Nutroots accuse Hillary of darkening footage of Obama to make him look “blacker”; Update: Rush audio added
posted at 4:25 pm on March 4, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Not quite as stupid as the subliminal-message accusations over the weekend but in the ballpark, and worthy of a Sean Wilentz follow-up piece at TNR on Team Obama’s race-baiting should his campaign dare to pick this up. From the swamps of dKos to, of all places, the politics blog at Fox News: Even if you believe Hillary would stoop to this sort of race-baiting, does anyone think the benefit she’d gain from it would outstrip the cost? How’d that work out vis-a-vis Bill’s Jesse Jackson comment in South Carolina? Watch the ad again, or just compare the side-by-side images in the frontpage screencap to see how marginal the difference is. He doesn’t look “blacker,” he looks grayish and enervated, as though he’s ill. Given the endless amount of ink that’s been spilled on him being the first black candidate with a legitimate shot at the White House, what does darkening his skin by 5% or whatever the variable is here do to motivate any racist that isn’t already motivated against him?
Answer: Nothing, but the left’s chomping at the bit to demagogue the hell out of the GOP on all matters racial in the general election, so Hillary will have to do for now. Or, of course, Rush Limbaugh, who committed the impardonable sin of waiting a few minutes to apologize for a caller’s comparison of a presidential candidate to a monkey. Ahem.
Update: Charles Johnson thinks it’s all attributable to video transfer artifacts.
Update: Here’s Limbaugh’s “Curious George” segment, first the exchange, then the apology.
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LET THE RECRIMINATIONS BEGIN!
Vizzini on March 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
OMG!
We better Calibrate our monitors before we make any parodies!
BWAHHAHA! sheesh!
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Well, we already know that democrats think their base is full of racists; so its a legitimate tactic isn’t it?
lorien1973 on March 4, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Coming soon to a headline near you:
Forget policy discussions. Unfortunately, it will be all about the race card from here on out.
pecan pie on March 4, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Everyone grab their prison shank. Now it’s on!!!
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 4, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Like I said to ace: The liberals have found their Rathergate.
Slublog on March 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Kind of like the difference between water being wet, or really wet.
Or in Bill’s case, being kind of pregnant.
Hening on March 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
The left keeps getting more and more race-obsessed.
The goal was supposed to be a color blind society, and now they’re talking about tint adjustments on video.
forest on March 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM
You ain’t seen nothing yet. Watch what happens if she wins today and manages to somehow become the nominee.
TheBigOldDog on March 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM
I think the technical term is “A Reverse Michael Jackson”
Hening on March 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Omaba’s should whiten Hillary, that will teachh that cracker.
Wade on March 4, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Bill’s pregnant?
Crunchy Frog on March 4, 2008 at 4:34 PM
What if the video of him was slightly lighter?
Would they accuse her of making him Appear White?
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Wow, these KKKos freaks ARE idiots.
These are not even the same pics. The angle is different, and look at the teeth.
Aristotle on March 4, 2008 at 4:36 PM
No wonder the rest of the world wants us exterminated. We be defective.
Limerick on March 4, 2008 at 4:37 PM
It’s funny to watch. The left and the media go on and on about the “first black candidate with a chance to win” they point out race all the time.
But let an opponet do it…….Hell to pay!
And yes, it won’t be long before these acusations land on the door step of the GOP
conservnut on March 4, 2008 at 4:38 PM
I’m much more worried about the Clinton campaign doctoring footage of Hillary to make her look something more like an actual woman.
jsingood on March 4, 2008 at 4:38 PM
It’s going to be a long eight months.
If Obama starts showing any weakness at all during the general election campaign, prepare for this sort of thing times ten. In fact, McCain has already been found guilty of race-baiting by Josh Marshall.
The_Freeze on March 4, 2008 at 4:39 PM
If they had made his face whiter that could have been offensive to his parishioners at Trinity United Church of Christ.
