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Barack Obama's campaign seal looks familiar, from LA Times

This is a rare misstep by Obama's in-house designers and affiliates, best among them Scott Gerald Thomas, Sol Sender and Steve Juras.

For the most part, their choice of vintage seals and advertising cuts has been beautifully subversive. When used as subtle background elements, they imbue the campaign with authenticity by appropriating images from old stock and bond certificates, government seals and various turn of the century legal documents. (See below the fold.) They are bonafide.

Ironically, the campaign identity that most people perceive as "fresh", relies on graphics so old they were originally etched in copper. And while the team has nibbled around, nodded to and hinted at the Presidential seal, they wisely never appropriated it directly. That was until Friday when they rolled out the seal above.

Hopefully, by now the team has realized two important things: 1) the Presidential seal is absolutely off limits for a candidate and b) when pulled from background to foreground, any of these vintage elements immediately morph from aspirational to pretentious.

The LA Times article quotes a campaign spokesman as saying he "wasn't sure whether the new symbol, which resembles the official seal of the president of the United States, would be used again." My hope is this is the last we will see of it until he is (fingers crossed), elected. Beyond being in bad taste, they are tempting fate.

obama_seal_400.1.jpg

Above certificate from the Denver Stock Exchange.

Posted by Mel on June 22, 2008 7:09 PM | Permalink

Comments (40)

JerryT

Fascinating.

Posted by JerryT | June 22, 2008 8:40 PM

Posted on June 22, 2008 20:40

innerredneckexposed

it could just be me it could just be the many 7 and 7s talking or it could be a multitude of other factors but I don't see anything wrong with this. Dude's trying to project strength and what not. I am guessing my stance has more to do with me and my now swooning over Obama. (Dude is dreamy).

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 22, 2008 10:50 PM

Posted on June 22, 2008 22:50

nicolette

its the same thing as wearing a No Fear "Second Place is the First Loser" t-shirt to a competition

not that i would know anything about that..... ;-)

Posted by nicolette | June 22, 2008 11:35 PM

Posted on June 22, 2008 23:35

innerredneckexposed

eh, i still see no brouhaha. I see where you are coming from however.

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 23, 2008 5:33 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 05:33

Drew

This is even more trivial than a flag pin.

I do love how the article says that Republicans ridiculed the symbol, then quote from McCain's flack. Because he certainly would have no reason to criticize Obama beyond graphic design.

Posted by Drew | June 23, 2008 10:16 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:16

innerredneckexposed

actually when you see it used in this video, you do see how bad it is.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 23, 2008 10:22 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:22

CatherineAtlanta

Some may find this trivial, but I suspect some of the swing voters, and independents may find it to be offensive and disrespectful of the office. Some people, particularly us over 50 folks, still hold some of these icons in high regard.

How would we feel when Senator Obama walked into an event they played "Hail to the Chief" but changed some of the lyrics?

Posted by CatherineAtlanta | June 23, 2008 10:33 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:33

innerredneckexposed

Hail to the Chief has lyrics?

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 23, 2008 10:37 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:37

plange

IRE, can't believe you just Rick Rolled me :-P

Posted by plange | June 23, 2008 10:45 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:45

CatherineAtlanta

Yes:

http://tinyurl.com/5l38x7

Posted by CatherineAtlanta | June 23, 2008 10:47 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 10:47

odinseye2k

I don't see it as being much more than those signs that say things like "Reagan. President." Or other cute syntactical / subliminal tricks.

Probably just a little too blatant, though I guess.

Of course, this assumes that the office of President is still worth any kind of regard. Those older swing / independent voters have sure polluted it a good bit these past few years.

Posted by odinseye2k | June 23, 2008 11:11 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 11:11

plange

I think that was the point of the article, that this just went a tad too far and crossed the line. We dance around the line and sometimes we cross it.

Speaking of political signs with nasty tricks-- saw a sign that said "Congresswoman Able Thomas" -- huh? She's not allowed to use that title...At least Reagan didn't have the word order the other way....

Posted by plange | June 23, 2008 11:18 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 11:18

odinseye2k

Did any of you all catch the campaign contribution discussions? I know Obama switched sides on that one (trading a wonkish issue for the political equivalent of a nuclear warhead sounds like a good trade to me), but it's amazing how little examination McCain got.

For example, when the Repub. douche of the day asked when the Republicans ever benefit from a 527, I was immediately yelling at the TV ...

I dunno .. Swift Boat Vets for Truth?!?!

Posted by odinseye2k | June 23, 2008 11:31 AM

Posted on June 23, 2008 11:31

Drew

There is always someone who is offended by something, and if there isn't, the Republican Party will pay by the hour for someone who will be.

Me, I don't see how the campaign seal's similarity (It's a circle with an eagle in the middle, ZOMG!) to the Presidential Seal is either disrespectful or offensive.

Pretentious maybe. Mostly, I'm offended by the font.

Posted by Drew | June 23, 2008 1:06 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 13:06

RuralDem

I think the seal or any slight alteration should be off-limits to candidates.

It's a slap in the face to the office and the rich history associated with the office.

Respect is something that many people value highly.

Like Catherine said, many of the older voters are more likely to look at this as a negative thing.

Posted by RuralDem | June 23, 2008 1:37 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 13:37

odinseye2k

Also, it's fine if you are a Republican:

http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/Mark%20Nickolas/blog/&blogId=2590

God, it's always that nasty reason and context cropping its ugly head into these deep conversations.

I wish the media would spend these six months educating Americans as to how their country worked and just how truly fucked our fundamentals have gotten lately.

Rather than all this "character" crap.

It's not that the public is stupid, but when you are fed this garbage day in and day out, you can't help but not know what the hell is going on.

