CHICAGO - Barack Obama’s presidential campaign rolled out a new slogan on Friday: “Vero Possumus.”
The Latin phrase roughly translates to his main campaign mantra, “Yes, we can.”
The words made their debut on a seal on the Democratic White House hopeful’s podium as he met with governors from his party in Chicago. The seal resembled the official presidential seal, complete with a picture of the American eagle with “Vero Possumus” inscribed above it.
It helped complete a presidential-looking setting for Obama’s meeting with the governors. In addition to the seal were a row of American flags lined up behind Obama and long blue curtains that also adorned the backdrop of the roundtable meeting.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo: Reuters/Jim Bourg - Barack Obama at a news conference after meeting his foreign policy advisory panel at a hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2008.
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Nina K calls Barrack a man of integrity. Was that evaluation offered before or after he admitted he was lying when he pledged to stay with public financing in his campaign?
- Posted by BillTObama presents the idea of change well but doesn’t have any structure to the change other than higher taxes to pay for it. Unfortunately, the 50%+ that currently do not pay any tax will vote him in. Then the other 10% of the wealthiest will move to another country and the remaining 30% which is middle America will shoulder the cost for the masses. Only in American can you work hard all your life and lose it to politics!
- Posted by jbCan you say, “cult of personality”?
How about arrogant, pretentious, presumptive, hubris?
- Posted by R. MillerA man with no substance, no accomplishments to speak of, ready to go back to the socialist ideas of the failed Jimmy Carter, wealth redistribution
- Posted by JohnnyObama Builder … Can We Fix It?
Obama Builder … Vero Possumus!
This is the level at which we view Obama’s cartoonish “presidential” image. The Obama problem will fix itself eventually … he was set up to be president, and he has set himself up to fail as president. It’s all inevitable at this point.
- Posted by NJPumaI think this is ridiculous, everyone should read the “Left Behind” series of books, I compare Obama to Carpathia.. HHHMMM very interesting…
- Posted by PamelaFirst of all, does Mr. Obama actually understand that he is running for the Office of President of the United States of America and not the office of High school prom-king?
I believe that Mr. Obama very likely HAS violated Federal law with this “seal”. However, prosecuting him would be next to impossible, especially for the current administration (”vast right-wing conspiracy” and all of that). “Politcal Correctness” would not allow it. Any attempt to prosecute would most likely spawn considerable civil unrest. I guess trampling Federal law under foot for the sake of getting elected really is “Change we can believe in”.
In response to the post by legal blogger: please read part (b) of the law, I suspect that it is a bit more difficult to use any spin on Mr. Obama’s behalf to avoid this:
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 33 > § 713
- Posted by antipaladin(b) Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
In response to ‘mark’ (and everyone else crying for Obama to be prosecuted), you’re leaving out a crucial element of the violation of the Code:
‘Whoever knowingly displays… for the purpose of conveying… a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department… shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.’
Obviously, Obama has used this seal not for the purpose of conveying Government sponsorship or approval. He is not using any Government funds for his campaign which is completely voter-funded. It is well-known that Obama is not (at least not yet) is the US President but that he is the Democratic candidate for that position. Stop crying. There is no case here.
That said, legalities aside, he may have done better sticking with the logos and imagery he had used in his campaign thus far. But that’s no crime.
- Posted by legal bloggerIs the arrogant, condescending, snobbish Barack Hussein Obama in violation of Federal Law??
- Posted by mark18 USC Sec 713…….
(a) Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great seal of the United Sates, or of the seals of the President or the Vice President of the United States,…………….shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
You all need to see a real breakdown of the meaning of each item in this damning farce of a seal, versus that of the standard SEAL of the President of the United STates of AMERICA, where each item in it has real meaning in our American History which is denied by liberals across this nation. You are being duped by a clever beast!
- Posted by JFTousignantIt’s unfortunate that, when said, the word ‘possumus’ is so close to ‘posthumous’ - something the campaign may not have considered. No point in tempting fate, is there?