Buy Danish on March 4, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I guess there’s racism everywhere if you look hard enough. You’d have to awfully racist to go looking for racism everywhere though.
blankminde on March 4, 2008 at 4:40 PM
First Half-Black, Candidate..
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Bill Clinton was the First Black President.
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Bwwahhahahaa!
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Regarding Curious George, why was the guy called “The man in the yellow hat“, when ALL of his clothes were yellow?
mikeyboss on March 4, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Hilarious. Every time I look into that church I get the creeps.
blankminde on March 4, 2008 at 4:44 PM
On my monitor, he looks “Purpler”.
Frozen Tex on March 4, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Oh. My. God.
baldilocks on March 4, 2008 at 4:45 PM
The blacker the Barry, the sweeter the juice (of racist hatred.)
Seriously though, I thought that distortion of color/grain in an attack add was par for the course.
But, as AP so helpfully pointed out, all sorts of things will become off-limits when Barry gets the Dem nod.
And, per the Curious George incident, I would’ve gone with Dumbo myself.
VolMagic on March 4, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Let me rephrase that, First partially Black Candidate..
Not sure of his fathers family tree..
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:46 PM
This is nothing, wait till they get a GOP candidate to vent their pent up self hate at.
Alden Pyle on March 4, 2008 at 4:46 PM
On his own campaign website video he looks kinda red. (Click to play).
He is whatever you want him to be.
Buy Danish on March 4, 2008 at 4:46 PM
The Clintonistas may have done this to scare off black voters. Black support for Obama was lookwarm until he showed he could get white support in Iowa. Ever since then there have been hints dropped about what the Republicans would do to a black (because we all know what racists they have always been) and how Hillary is the safe choice.
The only people to actually notice this would be the media looking for a juicy story and so they publish it and stoke the fears of blacks, who Clinton hopes will stay home.
pedestrian on March 4, 2008 at 4:47 PM
My God! He’s blacker than a moonless night…
CliffHanger on March 4, 2008 at 4:47 PM
His is a Luo, a black African–in spite of the ravings of the knuckleheads that have planted anything else in the minds of the gullible.
baldilocks on March 4, 2008 at 4:48 PM
His is a Luo=His father is a Luo
baldilocks on March 4, 2008 at 4:48 PM
I’ll pass the salt if they’re going to start eating their own.
moxie_neanderthal on March 4, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Yeah, like a John McCain with Hulk-like veins popping out of his face and neck.
CliffHanger on March 4, 2008 at 4:49 PM
From this photo one could lighten the whites of his eyes and he would look like a cretain Gould from Stargate SG1.
Then they would have something to complain about.
On the other hand that might draw voters from the puppy throwing generation.
esblowfeld on March 4, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Ace is emphasizing the height to width ratio which causes a wide face with a broad nose in the Hillary photo.
I soooooo enjoy watching the racist undertones of the Democratic party surface.
natesnake on March 4, 2008 at 4:55 PM
I refuse to speculate on what happened. Rather, I’ll wait for the Alex Jones/truther film documentary that ties the whole evil cabal into one neat package, thank you very much.
Please pass the lemonade.
moxie_neanderthal on March 4, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Wait a minute! He`s BLACK? Thank God for Hillarys` help, I had no idea. :-P
ThePrez on March 4, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Red on Red!
Catch the Fevah!
natesnake on March 4, 2008 at 4:55 PM
I really don’t care about his color, I care about his lack of accomplishments and experience, and overall ignorance with regard to the war on terror.
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Oooppps. I should say Blue on Blue.
Brain fart.
natesnake on March 4, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Didn’t LA Dems do the same thing to Bobby Jindal?
rw on March 4, 2008 at 4:57 PM
I, for one, am more than a little insulted that political operatives think that skin color matters to the electorate. I’m also realistic enough to know that operatives wouldn’t pull this kind of crap if without data showing it works.
