Did Clinton blacken Obama?

teaserobama.jpg

 

It all started with a post published on Tuesday on the Daily Kos- one of the country's most read political blogs. With screen copies to support the argument, a blogger said that Clinton's staff had darkened and widened images of Obama to exaggerate his African features. Since then, bloggers from each camp and even the traditional media (e.g. Fox News) have scrutinised the images to try to work it out. Conspiracy theory or racist attack? It's impossible to know. But the most interesting thing about the situation, which emerged only days after the "turban affair", is that it proves that Obama's race remains a highly sensitive subject. And if he does make it as the Democratic candidate, will Republican supporters try to exploit it?

Contributeurs

Screen copies published by the DailyKos

Above: Obama in Clinton's campaign clip:


And below: Obama in the original images used by Clinton.

"And we're to believe that this is again just a coincidence"

John Averosis, Americablog blogger and a Barack Obama supporter:

It just keeps happening again and again and again. The Clintons keep doing things, saying things, that sound awfully racist. And we're to believe that this, the - what? 8th, 10th time? - this has happened is again just a coincidence. The first half a dozen times you launch seemingly racist attacks on your black opponent, maybe - maybe - we can write it off as "boy you're really dumb not to get it." But having a seemingly-racist attack from the Clinton folks on Obama every single week, after a while, you don't get to play the "I had no idea!" card anymore. After that many times, you're race-baiting. You're using racism to win. And you're destroying your legacy and your husband's. Enough already."

The original post published 4 March 08

Portrait de John Aravosis

John Aravosis

  • United States
  • Writer, political strategist, blogger

"Kos jumps into the idiotic scandal of the week"

On the Littlegreenfootballs blog:

(...) Again: these morons are hyperventilating over videos they are watching via the internet, and assuming that the orangey color of Obama's face in one video is somehow "genuine," while the desaturated color and slightly different aspect ratio in the Clinton video is a nefarious racist plot.

Also note that the color they're assuming is "genuine" is from a video of the TV debate - in which all the candidates wear a thick layer of facial makeup.

It's just hilarious; I haven't been this amused by Daily Kos in ages."

The original post published 5 March 08

Commentaires

Same Photo Though

Asuming what you say makes a lot of since.make up,internet conversion,da da da.YOu would have to note that the photo is the same from the debate video.And acknowledge you are making the case for the photo being change.In that,the clintdon campagne mus have remove the make,up from Barack Obama's face,and the makeup from the background,the make up from te podium,the from the mike,and anything else visible in the photo.I don't know how this serves as a help to her campagne.In America being black is not defined by your skin tone.It is defined:,whether or not you have at least 3% black blood.You all know this.That's right, Jim Crow is still recognized as how we ballot any race documents in America.So far as racial profile, Hillary Clinton can legally and socially use this tactic to erase the fact that Mr. Obama is white, completely out of the American people's minds.It is because of his racially mixed background that make this so hard for the ones of us who understand this factor get the most frustrated over.We are convinced she is headed down the path of George Bush.The say one thing do another thing road. That is how she is putting herself out there.I would not say this if I did not see it so.I really do think the Hillary camp darkened his skin and may have even added a few more kinks to his hair to capture more white votes.But like I've said before, the ones of us who support him feel strongly that this man is for ALL his people,and All others he can be of service too.

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Hillary’s negative attacks

Hillary’s negative attacks on Obama are outragous and just goes to show how she will do anything and say anything to get elected no matter who she tramples in
the process. I have never seen attacks so vicious against a fellow Democrat. If Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, she will have given the Republicans tons of ammunition to use against him.

If you listen carefully to her speeches you will find that she is constantly saying “I” did this and “I” did that. Everything she says sounds rehearsed. She
also is a polarizing person who many Republicans hate and will not vote for.

Obama clearly has the best chance at beating McCain. Obama is Gentleman who says “with your help” “we” can take back this country and give it back to the American People. Obama stands for REAL change which we desperately need. Obama wants to make positive changes and he wants to SERVE the American people. She has no intentions of serving the people.. she will be like all of the other presidents we've had for the past 40 years.

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This maybe true but should not be the focus of Obama's supporter

First, strategically speaking, it would be ideal for the Clinton campaign if Obama began complaining about percieved racial attacks. In order to be a post racial candidate he must ignore and resist devisive issues of race. Obama is challenging all of America to look past his race and listen to his plan and vision for America. If Obama is not successful it is more a reflection of who we are as American citizens and less a reflection of the quality of Obama as a presidential candidate. Race baiting was used by the Clinton's in Iowa and South Carolina ie "maybe he's a drug dealer" or "Jesse Jackson won too" etc. Obama was successful because he did NOT take the bait and continued to redirect attention to issues that matter such as healthcare coverage, making college affordable, stemming the foreclosure crisis and most importantly getting out of the 10 billion dollar per month war in Iraq. He goes even further and makes the point that we have to end the mindset that got us into this situation and end the gridlock that results from partisan bickering in Washington. All of those stances are appealing to the masses of voters.

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Wayne Phillips

  • United States
  • Regional Sales Manager

It seems to me that Obama

It seems to me that Obama appeals to people because he's young, new and charming. But do american really know his political program. Can they make a difference between his program and Clinton's program. I doubt it. I think it's a bit depressing for american politics. it's not really new. But you are electing rock stars, not politicians. And by the way, can you explain why Obama's healthcare coverage is better that the one proposed by Clinton? I don't think one can honnestly say Obama' program is better in that field.

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Darkening Obama's skin color

This sounds like a classic campaign tactic by Obama's staff to keep Mr."Untouchable" untouchable because of his race. Barack Obama is another slick, empty, inexperienced, political figure like George Bush.

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