My new smiley-face version of Obama is leaving me with a sick feeling in my stomach. I’ve never given into censorship before, and I wonder if I’m making a mistake, even though it does make Obama look ridiculous — which he deserves. So I’m turning to you, my readers, to help me decide what to do.
Poll: How Should I Draw Obama?
Ted Rall
http://rall.comTed Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication and WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a contributor to Centerclip and co-host of "The Final Countdown" talk show on Radio Sputnik. He is a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "2024: Revisited."
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11 Comments.
Hello Kitty.
Keep the smiley face. I think it’s brilliant.
Giant cockroach?
Ted Rall is the Duke Lacrosse team of accused racist cartoonists.
A-ha! Trick question!
Ted, there’s only one correct answer: you draw your characters as you choose. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how because YOU won’t be drawing them anymore. A committee will.
Agreed. “Surprise us!” would have been a good poll answer.
I only suggested Giant Cockroach because this is all so Kafkaesque. And Gregor Samsa was such a sympathetic character..sensitive, music-loving. Unfairly maligned and cruelly abandoned to a solitary death. Hardly a racist characterization.
Oh, wow, Ted! The character assassins have given you a grand opportunity! You’re already having so much fun playing with the Obama portrayal! I know what I would do. Just focus on it for a while trying many different things. Those guys can stretch any way you draw Obama into something racist. I mean the smiley-face is a racist depiction because it makes a black guy look dopey and simple, right?
People here have had a lot of great ideas. Empty suit and robot are obvious choices. So is a king (unitary executive). I always liked when you portrayed him as calm and dull as death. OMG. GRIM REAPER!!! It works on so many levels. Black grim reaper? Black-FACE? LOL! Oh, shit! OK, probably too much but it isn’t my career on the line. 🙂 Shit. Satan? Black Satan? I mean they thought your Obama looked ugly before but here is your chance to show him as he is inside. Pure evil.
This is a great time just thinking of ideas. I would like to see him as an ironic Christ figure or a general or a third world or maybe a fantasy warlord. Is there a way to draw him like a serial killer? So many possibilities! It is really exciting, man! OH! Used car salesman or something that really highlights what a fucking shill/huckster he is! Maybe like a movie-type sleazy lawyer. Is that possible? OHOHOH! I know what you could do to really rub this racism crap in their faces! DRAW OBAMA AS AN OREO! AHAHAHA!
Hey, I’ll be happy with whatever you choose, so long as you don’t cave by drawing him nicely. Smiley is funny.
Addendum: I don’t see the smiley face as giving into censorship. You are mocking them. Giving in would be to apologize and then draw Obama beautifully somehow.
Well, Jack, you can’t apologize unless you’ve done something wrong. But it’s still self-censorship.
I’d agree but I’ve seen enough apologies from people who really have done nothing wrong.
Draw Obama with two mouths, one for public pronouncements and one for talking, as do other politicians (though hard pressed to match his profusion), out of the sides of their mouths.
Obama needs a dedicated side channel.
Give him two mouths.