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13:56 June 23rd, 2008

Obama’s presidential seal was for ‘one-time use’

Posted by: Caren Bohan
Tags: Front Row Washington, , ,

obama.jpgALBUQUERQUE - Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is retiring a presidential seal that made its debut at a Chicago event last week.

“It was a one-time seal for a one-time use,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. The seal, which resembled the official presidential seal, had a picture of a bald eagle on it. A phrase inscribed above it read “Vero Possumus,” a Latin expression that roughly translates to the campaign’s slogan, “Yes, we can.”

The seal helped complete a presidential-looking setting as Obama sat at the head of a U-shaped table with Democratic governors in a stately hall of a Chicago museum. In addition to the seal on the podium, blue curtains adorned the backdrop along with a row of flags.

Our earlier blog post on the Obama seal posted on Friday prompted mixed reviews from readers. Some liked the seal and thought the Latin expression was clever. Others thought it conveyed a penchant for image over substance.

Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic.com said there were second thoughts about the blog at Obama’s campaign headquarters.

“The worry for Obama’s image managers is that it gives the press a pretext to call Obama arrogant, an example for them to add to a list of arrogant moments, and a way to distract them from what Obama is saying,” Ambinder wrote in his blog.

Photo credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria (Obama delivers speech)

102 comments so far

Every word that Obama or Michelle say will be analyzed under a microscope, they know this so they should be extra careful. While I’m at it, Michelle should pay attention to her dress-code - she should dress more like a First Lady. She is not trying to be the sexiest woman in America. Sometimes her dress-code is a 10/10 other times it is a 3/10. Michelle, appearance matter just like words matter.

- Posted by kiki

Really, are you really going to focus on a prop instead of, oh I don’t know… any other issue?

Your vote shouldn’t count. Either party.

- Posted by michale

It’s quite funny how childish some of us Americans can be. We jump on Obama for using a mostly symbolic and otherwise meaningless image, whereas many people encourage rumors about Obama’s religion (he’s a Muslim! Barack HUSSEIN Obama! His name sounds like Osama!) and downright slander, whereas they cringe when something so completely irrelevant to the election (like this) happens.

Please, grow up. Realize that almost all of the negative propaganda and all the false rumors have been focused on Democratic candidates, whether Hillary or Obama, while McCain’s mistakes are never pointed out! McCain has showed that he has almost no knowledge of the Constitution (in the case with Guantanamo, that he wants to reserve the habeas corpus right just to Americans, and not to every human being, as outlined in the Constitution) yet we actually see people PRAISING him for such ridiculous views. Learn the basic tenets of your government and learn to actually focus on relevant issues before slandering political candidates for useless crap like this.

- Posted by wherebugsgo

I think its awesome. I cant wait for N

- Posted by Terrence

Take it easy everyone.

The Presidential Seal has become nothing more than another corporate emblem, the President its most visible employee anyway.

It was a campaign ploy that fizzled.

Besides, we are electing a public servant, not annoiting a king or selecting a Pope.

- Posted by joe falco

I guess the racisism and bigotry supressed by the hatred of stupid Bush will now overcome any Bush hatred to full blosson and former Obamaites will find excuses to deny Obama the white house.

Let the excuses begin.

- Posted by mildbrew

I’m thinking that a president that “can” would be a nice change…

- Posted by Thnkn

Hey, JERRY WAYNE… when Bush took office, gas was $1.46 per gallon. No bid contract to Haliburton. Big, oil-sucking wars destabilizing the oil-producing middle east… And you’re trying to suggest that it’s Obama who is in the pocket of big oil? Can I have some of what you’re smoking?

Take a look at what he said when he opposed that war BEFORE it started… prophetic! http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Barack_Oba ma’s_Iraq_Speech

- Posted by davo

of all the people who thought it was arrogant, disrespectful, or making a mockery of anything about america, I wonder what percent of them are likely to vote for McCain. You fogies are too uptight. All his modifications are, are clever. Maybe he read “The Secret”, not that I recommend the book in any fashion, but come on. If anyone could possibly be offended, it could only possibly be the man or woman who created the emblem, and they are voting for McCain. However, I will concede that it is sad that his camp said it was for one time use, cause im sure it wasnt

- Posted by jahren

The Onion doesn’t run stories this inane. Not only a non-issue, but I think it’s clever. All that, and Obama wasn’t my first choice. And no, if a Republican did this, it would not be an issue. Creeps.

- Posted by benjamin

It was a smart marketing move. Unfortunately, some did not think so. Much a do about nothing. That said, Obama and his campaign managers should pay attention to the little details that can easily be overblown. They should not put Obama in a position where he has to constantly explain himself or make excuses. You know, like the bittergate affair which cost him votes or Michelle’s “…love country …” story. If these blips keep on happening, it can cost Obama the election. Good luck to Obama and Michelle. I look forward to a President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Keep up the good work - but beware - McCain is a tough competitor.

- Posted by democrat

Has anyone noticed that the individuals who are for Senator Obama have to critize anyone who criticizes him. We are talking about a man running for the presidency of the United States.