That being said, Bobby Jindal was supposedly unelectable down here in Louisiana because of his race. Those bigots in the north wouldn’t possibly vote for Jindal. He won in a landslide.
highhopes on March 4, 2008 at 4:58 PM
In the theme of subliminal messages…
Did anyone watch Medium last night? The killer and also cannibal in the show was a Arizona senator who use to be a Vietnam P.O.W.
Coincidence?
terryannonline on March 4, 2008 at 4:59 PM
“Kneel before your god!” – Barack Hussein “Apophus” Obama.
“ARGH! McCain will smash!“
Frozen Tex on March 4, 2008 at 4:59 PM
If he loses Ohio and Texas he and the little woman will both be purple.
UnEasyRider on March 4, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Curious George is actually a chimp.
yo on March 4, 2008 at 5:00 PM
His is a Luo=His father is a Luobaldilocks on March 4, 2008 at 4:48 PM
I call it Naïveté.
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 5:01 PM
It took me about an hour to figure it out but…
1. Display Properties.
2. Click the Settings tab.
3. Click on Advanced.
4. Click on Video Card Properties tab.
5. Select Color Correction from the menu.
6. Set;
DIGITAL VIBRANCE: Medium
BRIGHTNESS: 127%
CONTRAST: 84%
GAMMA: 1.15
7. Save Color Profile as: OBAMA08
8. Click OK, and then click OK again.
Okay, now he should appear as a fair skinned black man again.
regal on March 4, 2008 at 5:02 PM
FAKE! You can buy sleeping, blacker Obamas at any internet magic shop! And if you pick him up by the scruff, his arms dangle.
Cuffy Meigs on March 4, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Wait a minute.
Besides the fact that Obama actually does look like Curious George, doesn’t anyone find it the least bit ironic that Leftists have been portraying Dubya as a Chimp for the past 8 years?
Racism my ass. Obama looks like one curious little monkey to me.
thareb on March 4, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Lot’s of villages will be missing their idiots tonight while the Democrats caucus here in Texas.
second digit on March 4, 2008 at 5:09 PM
LMAO!!!
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Poppycock! The image is desaturated. It takes 10 secs in photoshop. Every campaign airbrushes or sweetens their candidates a little. Why not dirty up the competition?
Wait until the high-def election of 2012. Talk about political porn.
I don’t think the Obama campaign will jump on this. But I will be watching future ads to see if they make Hillary’s ass looks wider.
***
If Obama were born to two black parents, would you be twice as annoying?
The Race Card on March 4, 2008 at 5:18 PM
I think it was Obama’s campaign tryin’ to make him look blacker because there are those who say “He is not black enough”.
Tony737 on March 4, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Both Obama and Bush look like chimps. Big friggin’ deal. It’s not a race thing. They just do.
By the way, what’s all the fuss about Obama in the Muslim garb? What’s so wrong with that? We don’t have a problem with Muslims, we have a problem with radical Muslims. He looked pretty docile, so why was the whole world up in arms about that picture. He should be proud of his past and his heritage, headgear and all. I don’t get it. Wasted energy in my opinion.
sheesh on March 4, 2008 at 5:24 PM
What undertones? Their entire political philosophy is based on putting people into social categories in order to determine their victimhood status and which entitlements are due to each (based on kickbacks from lobbyists and special interests). That’s not ONLY racist, it’s also sexist, agist and completely unconstitutional. Yet they claim to be the saviors of each of these groups that they refuse to look at as equal opportunity CITIZENS first…all the while calling Republicans/Conservatives the racist ones – who just think enforcing equal opportunity (enforcing equal outcome is socialism) is the best way to preserve freedom.
pecan pie on March 4, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Maybe he just stayed out in the sun to long?
He should wear Sunscreen he wouldn’t want to become “to black..” or get skin cancer, just looking out for him.
LOL
Like people vote based on a skin tone.
