Obama Skin Tone Darker In Clinton Ad?

America Blog:

Via America Blog:

I went and got the original footage from the Clinton ad, and then compared it to 3 different video clips of the same debate from 3 different sources. I did this so as to take into account any editing, or quality issues, that might have accounted for Obama having darker skin in any particular video. None of the 3 video sources I found showed Obama nearly as black as the Hillary ad does. Click the image above to see a larger version. Look at his lips. Look at his eyebrows. Look at how the red MSNBC background has turned more purple. Clearly the image was darkened. The question is "why."

Make the comparison yourself:

(Picture compiled by America Blog)

One Kos diarist recalls the infamous O.J. Simpson cover on Time Magazine:

One of the first times I distinctly recall this issue being brought to the forefront was the Time Magazine cover picture of O.J. Simpson after his arrest. Time was heavily criticized for darkening the shade of Simpson's skin in the cover photograph.

Whether intentional or not, the message was that a darker skinned Mr. Simpson somehow was more threatening or frightening than a lighter skinned Juice.

Check out the original picture comparison:

Read the whole story: America Blog

Comments

[Rhouse]

11:57 PM on 03/10/2008

And to add someing from the FactCheck.org article mentioned earlier:

"Update, March 6: We received several e-mails about our article that attempted to further the discussion. The two Kos bloggers who originally posted the story contacted us separately with thoughtful e-mails arguing generally that the matter deserves serious discussion but not challenging the substance of our article. Both said they found no fault with our conclusions about the charges of racism. Troutnut said he didn't "contest [our] assertion that the netroots' accusation of race-baiting is ‘unsubstantiated,’ " and Jeff Cronin admitted the “Race-Baiting” headline on Kos "was phrased in starker terms than I would have liked." "

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/did_clinton_darken_obamas_skin.html

[Rhouse]

11:38 PM on 03/10/2008

Just check out the FactCheck.org updated article:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/did_clinton_darken_obamas_skin.html

[lissielu]

02:50 PM on 03/10/2008

This is so disgusting,where are all of the African American politicians?

[DRHoen]

07:39 PM on 03/09/2008

Well, I have been afraid to comment on racism in this election. But as Clinton's supporters, and Clinton herself, openly and explicitly accuse detractors of misogyny, no less (not just sexism), here goes.

Ask yourself this: Would the Clintons use covert racism to help them win if they could get away with it? And would it help them win? Also keep this in mind: there may be some among the Democratic Party's so-called leaders (including superdelegates) who are afraid that, if nominated, Obama might lose because of continuing racism among bigoted (lower income) voters -- Clinton's staunch supporters. (I'm not saying that I agree, at all.)

Consideration of these questions may, or may not, add to one's understanding of the dynamics at play in this nomination contest.

[hillarysupporter]

12:27 AM on 03/09/2008

You've got way too much time on your hands if you have time to compare the shade of someone's
skin from one article to another ! It sounds like Obama supporters are not only hateful, they are also
anal!

[Ginzaman]

09:40 PM on 03/08/2008

The MSM will do anything they have to to make sure that Hillary wins. So of course any racist crap like this goes.

First, it was Willie Horton. Vote for Dukakis and this scary black guy is gonna come and rape your wife and daughter. Now, it's Barack "Hussein" Obama. It doesn't matter that he's a Harvard Law School graduate and has an impressive record, a smart wife and cute kids, etc. The mostly white power elite is really pissed off that Hillary their investment might not win.

So what's the answer? Do everything possble without being nailed for something that's obviously racist. So literally anything short of using the N word is fair game. The various monkey boys and girls in the MSM will keep their mouths shut and do as their told. MSNBC and others are using a few new faces of color so it looks like they're not racist. But the truth is all of the people will say and do anything for a check. So yes, they are tokens.

And all of this racist crap is only going to get worse.

[Silpat]

08:51 AM on 03/08/2008

I would vote for a blind, half-dead, charcoal bat over Hillary -- so it really doesn't matter what she does to anyone's photo.

[research]

05:12 PM on 03/07/2008

It's very hard to tell, you would need evidence that someone had edited it darker. To me, the color, not just the shade, looks different, which indicates editing.

[SlithyTove]

01:47 PM on 03/07/2008

Can you say "Willie Horton"?

[PragmaticProgressive]

01:37 PM on 03/07/2008

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/berni_mccoy/239

Between Bob Johnson, the Jesse Jackson comment, Billy Shaheen, the "fairy tale" comment, the not-a-Muslim "as far as I know" comment, I find it hard to believe that the Clinton's are not using race-baiting to their advantage. In fact, it seemed to have won them the primary in Ohio.

http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/the_crucial_racist_vote.php

[bigturns]

06:59 PM on 03/10/2008

"In fact, it seemed to have won them the primary in Ohio."

I never really thought, given Ohio's voting history, that Obama had a shot.

[rwferr]

12:48 PM on 03/07/2008

I think they made Mrs. Clinton whiter on purpose. It is an outrage.

[RedRooster]

06:24 PM on 03/06/2008

Good Grief!

I don't know about those ads, but Obama's skin tone is clearly darker on the cover of Rolling Stones versus ANY of the photos here on HuffPo's Politics page...does this mean the editors who just endorsed Obama are actually racists? Or, are there simply too many variables related to accurate color rendition in print and electronic media?

[S1m0n]

05:02 PM on 03/06/2008

The real meaning of Hillary's 3 am ad is "Barack Obama is a scary black man who's going to break into your house and murder your children."

[Tranquility]

12:55 AM on 03/07/2008

Are you kidding? Do ;you really believe that, or are you just baiting?

That add is directed at women who are uneasy and unsure about what is happening in the world, but know it isn't good. It says HRC will be there for you. (a feminine message and way of relating) You can trust her to look out for you, those you love and your interests, so you don't have to worry.

If you really see what you said, I'm dumbfounded and if you know better and are saying it to race bait, well...

[GLaB]

04:32 PM on 03/06/2008

Check out this video, starting about 2:30. http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/vsu/wmv-hi/macdonald-obama-memo080303.wmv

Apparently CBC is also darkening Obama's skintone.

[AnninCA]

01:12 PM on 03/06/2008

The Clinton campaign points out that this is not one of their ads at all.

Apparently, this is an internet fraud photoshop deal designed to race bate the Clinton campaign.

I believe that it's now been debunked thoroughly.

[riverhouse]

04:16 PM on 03/10/2008

That ad isn't "an internet fraud". That's Hillary Clinton's ad. I've saw it run on television several times. This constant state of denial is damaging to your mental health, you know.