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Comments

1. #1
   On October 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm, GraniteMan said:

   Hells Bells sex muntz ago I coudnt spill artus and NOW I ARE WUN!

2. #2
   On October 8th, 2009 at 5:59 pm, Insomniac said:

   They’re both crap. How about that for even-handedness and racial neutrality?

3. #3
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:00 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

   Errah similar yes, but was Matisse’s soaked in urine first??!!

4. #4
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:10 pm, Dimsdale said:

   My two year old did something similar in daycare last week.

   Maybe I can sell it to the Obamas…

5. #5
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:11 pm, Dimsdale said:

   It is hard to imagine how bereft of talent and imagination you would have to be to copy that.

6. #6
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:14 pm, coffee said:

   Michelle, your artistic skills are genius.

7. #7
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm, Arbalest said:

   Plagiarism? I’m guessing she was suffering from a certain form of artistic anemia common to artists: non Monet.

8. #8
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pm, zyzzyg said:

   Sounds as if Art in America identified the ‘commonality’ some time ago.

   It is very simple, the Obamas should have known about this, vetted the provenance and publicly dismissed the piece, and artist, as a fraud.

   The fact that it was in the Federal Government’s collection is no excuse. Being presented with choices presented by some Federal Agency and liking a few pieces is unacceptable. The pieces the Obamas chose is a reflection of their tastes and is enough to take them to task.

   Absolutely this is fair game. Clothes, hair-dos, arms, and shoes are fair game. Why not art?

   Oh my, I’ve got some art hanging in my home, too. I better get vetting.

9. #9
   On October 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm, 7thson said:

   the title she chose noted Matisse’s debt to African art.

   And just how the heck does calling a “Snail” a “Watusi” do that???

10. #10
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:31 pm, bradley said:

    I see a future expenditure in the Federal budget: an extra large dumpster to hold all this crap passing itself off as “art” when Obama gets leaves the White House.

    It looks like Michelle Obama needs to hire TWO more “advisers” (totaling 24), one for fashion/art purchases, and one for her personal fashion. Money cannot buy taste, and the people in the White House are living proof.

11. #11
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:33 pm, GladzKravtz said:

    Obama chose that painting because the artist(?) is black.
    Plain and simple.
    High expectations of blacks is not a trait held by the Obamas (or by liberal democrats).

12. #12
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm, 7thson said:

    If this is their taste in art, I would hate to see the White House china.

13. #13
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:38 pm, Darwin Akbar said:

    Can anyone here say “copyright infringement” in Watusi?

14. #14
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:41 pm, greenfairie said:

    I believe Obama also owns a painting called “Canines Playing Canasta.”

15. #15
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    Wealth redistribution for artists. What’s the big deal, the National Endowment for the Arts has been paying artists for CRAP for years. Don’t want to do it anymore? Raise your voice.

16. #16
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm, Hangfire said:

    In this instance, “Hope and Change” has become “Rotate and Change.”

17. #17
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    Rap artists have been using tracks from real musicians for years. Same thing.

18. #18
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:53 pm, Hangfire said:

    Sad to say, but “Rap” music was started by persons of Caucasian lineage.

19. #19
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:55 pm, regularguy said:

    I just don’t understand all the negativity. The two pieces are different as night and day, though equally moving. I am touch by the intensity, the rigor of each art form and congratulate the Obamas for celebrating such immense talent.

    Now, back to my pot smoking…

20. #20
    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:58 pm, Rob said:

    Was it public education that allowed white people to devolve to the level that would elect a black socialist? Or can it be blamed on political correctness run amok? Or are they one and the same?

21. #21
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:14 pm, meangreenfan said:

    What may also be plagiarism is an Obama painting titled, “Whistler’s MO FO.”

22. #22
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:15 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    “Twist” looks curiously similar to one of my favorite works by Rorschach, the German Expressionist who worked exclusively with black ink. He is very popular with psychiatrists.

23. #23
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:22 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    “I don’t see anything similar about those pieces of art at all.”

    – Ward Churchill

24. #24
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:28 pm, prendad said:

    Art czar to be appointed tomorrow.

25. #25
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:29 pm, jdubya said:

    Better send this to Charles freakazoid Johnson and have him check his fontarrific BS machine. He needs another 15 minutes in kookdumb.

26. #26
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:31 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    If this is their taste in art, I would hate to see the White House china.