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 5:25 PM
He should, offer more substance and less platitudes…
If he had as 1/2 as much substance and actual proof that he could work across party lines, and less of the race baiting, maybe he would be credible.
As it stands he is an extreme left winger, and will be defeated, it cannot be helped.
Chakra Hammer on March 4, 2008 at 5:29 PM
I can’t believe Rush coped out…..we are so cooked! McCain’s best move would be refusing to run and handing the thrown to the anointed one..all hail the Messiah!
dmann on March 4, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Just “curious”, did Rush EVER apologize to Hillary about his statement that was on Drudge regarding, “Do you want to see her age?” or something to that affect. It was, I felt a very sexist comment how he claims “others” don’t want to see females aging. I thought it was a terrible comment and even Michelle Malkin on air made a bad comment about how bad Hillary looked. I think both Rush and Michelle were wrong. No, I am not a liberal, I would say this was unkind in referring to anyone.
It’s just the curiousity on my part, on how Rush is going on and on about this stupid “Curious George” comment.
Curious George books were and are very popular, I read them to my son, Rush.
Conservatives R Us on March 4, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Not everyone knows who Curious George is.
I can say with absolute certainty that I (age 57) had never heard of Curious George until I had kids of my own to read books to.
I do know however, that I have seen countless photo shopped pics and cartoons depicting President Bush with simian features.
And, finally, well, heck, Osama does look a little like President Bush.
Labamigo on March 4, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Looks grayer on my screen
Sekhmet on March 4, 2008 at 5:35 PM
The more I think about this the more I want to puke. How do we negate the race card….its like the Black Knight scene from Monty Pythons Holy Grail.
dmann on March 4, 2008 at 5:36 PM
oh crap…that was racist!
dmann on March 4, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Blackface is a democratic theme.
Curious George is a chimp, a children’s story, a cartoon book. One could argue they were talking about George Bush with all the chimp remarks. Where’s the outrage about that.
It’s like how muslims get all bent outta shape when a cartoon of Muhammad is printed. This is about as one step looking for any reason to be offended like Al Sharpton and Jessy Jackson looking for a reason to bring up any racial crapola.
Super sensitive? Can’t control your outrage when called names or innuendos? Probably couldn’t handle being POTUS.
Kini on March 4, 2008 at 5:44 PM
With regard to skin, it’s not about color, it’s about thickness…
CliffHanger on March 4, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Hmmm, interesting.
Maybe in my case, while certain folks are whining about slavery and demanding reparations, I should hold my hand out and demand credit for catalysing the end of the institution in the western world.
Losers.
LimeyGeek on March 4, 2008 at 5:47 PM
So we can say BushMcChimpyHitler. But nothing else.
LtE126 on March 4, 2008 at 5:48 PM
And your point is?
Buy Danish on March 4, 2008 at 5:49 PM
I’d like to point out that you’re all racists for posting in this thread.
Chuck Schick on March 4, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Maybe the Clinton Team just doesn’t have HDTV.
SoulGlo on March 4, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Didn’t Rush predict that someone would be accused of making Barack look blacker? It was like 3 weeks ago or more.
spmat on March 4, 2008 at 5:58 PM
The Left is obsessed with race (and gender and class).
SouthernGent on March 4, 2008 at 6:00 PM
‘The Left’ is everything they claim not to be.
LimeyGeek on March 4, 2008 at 6:04 PM
I bet $10 bucks there are paid Democratic operatives who do nothing but comb through conservative (read: unbiased) media sources looking for racism to tout as examples of the way conservatives think.
