Spidey Meets The President

[white avenger]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is just a little bit demeaning to the office of the President of the United States? Sure, we tell a few jokes, and we laughingly refer to his term in office as an "Obama-nation," we even paint his picture onto new quarters, but teaming him up with SPIDERMAN? That's just a bit much. They could have at least paired him up with Superman.


PRESIDENTS' DAY CELEBRATION #1 Digital Comic | Marvel Digital Comics | Marvel.com

(You have to go in a few pages to find Obama)

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is just a little bit demeaning to the office of the President of the United States? Sure, we tell a few jokes, and we laughingly refer to his term in office as an "Obama-nation," we even paint his picture onto new quarters, but teaming him up with SPIDERMAN? That's just a bit much. They could have at least paired him up with Superman.


PRESIDENTS' DAY CELEBRATION #1 Digital Comic | Marvel Digital Comics | Marvel.com

(You have to go in a few pages to find Obama)

Well his campaign promise of change seemed to have been as fictious as Spidey so why not have him in one of the comics, least there he can pretend to do something and not get called on it!

 

[Friendly Lurker]

Well his campaign promise of change seemed to have been as fictious as Spidey so why not have him in one of the comics, least there he can pretend to do something and not get called on it!

What about:

Finally lifting restrictions on stem cell research
Closing down illegal detention facilities
Banning torture (including waterboarding)
Allowing funding to international clinics that perform abortions
Expanding free health insurance for children (OMG socialist!)

Did you expect world peace and an end to poverty within the first month?

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

What about:

Finally lifting restrictions on stem cell research
Closing down illegal detention facilities
Banning torture (including waterboarding)
Allowing funding to international clinics that perform abortions
Expanding free health insurance for children (OMG socialist!)

Did you expect world peace and an end to poverty within the first month?

No, the 'change' was to come in a man people could believe in, you could trust based on the campaigns suggestion that the last 8 years, the President's office has been riddled with lies.
He's broken some of his 'promises' already.
Doesn't matter how many things you want to throw at me to argue he is doing some good, the fact is by breaking even one of those promises, especially so soon into the presidency, he is showing himself to be just like every other politician.
There is no change, there is just more of the same but painted differently to give it a crisp new look.

 

[Friendly Lurker]

No, the 'change' was to come in a man people could believe in, you could trust based on the campaigns suggestion that the last 8 years, the President's office has been riddled with lies.
He's broken some of his 'promises' already.
Doesn't matter how many things you want to throw at me to argue he is doing some good, the fact is by breaking even one of those promises, especially so soon into the presidency, he is showing himself to be just like every other politician.
There is no change, there is just more of the same but painted differently to give it a crisp new look.

Which promises has he broken?

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Which promises has he broken?

Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs
"During 2009 and 2010, existing businesses will receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time employee hired."
$3,000 tax credit not in stimulus bill, no future action seen
Updated: Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials
"No political appointees in an Obama-Biden administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years. And no political appointee will be able to lobby the executive branch after leaving government service during the remainder of the administration."
But the order has a loophole "” a "waiver" clause that allows former lobbyists to serve. That waiver clause has been used at least three times, and in some cases, the administration allows former lobbyists to serve without a waiver.

Allow five days of public comment before signing bills
To reduce bills rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them, Obama "will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."
When President Obama signed his first bill without posting it to the Web for five days of public comment, we gave him his first Promise Broken.

For his second bill, Obama signed an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health coverage for low-income children. He signed it on Feb. 4, 2009, just hours after it was finalized in Congress.


See, its not about what the promise is about its the fact he makes and breaks them.

George Bush made plenty of promises in his campaigns and he stood by some of them while broke others too.

Ohhh and lets not even begin to discuss Obama making light of disability! on national television!

 

[Friendly Lurker]

Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs

"It never got any significant support in Congress, even from Democrats. Lawmakers said they were concerned the credit wasn't enough of an incentive to get companies to hire additional workers. Tax policy analysts said the credit would be an administrative nightmare to implement. Companies might eliminate a job and then create it again later in hopes of getting the tax credit."

Sounds like it wasn't such a great idea so maybe it's good that it never happened. 😛

Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials

If 3 out of hundreds (?) are former lobbyists, it doesn't sound like a catastrophe to me. You'll find out that in the real world everything doesn't always work out the way you planned.

Allow five days of public comment before signing bills

It's unfortunate if it didn't work out perfectly but like I said, everything never does. You really seem to be thinking in a very black & white way about this, like he's a bad president because every little thing that he said hasn't happened. I'd say there's definitely been "change" in the White House and I'm glad they're finally moving out of Stone Age.

Are you sure you're not just determined to dislike him because he's popular with the majority? 😛 (Dollhouse/Firefly, anyone?)

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

"It never got any significant support in Congress, even from Democrats. Lawmakers said they were concerned the credit wasn't enough of an incentive to get companies to hire additional workers. Tax policy analysts said the credit would be an administrative nightmare to implement. Companies might eliminate a job and then create it again later in hopes of getting the tax credit."

