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Controversial Artist Depicts Obama Trampling The Constitution

American

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Controversial Artist Depicts Obama Trampling The Constitution « CBS Las Vegas

Provo, Utah (CBS Las Vegas) - In front of the White House a man is sitting on a park bench in the throes of depression. He is surrounded by 43 presidents. In the forefront, purposefully ignoring the depressed man is President Obama, whose right foot is stepping on the Constitution. James Madison is next to Obama, pleading with him to stop.

This tableau is called “The Forgotten Man”, a painting by Jon McNaughton, an artist who is known for his politically-charged work.

The painting, which uses objects such as discarded dollar bills as symbols and scraps of paper with individual constitutional amendments scrawled onto them, has been making the rounds across the Internet.

“For a long time I didn’t know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial,” McNaughton explains in a voice over. “(T)his man (on the park bench) represents every man, woman, and child who is an American… he hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity.


“But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed by the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters,” he added.

the-forgotten-man.jpg
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Now this isn't all Obama's fault, but he does symbolize the ideology that seems to hate Constitutional limits, and thinks this country was suppose to be about do-gooders forcing everyone else by legal means to do their idea of good. This has only served to reduce personal freedoms and personal prosperity.
 
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American said:
Now this isn't all Obama's fault, but he does symbolize the ideology that seems to hate Constitutional limits, and thinks this country was suppose to be about do-gooders forcing everyone else by legal means to do their idea of good. This has only served to reduce personal freedoms and personal prosperity.
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Presidents have historically disliked the limits placed on them by the Constitution.

This guy's problem is quite simple: he's a Republican and Obama's a Democrat. Which is fine, that's his right to disagree. But it's not like no Republican Presidents ever stretched the bounds of the Constitution, and it's dishonest partisan hackery to think otherwise.
 
rocket88 said:
Presidents have historically disliked the limits placed on them by the Constitution.

This guy's problem is quite simple: he's a Republican and Obama's a Democrat. Which is fine, that's his right to disagree. But it's not like no Republican Presidents ever stretched the bounds of the Constitution, and it's dishonest partisan hackery to think otherwise.
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Now this is partisan hackery. Did you even know of this guy before this article? Do you know anything about the man?
 
rocket88 said:
Presidents have historically disliked the limits placed on them by the Constitution.

This guy's problem is quite simple: he's a Republican and Obama's a Democrat. Which is fine, that's his right to disagree. But it's not like no Republican Presidents ever stretched the bounds of the Constitution, and it's dishonest partisan hackery to think otherwise.
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I disagree. There are quite a few Republicans standing with Obama. This picture obviously shows that there is a division between a group that cares about the Constitution and the people and a group that doesn't. GW Bush is right behind Obama, as is HW Bush. W Bush stretched the Constitution as well, I agree. The thing we have to remember and heed is exactly what the founders said would happen. The greed and power hungry nature of the human being will only be held in check by the Constitution. We, the People, have to ensure they follow it by voting in and out people that do follow it. The thing that kills our country is how scared the legislative branch is to exercise their power. No matter the issue, they never exercise their portion of the checks and balances that are bestowed upon them. The POTUS, whoever it is, runs all over the legislature and they do nothing. The SCOTUS runs all over them, they do nothing. Heck, right now Eric Holder is running all over them, they do nothing. We finally get some people in there (the Tea Party freshmen) that understand the power that is bestowed upon them, and they are demonized as posturers. I don't get it. I wish some Dems would come in that would do the same. I don't care about their beliefs as long as they believe in the Constitution. If they believe in that, we have somewhere to start.
 
The message is a good and valid except that GW Bush should be standing with Obama.
 
It's political art. I disagree with the message, but I'll admit it's effective and I thank God I live in a country where such art is protected.
 
1Perry said:
The message is a good and valid except that GW Bush should be standing with Obama.
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He is standing with him. Or do you mean like right next to him standing on top of the Constitution too?
 
Forty three presidents? Why would he paint Grover Cleveland twice?

Anyway, I like how FDR is applauding. Less so Clinton, but Bush should be right there with Obama.
 