NTWR on March 4, 2008 at 6:07 PM
I never read a Curious George book while growing up, nor did I buy them to read to our kids while they were young. Curious George made a comeback in popularity when our kids were teenagers and I remember they had his T-shirts doing antics. Rush’s ignorance of the darling little monkey is totally feasible–he was into other books or sports as a kid, and didn’t get into Curious George. As per “waiting” to apologize, he had already told the audience he felt miserable and couldn’t think straight, he told the caller that he needed to go to break soon, she drops the comment on Rush who immediately upon returning from break chastized the caller and profusely apologized for his polite chuckle to what he assumed was something cute and cuddly. Now isn’t that what Curious George is? That he allowed an irate black lady to immediately chew him out was penance enough for whatever “mistake” PC would have. Big deal.
maverick muse on March 4, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I call it willful ignorance. My father calls it that too.
baldilocks on March 4, 2008 at 6:19 PM
No silly, his “dates”
Hening on March 4, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I had this exact same argument when Shaq was up against Yao during some important game a few years ago (I barely remember).
Before the game they showed a Godzilla vs. King Kong clip with Shaq as King Kong. Everyone claimed it was racist. I thought it was stupid but not racist.
We are way too sensitive about racial issues.
Esthier on March 4, 2008 at 6:20 PM
No way! Clinton would not do anything to make Obama blacker than Bill.
burt on March 4, 2008 at 6:21 PM
It’s the ears, guys.
Then again, you know what they say about a guy with big ears…..
Sekhmet on March 4, 2008 at 6:29 PM
They made his eyebrows thicker too. Is there to end to the treacherous trickery of these rabble-rousers?
Buttercup on March 4, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Clinton not only made Obama look blacker she made his more or less “white nose” look like a “black nose”.
The Clinton’s can not be doing all this by accident as they have done too much that is similar and have developed very much of a pattern.
Hillary for honorary wizard of the KKK!
MB4 on March 4, 2008 at 7:11 PM
I never thought about it before but Obama does look like curious George.
That’s what I like about kids. They always call it like they see it.. before they are trained not to.
Guardian on March 4, 2008 at 7:35 PM
So it’s my monitor that makes Michael Jackson look white?
evenkeel on March 4, 2008 at 7:35 PM
He and his evil wife are marketing him as black, so what’s the problem?
He’s half black, so would this picture, if doctored, really be insulting?
madmonkphotog on March 4, 2008 at 7:49 PM
7 minute apology for 30 seconds of something he didn’t even say.
Awesome.
Reaps on March 4, 2008 at 7:54 PM
My advice? Whatever you do at HotAir, don’t ever mention “the markdown monkey”.
My collie says:
The misunderstanding was truly unfortunate, and I felt bad about it. It is noteworthy, however, that the “markdown monkey” disappeared at HA and has never been seen again.
CyberCipher on March 4, 2008 at 7:56 PM
So Obama doesn’t want to be seen as a charming children’s favorite?
Smart.
profitsbeard on March 4, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Hell, maybe Obama DOES look like Curious George. If it is true it’s true, right? Why deny it?
jimbo2008 on March 4, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Well the secret is out I suppose. That half Irish lad, Barry O’Bama is black Irish ya see. But just because his banshee of a bride seems a tad of a fishwife, doesn’t mean you should throw out the baby with the bath water! Sures Barry would sooner kiss the Blarney stone rather than crush an adulteress’s head with it I’m sure!
BL@KBIRD on March 4, 2008 at 8:56 PM
You all realize that Rush’s “apology” was done in jest to show the stupidity that is bound to happen if/when OBama gets the nomination.
Bodhi on March 4, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I only listened to the “Curious George” comment, not the apology… but I have to ask, just so I’m clear on the rules. It’s okay to compare Bush to (or outright call him) a chimp, photoshop him as a chimp, etc. etc. but not Obama? Is it a race thing? A party thing? I think it’s more of a totally predictable bullsh** double standard thing. And what’s really stupid is that she didn’t say “he looks like a monkey”, she said he looks like “Curious George”. I’d rather look like Curious George than like a horse (John Kerry) or like the Kool Aid guy (Ted Kennedy, who is not only equally round and red, but usually full of as much liquid).
RightWinged on March 4, 2008 at 10:32 PM
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