Sounds like it wasn't such a great idea so maybe it's good that it never happened. 😛



If 3 out of hundreds (?) are former lobbyists, it doesn't sound like a catastrophe to me. You'll find out that in the real world everything doesn't always work out the way you planned.



It's unfortunate if it didn't work out perfectly but like I said, everything never does. You really seem to be thinking in a very black & white way about this, like he's a bad president because every little thing that he said hasn't happened. I'd say there's definitely been "change" in the White House.

Are you sure you're not just determined to dislike him because he's popular with the majority? 😛 (Dollhouse/Firefly, anyone?)

The simple actual fact of the matter is he made promises, he broke promises.

Its only 3 so its fine. See its responses like this that are hilarious.
Had it been George Bush and not the Messi... I mean Obama, it would be a travesty and proof positive that he is corrupt.

OK, well what if he bans torture except for times when he need to use it?
That way, he's banned it except for the times he actually thinks it doesn't count as breaking a promise.
Also lets not forget we're still in the first couple of months of his Presidency and he's already breaking promises.

The problem with all this is that on his campaign trail he sounded the 'change' horn. He had the best advisors in the world helping him thrash out what he would and could do and he broke his promise almost straight away! There wasn't even time to let the dust settle.

You can try and argue as much as you like, the simple fact is he is showing himself to be just like every other politician. I have no problem with Obama breaking promises because all politicians do that, what I have a problem with is Obama running a campaign based on how he is the change from all that lying and broken promises and does that very same thing.

Also, Firefly - Cancelled.
Dollhouse - popularity remains to be seen.

So how exactly am I going against the majority on that one, or does your world seriously just consist of this site and a few people who know Whedon stuff, because, quite frankly, my life is so much bigger than that and my political views have developed over a period of about 14 years.

Obama doesn't stand for many of the things I believe in - I believed in them before he was even a senator and I'll believe in them long after he's not the actual President, its nothing to do with his popularity.
Again, if all you can do is jump on a bandwagon and go with majority then I'm happy that you can live like that, but some of us look into things first and don't run on automatic.

ANYWAY, you wanna keep discussing this, out of courtesy to WA, reply in a different thread for this, not in this thread as its just about Spiderman and Obama.

 

[Friendly Lurker]

Again, if all you can do is jump on a bandwagon and go with majority then I'm happy that you can live like that, but some of us look into things first and don't run on automatic.

I mentioned some of the things he has done and since I approve of them, I think he's been a good president so far. All I've heard from you is the naive "OMG he's just like every other politician!".

Of course, I'd be interested in hearing about the POLICIES that you disagree with.

does your world seriously just consist of this site and a few people who know Whedon stuff, because, quite frankly, my life is so much bigger than that

Oops, was I supposed to read your autobiography before posting? Since I only know you on these boards, what else would I base my observations on?

 

[goldenboy]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is just a little bit demeaning to the office of the President of the United States? Sure, we tell a few jokes, and we laughingly refer to his term in office as an "Obama-nation," we even paint his picture onto new quarters, but teaming him up with SPIDERMAN? That's just a bit much. They could have at least paired him up with Superman.

Marvel originally did this because they heard Obama was a self-professed Spider-Man fan, collected the comics. So many other comics are jumping on the bandwagon though.

Obama Comics Keep Coming, Get Weirder

By Graeme McMillan, 6:30 AM on Wed Apr 1 2009, 4,725 views (Edit

He may have announced a new anti-terror plan, but did you know that Barack Obama can also fight alien invasions - and is a barbarian? New comics due in June reveal our president's hidden sides.

Apparently, it's never too late to jump on a bandwagon, as publisher Devil's Due is eager to point out by declaring June "Obama Month," and featuring the president in two new comics.

The more straightforward of the two is Drafted: One Hundred Days, which places Obama into its regular alien-invasion setting and watches as he fights the extra-terrestrial bastards to the best of his ability. The second comic, however, is just plain odd:

BARACK THE BARBARIAN: QUEST FOR THE TREASURE OF STIMULI: Devil's Due and Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine) take political satire to a whole new level. Hama, a surprise hire to some, but not to those who truly know his tastes, will take a look at the current state of politics both past and present and isn't afraid to point fun at Washinton's sacred cows. In the distant future the story of Barack Obama has become a little... distorted. According to THE MADDOWIAN CHRONICLES he was the one destined to save the great republic of America and dethrone the overpaid despots of the time. Join Barack, Sorceress Hilaria, her demi-god trickster husband Biil, Overlord Boosh and Chainknee of the Elephant Kingdom. Who can the lone barbarian trust, if anyone?

What that press release doesn't mention is Barack the Barbarian's nemesis, "Red Sarah." Yes, really, they're making Sarah Palin into Red Sonja. This is supposed to be an ongoing monthly series, people. Be very afraid.

io9 - Obama Comics Keep Coming, Get Weirder - Barack Obama



Please Stop With The Obama Already


Obama En Route To Becoming Most Popular Comic Book Character Ever

 

[white avenger]

This was supposed to be a rather light hearted discussion about the antics of President Obama, not an attack on his policies. There's probably no one on this board who has less faith in the man and his ability to make any real changes in Washington than I do, but I intended to talk about the President in comic books, not his record of made and broken campaign promises. Sadly, that's business as usual in politics.