Posted by odinseye2k | June 23, 2008 3:45 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 15:45

Drew

Wait - you mean this outrage is totally manufactured, wholly disingenuous, and absolutely hypocritical? Shocking!

I'm glad that no Democrat fell for it.

Otherwise, to show that I can speak for the mythical senior voter as well as anyone, my grandfather would have said that anyone who thought this was an issue was "eaten up with the dumbass."

I'd never put it that way, of course.

Posted by Drew | June 23, 2008 4:26 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 16:26

odinseye2k

Yup. It's almost set-your-clock perfect now. I should realize that as soon as a Republican complains of something, I should go check their closet.

I saw Rep. Wexler on the Sunday shows this weekend, and my only disappointment was that he didn't use the "flip-flop" meme when it was offered him to go nuclear on McCain.

Posted by odinseye2k | June 23, 2008 4:50 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 16:50

Jen B.

It should be noted that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is also using presidential seals:

http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/Mark%20Nickolas/blog/&blogId=2590

Not sure whether this should be included in a separate post.

Posted by Jen B. | June 23, 2008 5:46 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 17:46

Drew

Well, in defense of the NRSC, it is run by a young whipper-snapper with no comprehension of the great respect with which seniors hold the Presidential Seal. Why, John Ensign is a mere fifty years old!

I bet he's never even seen an early bird special.

Posted by Drew | June 23, 2008 6:32 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 18:32

MelGX

Of the three "eagle" seals shown on the link, two are for organizations founded by President Ronald Reagan (and related to the Presidency) and the third is for an organization "dedicated to regaining a Republican Senate majority".

None of these are used by a candidate or individual. There's no correlation. Even if there were, it makes little difference to me what the Republicans do or think. We don't take our cues from them.

To me, this is the visual equivalent of Obama standing behind the podium and claiming to be the president. It completely changes the tone and attitude of his whole campaign.

Finally, anyone who is offended by Gotham doesn't know squat about typefaces.

Posted by MelGX | June 23, 2008 7:00 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 19:00

Drew

I'm so burned.

Otherwise, I figured that particular distinction-without-a-difference would be made. I didn't figure it would be made by a Democrat.

There should be an award for that. Golden Lieberman, perhaps?

Posted by Drew | June 23, 2008 7:14 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 19:14

RuralDem

According to the Obama campaign it was a "one time thing" AKA "it caused too much controversy".

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_SEAL?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Posted by RuralDem | June 23, 2008 7:27 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 19:27

MelGX

Good move. End of story.

Posted by MelGX | June 23, 2008 7:43 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 19:43

Reid

Mel: "Finally, anyone who is offended by Gotham doesn't know squat about typefaces. "

Anyone who is "offended" by a typeface has been struggling mightily to be offended by something, and has finally found a nugget at the very bottom of the barrel.

Posted by Reid | June 23, 2008 10:03 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 22:03

JerryT

Sans serif isn't dignified enough for the intended effect.

Posted by JerryT | June 23, 2008 10:06 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 22:06

MelGX

Oh dear. I've created graphic monsters.

That may be JT, but the choice of Gotham was very clever. The typeface was originally designed for GQ Magazine and is one of the few genuinely American Sans serif fonts. Whereas Helvetica (and its poor cousin Arial) have a Swiss or European feel, Gotham is based on the signage of buildings in New York and lettering found on WPA posters.

The whole family is beautifully crafted:

http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100008

It's the typeface I used for Saxon's materials and is my current favorite font.

Posted by MelGX | June 23, 2008 10:36 PM

Posted on June 23, 2008 22:36

innerredneckexposed

I just got the nazar boncuk in the logo. Makes total sense now.

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 24, 2008 12:40 AM

Posted on June 24, 2008 00:40

MelGX

That's too funny. It is sort of an evil eye.

Posted by MelGX | June 24, 2008 12:57 AM

Posted on June 24, 2008 00:57

odinseye2k

It is quite a lovely font, Mel.

I actually learned the story of Arial and Helvetica while I was trying to revamp my presentation skills.

You see so many bad PowerPoints with slide after slide of bulletized speakers' notes in engineering. I now have to do the exact opposite every time I am in control of a presentation.

No bullets if I can help it, and nothing makes it into my deck unless it is a diagram or chart that supports my point or illuminates a tricky issue that needs to be opened.

Presentation Zen is my hero.

Posted by odinseye2k | June 24, 2008 10:37 AM

Posted on June 24, 2008 10:37

innerredneckexposed

Y'all seen the documentary Helvetica? pretty cool stuff. As is the Atlanta band Helvetica.

Posted by innerredneckexposed | June 24, 2008 10:41 AM

Posted on June 24, 2008 10:41

JerryT

No, but I once tried a nice Caslon Bold from Napa Valley. Not much complexity, but strong legs.

Posted by JerryT | June 24, 2008 11:05 AM

Posted on June 24, 2008 11:05

PaulaG

A different perspective: "But even if it was just a bit of fun, we think it was clever. Because yes while everyone castigates the dude for pretending he's already the president, the news will show photos of him standing at that podium with that seal over and over again, making him look really presidential."

http://gawker.com/tag/barack-obama/?i=5018910&t=barack-obama-president-of-make+believe

Posted by PaulaG | June 24, 2008 12:27 PM

Posted on June 24, 2008 12:27

MelGX

Oh you don't think...I mean, are they really that good? Naaaw.

Posted by MelGX | June 24, 2008 1:28 PM

Posted on June 24, 2008 13:28

JerryT

I still want to know how they got that "Mission Accomplished" banner onto the aircraft carrier.

Posted by JerryT | June 24, 2008 3:59 PM

Posted on June 24, 2008 15:59

griftdrift