    I couldn’t find a picture of the china, but I found a picture of the drapes.

27. #27
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm, purealchemy said:

    This situation is putting me on the spot because I have a BFA and MFA.
    Used to try to read Art in America all the time.
    That piece does not sound like the Art in America I remember.
    Moreover, I find two pieces by Matisse with that name.
    At any rate, if that is in the Obama’s “collection”, it hasn’t got a lick of African-American authenticity about it.

28. #28
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Or are they one and the same?

    Why, yes they are.

    I once got a blue ribbon for “Best use of color”, doing something just like this work….when I was goofing around in Kindergarten art time.

    My teacher snatched it up and had it displayed in a student art show for the parents to see. When I was asked what is was supposed to mean, I just shrugged my shoulders, and responded, “I dunno.”

    If I realized what cr*p passes for fine art anymore I would have changed my career plans right then and there.

29. #29
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:34 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    I believe Obama also owns a painting called “Canines Playing Canasta.”

    greenfairie. For that, you get the gold star!

    In this instance, “Hope and Change” has become “Rotate and Change.”

    Hangfire, is that the 21st Century version of “sit on it an spin?”

30. #30
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:41 pm, Southpaw said:

    Behold my new creation, “Twist:”

    Brilliant MM. You’re a natural.

31. #31
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:43 pm, PierreLegrand said:

    Im a racist, they’re a racist wouldn’t you like to be a racist too…be a racist, drink Kool Aid Today!

32. #32
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:43 pm, PierreLegrand said:

    Hmm that didn’t work out too well in the Ryme department…hmmm thats racist too.

33. #33
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Michelle Obama’s second happiest hours were spent in dad’s lap watching Elmyr de Hory paint.

34. #34
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:54 pm, Tazed and Confused said:

    Art fraud for a presidential fraud… why does that surprise you… in Obama’s ghetto, they call that “sampling” and it’s no different than BHO’s commitment to wealth redistribution… just another punk ripping-off what he can get by with…

35. #35
    On October 8th, 2009 at 7:55 pm, CrazyFool said:

    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:10 pm, Dimsdale said:
    My two year old did something similar in daycare last week.
    Maybe I can sell it to the Obamas…

    My 3-YO does the same thing about twice a day. Would love to sell it to the Zero’s – save on diaper service.

36. #36
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:12 pm, nbarry said:

    Actually, there is a difference between the two works. Matisse signed his original in the lower right corner.

37. #37
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:24 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    It appears that Alma Thomas is as much an artist as Jayson Blair is a journalist.

38. #38
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:26 pm, floridaobserver said:

    Merde!
    Is there anything the Obama’s have that IS original????????
    Never mind.

39. #39
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm, leftcoastconservative said:

    It’s symbolism. The Obamas & Alma Thomas are all fakes.

40. #40
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:45 pm, OneMonkeysUncle said:

    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:24 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:
    It appears that Alma Thomas is as much an artist as Jayson Blair is a journalist.

    Or as much as the looney tunes that comment on La Malkin’s site are art critics…

    Cause when I think intelligent, considered opinions about art, I sure think “home-schoolin’, NEA-ridiculin’, knuckle-draggin’ wingnuts”! And this thread is all the proof anybody needs…

41. #41
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:46 pm, SSG David Medzyk said:

    I think the “beeholder” just got stung…

42. #42
    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    OneMonkeysUncle,

    It’s the plagiarism, stupid.

43. #43
    On October 8th, 2009 at 9:05 pm, Rob said:

    Im a racist, they’re a racist wouldn’t you like to be a racist too…be a racist, drink Kool Aid Today!

    Since blacks complain all the time and call me a racist. Since illegals are filling up my neighorbood schools and sucking up my money. Since I am tired of bending over backwards… I AM NOW A RACIST! Get them the hell out of my world.

44. #44
    On October 8th, 2009 at 9:29 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Fer cryin out loud! You’d think with all the taxpayers dollars they’re ripping from us, that they could at least buy a “Velvet Elvis” and hire an illegal to hang it right side up!

45. #45
    On October 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm, graysonret said:

    Every day I am reminded just how lost Obama is. He needs an intelligence czar to help him cope with everything other than day-to-day living (which is done by WH staff). He really needs to go back to Chicorruptago, where he would be more at home.