If Senator Obama is as “all being” as his supporters claim him to be then why do they not fight the criticisms from the “non-believers” with statements of fact about why it would be good to do what he has done. Instead of saying that he is being so unfairly / childishly / [insert any negative adjective] critiqued. Stand up and say - Its wrong for anyone to critcize Senator Obama for creating a seal the way he did and posing with it in a setting that imitates that of the President of the United States. It was smart of him for doing such a thing because [Fill In The Blank Here]. The potential gain of his action was [Fill In The Blank] and the risk of doing the same was [Fill In The Blank]

But then again, if they tried to argue the merits i that way, they would either have to sit quietly in the corner because there is nothing to argue or look like fools arguing against commen sense and inteligence. So instead they use sarcasm to try to minimize the impact of the criticisms or they try to shine the light somewhere else and discount these feelings as getting all riled up over nothing.

Argue the merits… One poster calls this getting “riled over the stupidest things”… I’ll tell you what… The President of the United States has to THINK about what WOULD rile people up. Think about what most Americans would consider to be silly things that have to be done right when dealing with / courting other other countries both in the diplomatic and strategic realms.

Right now… the citizens of the United States are the ones he is dealing with / courting in both the diplomatic and strategic realms and from the sounds of it he’s not doing such a hot job of it. Now who up for letting this guy handle China or North Korea the way he’s handling things right now with the voters??? NOT ME!

- Posted by Anthony

My fellow Americans, lend me your ears and your common sense. As we get closer to the November election, we can expect both candidates to attack each other on such meaningless issues such as this. Let’s put our mind to work and allow our loyalty to the party to take a back seat. First, let’s ask the questions. What are the most important issues facing us? The economy, energy, health care, education, homeland security and our retirements. How do we stimulate the economy? More taxes on everything we do and buy? What do we do about energy? My God, haven’t we learn from the 70’s, we should have drilled for more oil back then , instead of waiting until now. Of course drilling won’t help us today or tomorrow, but then again what other viable options do we have? What are the consequences if we don’t do anything. Do we place a windfall tax on the oil companies? Now think about it, do you think the companies are really going to be hit hard from that (if that is the intention) of course not, they will just pass that along to guess who, that’s right….you and I. A tax break for the summer on gas? I don’t think so. This country needs that money it generates in taxes. Any real alternative is years away. Let’s not kid ourselves thinking we could grow ethanol. Have you wondered why the amazon is disappearing? Growing that does more harm than good. It also cost more to produce and will also create an increase in corn prices (haven’t we seen this lately) I am all for a cleaner environment but we are a society that greatly depends on the oil. Now let’s talk about health care. First let’s take a look at out current system and compare it to what many have proposed, a system more like Canada’s or Europe’s. We should investigate how long on average would we have to wait for emergency care, what will the doctors be able or unable to do for us and how will it be paid for…Oh I know, raise taxes. Education, folks while the rest of the world gets smarter and spends less on education, we are still trying to figure out what to do. Most of the money from our lotteries go to funding education, How is it really being spent? Most of that money goes to salaries of those who have nothing to do with your child’s day to day education. Teachers are not being paid their fair share. Homeland security…let’s take a look at both candidates. One wants to talk to terrorist leaders and try to negotiate with them. The other wants to stay in Iraq and fight for 100 years. At some point, the Iraqi people and government will have to have a change in their wayss to one of hope, acceptance and unity for a single cause…peace. Folks if we make it easier for companies to do business here in the United States they will stay but at the same time we must protect their retirements. Now I leave you with this final question. Who do you want for your president another 4 years of Bush or the reincarnation of the peanut farmer, Mr. Carter?????

- Posted by one who turn away

This goes to show you the inexperience he and his “advisers” could bring to the office of the president. Obama simply doesn’t have enough experience nor tack (per this example) to navigate the critical waters ahead. I’m not a huge fan of McCain’s middle of the road policies, but I’ll take his proven abilities to serve our country as president over Obama’s “change for change sake” mentality any day.

- Posted by Matthew

He listened to people when they are upset by it. That’s more than I can say for a President that would “stay course” or arrogantly say, “Mission Accomplished.” I cannot bear having another Republican president that have such ridiculous agendas without listening to the people.

- Posted by DavyG

people have a short memory. w’s first campaign,the one where he lost the popular vote’ had him in parades with a psuedo presidential windbreaker

- Posted by gilbert wilhemus

Do any of you even think that he had anything to do with the faux-presidential seal? I can’t imagine that any presidential candidate would be concerned about the decorations for a stop on the trail. He has underlings who deal with that, and is underlings screwed up. At least they did the right thing and stopped ASAP.

- Posted by Shain from NH

The only thing that I am bummed about is that he is using the political spin of saying it was for “one time use” to CYA. I am a Barack supporter, and for those that say he is “scary” or has “no understanding of American history,” spend some time reading “Audacity of Hope” rather than listen to Sean Hannity for your opinion of the man.

- Posted by Stan

Who does this guy think he is seriously???

Let me see…let’s replace ‘out of many one’….’in God we trust.’…does he really think this will fly in the USA???

The last egomaniac who had this level of presumption was…hummm…Napoleon!

- Posted by NLC

To quote Sen. Leahy:

“Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity”

….’nuff said.

- Posted by Roger G

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