Just read an interesting article on Wired.com. Apparently one of Hillary Clinton’s latest campaign ads uses a clip of Barack Obama that has been darkened to make his skin look blacker.
Check it out for yourself in the videos below:
Campaign Ad
TV Debate
Wired even took a screenshot from each vid and placed them side by side to make it easier:
Is it just me, or does his face appear to be shorter and wider as well? Not being racist here, but the darker the skin colour, usually the rounder the face shape. Obama has quite an elongated face in all the previous pics I’ve seen, but here I can see a definite difference in face shape on the image on the right.
What do you think?
This doesn’t surprise me in the least. Expect the Clinton / McCain camps to take as many opportunities as possible to mention that race isn’t an issue in this campaign, each time implicitly reminding the electorate of Obama’s ethnicity.
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 11:48 am.
I’m just worried that the Dems are going to end up too divided and therefore hand the election to the GOP!
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 11:52 am.
My own view is that the longer the infighting for the nomination goes on the better. As soon as Barack or Hillary win out they become a clear target for a GOP that will be dirtier and more fearmongering than ever. Check out the New Yorker’s election podcast, their pundits keep reiterating how it looks like a clear Dem win, unless of course there’s a terrorist attack, in which case the game changes..
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 11:57 am.
Interesting, I hadn’t thought about it like that – it’s true that John McCain has just become THE target for the Dems!
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm.
I think that’s fairly standard practice in ads. It’s subtle, but highlights the differences quite effectively! I actually worked on McCain’s campaign in 2000!
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 12:30 pm.
Americans use the NTSC tv system (Never The Same Colour)
I think you may be on to something !
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 1:17 pm.
She just made it by the skin of her teeth. Whos skin I wonder:0 hehehe.
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 10:06 pm.