Faked photo of Sarah Palin and original 2004 photo from "Doctor Casino" on Flickr.
Adobe Photoshop is a wonderful tool for the publishing industry. The software lets designers resize photos at any given resolution and render them into a variety of file formats. In the hands of political mischief makers, however, PhotoShop and other image manipulation tools become dangerous instruments of propaganda.
A case in point is the faked image of gun-toting Sarah Palin now circulating on the Internet.
As you can tell by the side-by-side comparison above, Sarah Palin's head was carefully overlaid on the neck of another young woman.
The images was stolen from the Flickr photostream of young "Doctor Casino," who's generously given permission to reproduce his original image here. "I took this photograph somewhere to the east of Athens, GA, in late Spring/early Summer of 2004," he reports on his Flickr page.
I have not been able to track down the creator of the faked photo. The earliest appearance found by Doctor Casino is at an Imageshack.us website, which was topped by an ad for Barack Obama. (Subsequent visits have shown ads for automobiles above the image , so I cannot really say anything certain about who is behind the photo or the posting.)
I'm displaying these two humorous images side-by-side to make a serious point about political dirty tricks.
Doctor Casino himself names the nemesis involved. Such images influence the social "meme," that is, the socially accepted thoughts or attitudes passed from one person to another.
In this case, the meme being communicated sexualizes and minimizes Sarah Palin as a gun-toting babe in an American flag bikini. The intention of the photo thief is to make the GOP vice presidential nominee into a laughing stock holding a rifle stock.
I love a good joke as much as the next fellow, and I smiled in amusement when I first saw the obviously faked photo. Upon reflection, however, I realized that such dirty tricks are not funny. Actually, I believe these predatory tactics endanger the political process by bypassing intelligent discourse.
And the irony here is that such mean meme tricks are not necessary.
Regardless of the positive spin being put on her nomination by Republican Party spokepersons during the GOP convention this week, anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president. (See my earlier posting about the Alaskan woman who's known Palin for years.) Palin's lack of gravitas for top national leadership calls into question the judgment of John McCain, who chose his running mate after only one personal meeting.
Given the political realities at hand, my suggestion to the mischief makers is to knock it off. You do more harm than good by unfairly messing with the social meme. Let the facts speak for themselves.
Washington Independent article on Sarah Palin.
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Comments
Interesting commentary. I agree about the shameful reliance on sexist narratives to frame politically successful women. As a separate point, I also agree that Palin gives concerned Americans plenty of *legitimate* things to worry about.
I am concerned by the wording about the imageshack link "...which is topped by an ad for Barak Obama." I visited the link and got a sketchy "You are the 9 zillionth visitor! CLICK HERE to claim a prize!" type banner ad - it strikes me that Imageshack probably runs random banner ads whenever anybody accesses any images on their site. My concern is that you accidentally give the impression that the Palin fraud has something to do with the Obama campaign, a possibility for which no evidence has appeared.
I've gone back to the Imageshack page multiple times this evening, and each time I saw atop the faked photo an ad paid for by the Democratic National Committee and authorized by Obama for President. I'll monitor the page for a couple days, and if I see anything different there, I'll happily alter my language. Thanks for the heads up. -- Judah
http://reg.imageshack.us/content.php?page=advertising
I remain convinced that one can buy advertising space on ImageShack generally, not for specific hosted images. Actually, I can't really imagine how it would work to buy advertising for a specific hosted image, since anybody can post one, or take it down for that matter. How would you know you were getting bang for your buck?
They do claim to be able to target based on demographics (age, gender, country, "and others") - suspect the country is just a matter of IP address, and the rest could be via the social networking tools they link to, or other arcane Internet means I don't know. You could also ask them.
Cry baby. I uploaded this fun picture to my blog www.pornfortroops.com I know my friend will get a kick out of it; because if the Republican Party gets elected he will probably "enjoy" toting his gun, in Iraq, for years to come.(He's on his third tour) Believe me, this will not stop us from having any "political discourse", but hopefully will encourage us to engage in more intercourse!
These photoshopped pictures are good PR compared to some of the real ones of her underage daughters and their friends boozing it up, brandishing guns, flipping the bird, sticking their tongues all over each others faces. Somebody who preaches family values and abstinence as the only way to go, Sarah Palin doesn't seem to have too good of a handle on her own family.