- Posted by David CunardI am disturbed over this “presidental seal” Obama has created for himself. He has told ALL the news outlets vero possumus” on it means yes we can…….AND IT DOES NOT. It means “in truth to have influence or be able” NOT EVEN CLOSE.
“etiam nos can” would be the Latin words for “Yes We Can” - Obama is either a fool and being duped by his staff , the staff are idiots or he is taking the American public for idiots with vero possumus on his seal. My money is on the third one, and those words have some meaning in the muslim world.
- Posted by LizObama could be the first president in a long time who is a substantive person, with ideas about how to change the country who also understands the symbolic power of the office of president. Bill Clinton wavered on his core beliefs and certainly didn’t elevate the office. Reagan was almost all symbol with policies that hurt the poor and passed on huge deficits. People should lighten up about Obama and the seal. If Democrats didn’t impeach Bush - tho god knows noone except Nixon deserved it more, Republicans should retire their slash and burn tactics and lay off the flag pin, Michelle nonsense issues - If you want to call someone an elitist for using Latin - all I can say is it’s (or will be) a free country and Yes You Can.
- Posted by callmeelitistAnother fine example of a campaign more occupied by imagery and rhetoric than substantive solutions.
- Posted by Got2bkiddingSenator Obama “has proven he is a first class leader”, you say. A first class leader of exactly what. He has had an undistinguished career as a state legislator (voting “present” more often than “yea” or “nay”) and a practically nonexistent career as a U.S. Senator. As for his new slogan all I can say is…brilliant. Nothing says “man of the people” like translating your campaign slogans into Latin.
- Posted by Dakota ConservativeIf only more “californian”s were like you!
Most seem to have to enjoy having their beliefs spoon fed to them. And its getting that way here in Texas too.. I dislike either party but the lesser of two evils is my only choice. I am of the conservative mind so I prefer to stay as far away from a socialist government and economy as possible. These forms of government work fine in small countries were infrastructure can be shared easily and all can be held accountable for not living up to their potential. But I live in the sticks…if my money goes toward people unwilling to work and toward bridges and highways in Oregon or some place I might visit once ever in my life…well, that’s just silly…that’s why we segmented into states in the first place! Cause States are much better situated to handle the problems within their borders.
Less Federal Power is what the Constitution is all about. Congrats to Oklahoma for their recent assertion of State Power. I sure hope Texas follows suit…we’d make a terrific country, the two of us!
- Posted by KarlthomasJudging by Obama’s performance in the campaign, Obama would make a better male model for those catalogs advertising men’s clothing than a president.
As long as he smiles and poses, he does fine.
I can’t believe this is the basis on which Americans are willing to elect a president. Simply unbelievable.
- Posted by CalifornianIn addition to being incredibly silly, I wonder if Obama’s new presidential-like seal is in violation of Federal law?
18 USC 713: Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, the seals of the President and Vice President, the seal of the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House of Representatives, and the seal of the United States Congress
- Posted by ainnjSen. Obama is ready for the challenges presented by the ideas and policies of Sen Mccain.
I can hardly wait to hear the two in what promises to be a lively debate, worlds apart from the sleepers that the Obama-Clinton debates delivered. Being so much alike, and with the power they represent including the (still) charismatic charm and political savvy of Pres. Bill Clinton, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Sen Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic nominee’s choice for Vice-President.
So much more would get done so much sooner, in my opinion.
- Posted by Ken SchabelskiSenator Obama certainly cuts a fine Presidential figure; he is energetic, extremely well-spoken, has proven he is a first class leader and fundraiser, (the best in U.S. history on both counts); he is a man of high integrity, vision, and good character. He cares deeply about our country and all of us; he wants to bring America out of the mire the last 16 years have put us in. I know he will make an outstanding President and Commander-in-Chief.
- Posted by NinaK