46. #46
    On October 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm, Buy Danish said:

    Hey! Maybe they could add some original Ward Churchill’s to their collection.

47. #47
    On October 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    And who wrote “Dreams From My Father”?

    Truthfully or not, Bill Ayers said he did.

48. #48
    On October 8th, 2009 at 10:57 pm, swede said:

    “Twist” – A stunning study in the contrast of femininity – NEA

    Original artist M Malkin has achieved a shocking new level in dramatic contrast, producing a more intense blackness than has ever been reached, while a startlingly bright whitness mocks it’s blacker than black counterpart evolving into a ghostly image, eerily reminiscent of Davinci but utterly fresh, bold and original.

    Bidding will open at $10,000,000 for an initialed first generation xerox copy. (on bond paper)

49. #49
    On October 8th, 2009 at 11:04 pm, simcoe said:

    These two taken individually are a real piece of work. Together they’re just plain embarrassing.

    I feel sorry for the girls of these two half-wits, and because they are the girl’s frames of reference for their growth to adulthood they don’t stand a chance for well-balanced adulthood.

    On top of the idiocy, moronics and amorality of these two, just by the mere fact of them breeding and becoming parents, they are guilty of child abuse.

    In fact, because of their inability to tell the truth about anything, one wonders if the children are really their offspring or, like everything else in their lives did someone do that for them too.

50. #50
    On October 8th, 2009 at 11:23 pm, right_on said:

    I surprised they didn’t blow up the photo copy of MO’s naked ba-dunka-dunk (taken on the Oval Office Xerox) to poster size, redone in a black and white sepia finish, frame it, and add it to the collection. It could be called “The Broad Expanse of the Velt”.

51. #51
    On October 8th, 2009 at 11:34 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    If her work is an homage in the form of an acrylic-on-canvas version, then MM’s Mona is a digital homage.

    She should put it on eBay and raise money for the troops from Combat Outpost Keating.

52. #52
    On October 9th, 2009 at 1:00 am, bird said:

    I agree with an earlier commenter here, Michelle, your article skills are genius.

    This is a wonderful expose of the ridiculousness of fraud. It’s our bad luck that the proponents of such are in the White House.

53. #53
    On October 9th, 2009 at 1:06 am, Speakup said:

    A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

54. #54
    On October 9th, 2009 at 2:05 am, OneMonkeysUncle said:

    On October 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:
    OneMonkeysUncle,
    It’s the plagiarism, stupid.

    Damn, didn’t even take ten freakin’ minutes to prove my point…

55. #55
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:45 am, ctmom said:

    I would think this is the most ridiculous thing except I just heard that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

56. #56
    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am, tre said:

    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:45 am, ctmom said:
    I would think this is the most ridiculous thing except I just heard that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

    Republican President Theodore Roosevelt was the first sitting President, indeed even the first AMERICAN to win a Nobel Prize.

    So Duh One is copying a Republican in that regard, even.

    But, I have had no respect for the Nobel ever since it was awarded to a communist dictator, Michial Gorbechev, and a terrorist, Yasir Arafat, and a crockumentary maker, Al Gore.

57. #57
    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am, SixDegrees said:

    The resemblance was noted over a decade ago, and probably earlier; it appears to be deliberate.

    http://books.google.com/books?id=eb5222HXmzoC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=watusi+painting+thomas+matisse&source=bl&ots=bXPMlQDzSJ&sig=JLY_Yuh-foU4dn8EaAKSdUQnGlM&hl=en&ei=c2_OSpu7G5Hk8Qa90tX4Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=watusi%20painting%20thomas%20matisse&f=false

    One can make a similar, facile criticism of jazz, which reuses themes and often entire compositions repeatedly.

    Is it possible to come up with any legitimate criticisms? Of 0bama? Or of anything at all?

58. #58
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:03 am, beenthere said:

    Does this mean Matisse is a racist?

59. #59
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:07 am, John Deaux said:

    Just Paint.

60. #60
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:17 am, John Deaux said:

    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am, SixDegrees said:

    Is it possible to come up with any legitimate criticisms?

    Ok. The painting is simplistic and ugly. Both the original and the copy look like something my pre-schooler would call a failure because the lines aren’t straight.

    Of 0bama?

    Obama spends far too much money flying Air Force One for stupid personal business.

    Or of anything at all?