Look. I'm coming forward. I am the one who doctored the pic. (Sorry, Doctor Casino and Elizabeth). I posted it to my Facebook blog on Saturday and didn't expect it to take off like wildfire. At no point did I intend it to be mistaken for an authentic image. In fact, beneath the picture, I specifically explained that it was made on Photoshop. I don't have any crazy leftist agendas. Just a twisted sense of humor.
Dear "Culprit" --
Thanks for coming forward. If you wish to provide a URL to your initial posting with the disclaimer, I'll happily add that to the body of the story.
By the way, I'm impressed by the rapid Internet distribution of your doctored picture of Sarah Palin and the Alaskan housewife's comment about Sarah Palin. If anyone doubts we live in an interconnected age, here is ample proof!
If the GOP starts getting back some of what it has sown with the last 32 years of gutter-level politicking, it doesn't bother me a bit. How can anyone write about deliberate lies in the electoral process without mentioning Karl Rove or Faux News Network? I'm all for a more honorable mode of debate, but the Republicans will never go along because if they did, they'd be out of business.
Interesting conclusion about Palin's qualifications; I came to the same conclusion about Obama a year ago. They guy makes a great speech, but he has no major legislative accomplishments and no record of bipartisanship. If he were a Republican with such a record, he would be torn apart faster than Dan Quayle. It is amazing how quickly liberals will jump on the bandwagon of a pretty face and a nice voice. That Hollywood culture is not how you find leadership though.
That is nice: "anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president"
And this differs from Obama's readiness for President...how?
Oh, right, despite having more executive experience, she's got *ovaries* so...she's *clearly* unqualified.
Oh, and she went to a state school! Worse yes, she isn't even a lawyer! Horrors! Imagine picking someone who's actually *done* something with life when we have an amazing opportunity to...elect a lawyer from the Chicago political machine.
Oh yeah, you guys are all for changing the culture of corruption all right...
"...anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president."
Now THAT'S rich. If I concede that two years as a Governor is inexperienced can I get you to concede that two years pretending to be a Senator is inexperienced? Somehow I didn't think so.
So much for "progressive" reality. We all know why liberals are in the bag for Obama. You think that America is racist/sexist and the only way to get over it is to elect a black, any black will do. Well, surprise, the actual America that normal people live in isn't as racist/sexist as liberals are. America will happily elect a woman, a black, a black woman, whatever. But they will do so for a QUALIFIED person, not just because of their color or their sex.
Pathetic.
You stated Palin is unqualified, what about Hussein Obama
If Gov. Palin isn't qualified to be Vice President, how in the world is Barak Obama qualified to be President?
"anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president."
Wow, I wonder how much money you make on the stock market, being all knowing and all! Does your brain hurt being so smart?
Seriously, can you not imagine that other people would think differently than you regarding this matter? 37 million people watching her speech might have a different opinion.
See, for some of us, political philosophy, family experience, and spirituality are JUST as important as executive experience.
And gee, in terms of executive experience, Senator Obama has none, and millions of people are willing to vote for him. I accept and understand that, even though I do not agree with them.
Maybe that is the difference between us, I can accept that many people think differently than I do, and I do not have to consider them fools when we disagree.
Get out more, talk to people who disagree with you and try to understand where they are coming from. Meet a few conservatives, go to a nice Evangelical Church once or twice. It will develop your empathy and give you some wisdom if you let it.
God bless you.
Trey
"anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president"
I don't agree. I guess I don't have a trace of logic, is that what you're saying?
Fine. Insult both Palin and me.
One of those people out there smirking at you come November will be me.
"Anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president...
"Given the political realities at hand, my suggestion to the mischief makers is to knock it off. You do more harm than good by unfairly messing with the social meme."
"Unfairly messing with the social meme?" You are kidding. Right?
Anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Barack Obama clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president.
Obama is much greener than Palin, and in contrast to the dishonest smears propagated about Palin, there are numerous disqualifying REAL concerns about Obama, like the fact that he <a href="http://errortheory.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-yorker-nails-maximum-likelihood.html">lied about his Muslim upbringing</a>, claiming to have been raised Christian, and claiming that he never prayed in a mosque, when one of his best childhood friends recalls him as "previously quite religious in Islam," and that they prayed in mosque together.
