle-head) from the LCRC circulate a tastless picture, and it’s (literally) national news. We’ve got Republicans from the Governor down to the MGOP Chairman (rightfully) condemning the picture. Back to Cain: Call it whatever you want. I call this a carefully planned attempt to preemptively destroy this good man’s reputation, to paint him as a sexual predator, a liar (Joe Scarboro, you are beneath contempt as far as I am concerned), an uninformed, unqualified, uncle-tom patsy of the GOP (must be, because we’re all a bunch of racists, according to the left). Don’t even get me started on the Occupy DC crowd, who (while wearing masks) dumped trash and “human waste” in the foyer of a bank, but this is a “real movement”, and the TEA Party is the one bent on anarchy (oh yeah, they are racists too).
Look, I try to be reasonable. I try to be considerate of others views. But this treatment of Herman Cain by the left has me offended, and angry.
I have said I feel Herman Cain is unqualified and ignorant. It is an opinion. I have not said he was a sexual predator. I believe I said the jury was out on him. I am not sure that disqualifies him anyway. Historically, it would seem to make him fit right in if it were true.
Why do you assume it is the left who wants to ruin Cain? I would have thought one of his opponents. Cain isn’t a threat to Obama.
As for sources, I try to balance my sources. If it is an important story, I try to find out about it from more than one place. I often use Fox News and the Richmond Times Dispatch. No, I don’t quote Doocy because I don’t consider him reliable. I don’t think you can take opinions and state them as news. People may give opinions but they need to make certain, at least here, that they are presented as such.
I don’t know why you think you own being insulted. I am insulted here daily about Obama and Clinton and even George Bush. No one cares if I am insulted. That’s just the stuff you see.
I had quite a work down on Obama from start to now. In my case, he has exceeded my expectations. I was one of those people, like many of the folks I know, who would have voted for McCain, until he brought in the deal breaker.
I never called her a bimbo. However, I did say she was ignorant and unqualified, or did so in so many words.
I used to try to be careful of people’s feelings. Not so much any more.
I actually don’t really care much what the left does. I am not the left and I try to treat people fairly. In fact, lets discuss the LCRC…I believe I complimented many Republicans for taking the high road and for policing their own ranks. Not one of you all said thanks Moon, for handling this in an even handed manner. Not one person.
Until the Republicans and the Democrats accept that there are a whole pack of Independent moderates out there in the middle of the road who vote, nothing will be settled. Both parties need us.
For the record, I think 3 of the candidates have potential..4 if you count Johnson. Newt, Romney, Huntsman, and Johnson.
Why Huntsman isn’t appealing is just beyond me. He has business experience and foreign policy under his belt and he has been the Governor of a Conservative state.