I share the commentor’s concern with the birther silliness, which I view as a pitfall for the GOP and Obama opponents across the political spectrum.

But unlike the birther suspicions, which are manifested by far-fetched left-brain rationalizations, this image reaches a deeper level of consciousness that is beyond words. Conventional debate and argument depends on conceptual, word-based rationales. This image can’t be effectively argued against since it doesn’t purport to say anything in words. It’s just THERE, in front of the viewer, its dead, expressionless eyes gazing back at the viewer, saying nothing but meaning everything.

In past graphic depictions of Bush they were immediately recognizable as Bush. An accurate likeness was sought by the artists who ridiculed Bush.

But this image could be anyone. From a strictly objective viewpoint, it could even be a white person under the makeup. If you could find someone who had never heard of Obama and asked them what race the person is under the makeup I believe they would be guessing, perhaps wrongly. But, Progressive or Conservative, you instinctively think, “Obama,” when you first lay eyes on it. Why?

Check out the dystopia thread. It would seem the discussion spilled over into that topic.

But to toss my own response to your query of what we should be doing, I suggest we focus on the shifting middle population that sways one way or the other.

The hard core Leftists are too far gone to be reasoned with using anything other than a heavy blunt object.

I respect your point of view, but so far all I’m seeing from you is criticism of what won’t work. What do you think we should be doing? I haven’t seen any positive suggestions, although it’s certainly possible I might have missed something.

This poster is very effective in the pop culture.

It creates a strong emotional response to anyone seeing it – and whether the viewer agrees 100% with the original artists intentions, there are enough people fed up already with Obama and his minions that this image strikes a strong response with them.

That which is effective should not be set aside.

If you only want to debate on an intellectual level, then you leave half the battlefield to the enemy.

If you go into pop culture arena attempting to use intellect to sway the citizenry, you lose.

Excellent point. Certainly reasoned argument should be our first choice, but the portion of the citizenry that gets their “news” from the likes of Jon Stewart and Bill Maher are pretty much impervious to it.

There’s also the old saying “You can’t reason a person out of a belief that they weren’t reasoned into.” Many leftist believers tend to be governed more by emotion than by reason. Vague ideals like “equality” and “fairness” have a powerful emotional appeal.

If they’d only continued to reason with the British…..sigh…

If anyone wants to see a true “liberal” (classic sense) becoming “radicalized” and doing things that were not considered acceptable by the political establishment of his time, read a bit of Patrick Henry’s history.