Obama's Muslim upbringing is confirmed by his reciting the the Muslim call to prayer (the Islamic profession of faith) to Nicholas Kristof in accomplished Arabic. (Obama is on record as having studied the Koran in Arabic: the gold-standard of Islamic fundamentalist education.)
His kin and political confidant, Raila Odinga (now prime minister of Kenya) is known to be lying right now about being a Christian (having signed a secret Memorandum of Understanding with Kenyan Muslim leaders where he declares himself a Muslim and promises to implement Sharia law). Even Obama's <a href="http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=29154_Obamas_Grandmother_Changes_Islam_Story&only">grandmother</a> is on record as lying about being a Christian.
All of this lying about religion should have been front page news across the country. After all, Obama IS running for president, in the midst of a war with Islamofascism (and Odinga's secret agreement proves him to be, not just a Muslim, but an Islamofascist). But NONE of it has EVER been reported by the MSM, which instead is busy printing every dishonest smear about Palin that anyone concocts.
People can differ about whether Obama's religion matters, but lying about his religion is clearly disqualifying.
Regarding Palin's qualifications to be President, it is also eminently obvious that Obama is grossly unqualified to be President, and certainly less qualified than Palin. Where would you prefer to have your unqualified candidate, at the top of the ticket or as VP choice?
Anne Kilkenny is the source for these photos.
"Her" letter comes from Obama's "Dirty Tricks" team.
They look real to me why would you even suggest they was fake. Believe me they are her please do not try to down play her moral because she now none.
I reading commits about Obama religion so what if he was a muslim or read the Quran or even went to the Mosque. What that how to with him running for President this is America the land of the free therefore he can read, visit and go were he chooses. Just as you and I showing your ignorance.
@ Just about everyone who has commented below- The difference between Obama and Palin is that Obama is right on the issues. I don't care if someone has experience as long as they are right. If you want to debate the issues I am game but let us end the experience thing.
It's a fake photo and the gun is a BB gun for kids: Crosman 664SB Blk Silver with 4X Scope
People need to gain a sense of humor. The author of this article needs to learn how to spell Barack Obama's name and cut back on the use of the word "meme".
Thanks for the typo catch, now corrected.
At the same time, rather than asking writers like me to dumb down, please be willing to expand your vocabulary. The rarely used word, "meme," is the best term available for the social "truths" that are spread through society, whether these "truths" are valid or not.
If you didn't like the gun moll in the bikini, what do you think about the GOP's fake showing Obama shining the gun moll's shoes?
When was "enough, enough" in politics? Our true GNP is Politics.
sarah palin is a very sexy woman.what the hell is she scared off.her politcal career.please.she knew it the moment she was nominated,so why hide and be scared.
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In My opinion Sir: you should examine your thoats on nuclear power and stay out of Politics it is time for you to retire.
According to recent paper publishing you have stated that:
You are looking to build additional 45 nuclear power plants
I believe it was said by year 2030. Dear Sir: at present time according to news media we have 77,000 tons of nuclear waste that we have no ability to get read of, Not only reactors waste but it just came to my attention Hospitals radioactive material which are use to treat people for different illness’, we are unable to dispose of neither, we have no place to store it, no State in the Union wanted in their back yard, perhaps Sir we should dig couple tunnels in your back yard to store it. Anywhere that is not my point, may I ask Sir what we suppose to do with these material? Make play grounds for our kids to play in it. Dear Sir! If you can not come up with solution to the problem then Sir you are part of that problem. Now Sir is there a reason that we can use coal? We can clean it we have technology and use it for many years to come, but it seems to me that power hungry politicians all they look how to make quick buck. A thing that we don’t want other Countries to have nuclear plants because they can not be trusted which they may use it in terrorism I agree! But that again is all based on an assumption that is nowhere to have good relation with any country. If we go back to basic and build power plants burning coal we would be solving a few problems at same time; having better relations with some questionable Countries that presently practically do not exists and at same time employing more people, saving on fuel and less dependent on forging oil.
Thank you Sir.
A. K. Seput Palisades Park, NJ
"Regardless of the positive spin being put on her nomination by Republican Party spokepersons during the GOP convention this week, anyone with a trace of logic and common sense can conclude after minimal research that Sarah Palin clearly is unqualified for the office of vice-president or president. " It has become all too clear that neither Barack Obama nor Joe Biden was remotely qualified to even be Vice President--much less President.
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