Too bad he can't paint one with every elected official who has disregarded the constitution. Although he would probably need the great wall of China to use as the canvas for that.
 
American said:
Controversial Artist Depicts Obama Trampling The Constitution « CBS Las Vegas



Now this isn't all Obama's fault, but he does symbolize the ideology that seems to hate Constitutional limits, and thinks this country was suppose to be about do-gooders forcing everyone else by legal means to do their idea of good. This has only served to reduce personal freedoms and personal prosperity.
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Classic political cartoon, there - it's been done before in many ways (the suggestion/depiction of the president trampling our rights/consitution/etc) - it's not like it's new.

I don't take offense to such things
 
Well so should Tomas Jefferson, I mean, where in the Constitution does it say he can use the taxpayers money to buy land for the government?

Just to put things into perspective.
 
I like the piece. :shrug:

I even like that Obama is the President doing the trampling.

I would say though, that you can replace Obama with any modern President. Every leader seems to dislike the legal limits placed on him. It's a temptation that power brings - wanting more power. The fact that our Constitution has, more or less, stood the test of time, shows what a strong document it is.

The problem is that increasingly it is not enforced. Guess whose job it is to really enforce it?
 
Kal'Stang said:
Now this is partisan hackery. Did you even know of this guy before this article? Do you know anything about the man?
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Don't know who he is. I can only judge based on the painting. In the post and in the article, the painting is rather small and it's hard to see who anybody else really is. It looks like there's some powdered wigs who are kind of upset (Washington, Jefferson et al, I assume). It looks like that may be an upset Abraham Lincoln (that's interesting -- the man who suspended certain Constitutional rights).

Outside of that, my eyes aren't good enough to see who anybody else is. Still, it's a political piece that seems to me to single out Democrats as opposed to Republicans. Which is fine, he has a right to say that and I have a right to not like his painting.
 
MarineTpartier said:
I disagree. There are quite a few Republicans standing with Obama.
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Look at it, FDR, Clinton and TR are clapping while Obama stomps on the Constitution. If they'd have at least included the Bush's in that, if not Regan, then they'd have something. This painting is partisan crap.
 
rocket88 said:
Don't know who he is. I can only judge based on the painting. In the post and in the article, the painting is rather small and it's hard to see who anybody else really is. It looks like there's some powdered wigs who are kind of upset (Washington, Jefferson et al, I assume). It looks like that may be an upset Abraham Lincoln (that's interesting -- the man who suspended certain Constitutional rights).

Outside of that, my eyes aren't good enough to see who anybody else is. Still, it's a political piece that seems to me to single out Democrats as opposed to Republicans. Which is fine, he has a right to say that and I have a right to not like his painting.
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So you judge a person based upon one thing without knowing why he did it or anything else. Good job.

Maybe ths will help
 
BooRadley said:
Look at it, FDR, Clinton and TR are clapping while Obama stomps on the Constitution. If they'd have at least included the Bush's in that, if not Regan, then they'd have something. This painting is partisan crap.
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Oh, also, he has Regan standing with Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln and JFK. What a joke.
 
Seeing as he's shown disregard for the constitution more than once, not sure if controversial is the right adjective.
 
So an artist has an opinion. Funny thing though, we all have opinions. So why is this news?
 
I keep looking for Alfred E. Neuman in the crowd. It seems on that sort of intellectual level.
 
haymarket said:
I keep looking for Alfred E. Neuman in the crowd. It seems on that sort of intellectual level.
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Don't invite people to point out that he's the black guy in the front. Because somebody will.
 
haymarket said:
I keep looking for Alfred E. Neuman in the crowd. It seems on that sort of intellectual level.
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I have to disagree with this. The artist took the trouble to do enough research to have some facts to base his opinion on. However, in the end its an artist that nobody has ever heard of sharing his opinions. Its not different than any guy off the street sharing their opinions.
 
Your Star said:
Well so should Tomas Jefferson, I mean, where in the Constitution does it say he can use the taxpayers money to buy land for the government?

Just to put things into perspective.
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The Constitution makes provision for adding states, so how would you get more states?
 
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