I think that the same man who just yesterday had tea and cucumber sandwiches with the Queen of England shouldn't be simultaneously appearing on the cover of a comic book. I felt the same way about Jimmy Carter's interview i n "Playboy" magazine. We're talking about one of the most powerful elected officials on the planet sharing billing with a guy in blue tights who hangs upside down from the ceiling. I thik that that's more than a little bit demeaning to the office that he occupies, as well as absurd for the man himself.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I mentioned some of the things he has done and since I approve of them, I think he's been a good president so far. All I've heard from you is the naive "OMG he's just like every other politician!".

There is nothing naive about it.
The guy ran a campaign and won an election pretty much on his mantra.
He's shown himself to be a dishonest man by not living up to it.
People were, and still are, blinded to that fact. Its not naive to keep saying he won on false pretenses.

Of course, I'd be interested in hearing about the POLICIES that you disagree with.

Star another thread and if I can be bothered I will.
Or alternately you can look into the Conservative Party in the UK.

Oops, was I supposed to read your autobiography before posting? Since I only know you on these boards, what else would I base my observations on?

Thats not what I said - what I said was that you classed two TV shows as being popular - one of which was cancelled and the other still remains to be seen, though viewing figures of even 5 million in a country with 300 million isn't exactly popular, en masse.

They may be popular on this forum but I don't live on this forum, no body here does - someone with a double digit IQ could work that one out - so maybe someday you'll get there, which to be fair is unlikely as IQ decreases, generally, as one gets older.

---------- Post added at 01:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

This was supposed to be a rather light hearted discussion about the antics of President Obama, not an attack on his policies. There's probably no one on this board who has less faith in the man and his ability to make any real changes in Washington than I do, but I intended to talk about the President in comic books, not his record of made and broken campaign promises. Sadly, that's business as usual in politics.

I think that the same man who just yesterday had tea and cucumber sandwiches with the Queen of England shouldn't be simultaneously appearing on the cover of a comic book. I felt the same way about Jimmy Carter's interview i n "Playboy" magazine. We're talking about one of the most powerful elected officials on the planet sharing billing with a guy in blue tights who hangs upside down from the ceiling. I thik that that's more than a little bit demeaning to the office that he occupies, as well as absurd for the man himself.

Sorry WA - I do agree, I even tried to steer it away from here but I'm not invested enough to open a new thread myself.

I promise, no matter what is said, I will ONLY discuss the Comic/President topic in this thread.

I have to agree with you on the stuff though - I don't like it.
I don't like it when the guy I vote for, or did vote for, does cheesy chat shows and other media whoring publicity hungry stuff, so when its the other guy I like it even less - and when its someone I couldn't vote for BUT who will still have some influence over my life, well thats the worst kind of person to do it.

 

[atticus]

I'm such a comic geek. Everyone is having a political debate, and I'm just thinking how desperate Marvel has become. This was their best selling Spider-man comic in 15 years, and is on it's 5th reprint. This makes me sad.
I used to be a huge Marvel fan, but only read about three of their titles now. They have sold out big time, it's just one "epic" crossover event after the other, all which lead nowhere. And each one has not so subtle ties to the real world, and American history. Civil War was a mess. This is just one more annoyance, write some decent stories, stop trying to be political.
I guess they are just happy they are getting more readers. Bush never brought in this many people. But Bush wasn't a "celebrity" president. Stay in the oval office dude, I don't need to see you on Leno.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

I think that the same man who just yesterday had tea and cucumber sandwiches with the Queen of England shouldn't be simultaneously appearing on the cover of a comic book. I felt the same way about Jimmy Carter's interview i n "Playboy" magazine. We're talking about one of the most powerful elected officials on the planet sharing billing with a guy in blue tights who hangs upside down from the ceiling. I thik that that's more than a little bit demeaning to the office that he occupies, as well as absurd for the man himself.

It's not the actual Barack Obama being in the comic. I mean... it's a drawing of him.

I don't think it demeans the dignity of his post at all to have somebody else incorporate the guy into a comicbook storyline. And if it does, well then so be it. The guy's not a king, and the office of the president is not a sacrosanct one. Nor should it be, free democracy needs to have the room to discuss both the post and the individual, in whatever form that might take.

Honestly, it bothers me less that Obama's in a comic than it does that Marvel have gotten so unashamedly cynical. Although, they've always stepped in and out of the real world, and they certainly captured a moment.

If the comic was somehow offensive or slanderous, then maybe there'd be a case, but as it is, it seems to me an absurd thing to be cranky about. Then again, I suspect that if the comic portrayed him as a bumbling fool, there would be notably less consternation... It's not something he or his people should be unduly concerned about. There are more important issues on his table right now, and I'm more interested in where he goes with those than what a two dimensional four colour impression of him does in a story about a fictional superhero.