    Your writing style is weak. You tend to write sentence fragments instead of complete sentences.

    Are you happy now?

61. #61
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:23 am, vinny said:

    I wonder if Obamas prefer Kansas Fried Chicken? This also reminds me of the McDowel’s restaurant from an Eddie Murphy movie: Coming to America. At least in that movie, the writers made fun of copycats. Our “briliant leader of the world” celebrates mediocity and plagiarism. Hmmm, I wonder who actually wrote the 2 books credited to his name. I wonder who Michelle O. was parroting when she sharred her “so emotional” life stories with the Olympic staff? There isn’t an original thought in that entire family. That is probably why Obama was such a mystery man – because no one could find a single act or word in his life, that could not be pinned on someone else at a convenient moment.

62. #62
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am, cheapseat said:

    hmmmm; seems a lot of our black master race tend to take shortcuts to fame, the ny times reporter, the writer who made up the racial story, the prez of the u.s. and now an artist. is this person so dumb that they think in the art world that they could get away with plagiarism?

63. #63
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Do you do the Watusi (dance from the 60′s)? I do not know but The Watusi by by Alma Thomas BELONGS in the Obama White House as a testament to phonies, grifters, Community Organizers, Community Outreach lawyers and scam artists everywhere. But I do understand: I have a terrible time with escargot in the garden every year.

    They could try Sluggo.

64. #64
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am, John Deaux said:

    So the Obamas chose a painting expressing indecision and a plagiarized work. As I said in the Indecision thread:

    Art imitates life.

65. #65
    On October 9th, 2009 at 10:05 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    John Deaux said:

    So the Obamas chose a painting expressing indecision and a plagiarized work. As I said in the Indecision thread:

    Art imitates life.

    Yes is does JD. I wonder if they get the joke. Or maybe it’s an intentional joke by the Obama’s. About the Con they are pulling on America.

66. #66
    On October 9th, 2009 at 10:15 am, spaceycakes said:

    LOL–OMU. Well, as an ‘art critic’ I can tell you that piece of work wouldn’t be looked at twice if it weren’t for the artist’s back story.

    That is all.

67. #67
    On October 9th, 2009 at 10:19 am, MarcoPolo said:

    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:33 pm, GladzKravtz said:

    Obama chose that painting because the artist(?) is black.

    You nailed it. Artistic welfare.

68. #68
    On October 9th, 2009 at 10:20 am, MarcoPolo said:

    On October 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm, 7thson said:

    the title she chose noted Matisse’s debt to African art.

    Debt. Everybody owes Africa something.

69. #69
    On October 9th, 2009 at 10:54 am, USN RET said:

    I think the best comment I’ve seen about this was over at Riehl World View by commentor Ran

    Don’t think of it as “forged” – think of it as “socially justified redistribution” of someone else’s talent.

70. #70
    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:15 am, yohannbiimu said:

    I love it…Obama’s totally immersed in fraud–even his taste in art is based upon fraudulent junk like this. Every passing moment of every day Obama loses credibility in every possible way that a person can lose credibility…and he’s president of the United States.

    Oh, this just in on the Glenn Beck program: Glenn was just awarded “Best in Show” at the Westminster Dog Show (“But I’m not a dog…”). That, to go along with the Academy Award for Best Picture (for the picture he hasn’t made yet…).

71. #71
    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am, Cosmo said:

    In other news, Mr. Obama included the Bill Ayres piece entitled “Two Rows of Five Cans each of Healthy Choice Soup.”

    It’s a masterpiece.

72. #72
    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am, KCK said:

    Matisse is a great hero of mine. He worked his rear off every day of his life, and became France’s greatest 20th century artist.

    I attempted a copy of Matisse this year, and labeled it a copy and am keeping it in my own collection. I have an ethic that says I will not sell/pass off a copy.

    However, in times past, this was not a commonly held ethic. But, it is now.

    Who would ever dream of switching out the colors and turning a direct copy on its side? Limited imagination, to say the least. I wouldn’t give it the time of day, although the artist’s other works might have merit.

    Typical of Obama to like the copy. He himself is a copy of Mussolini on his side, if you ask me. A fascist to the core, and yet one unschooled in even recent history. Myopic, dangerous and infantile, all at the same time.

73. #73
    On October 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    I have an original-quite a few really, my grand-kids did and OBAMA CAN NOT HAVE THEM. I will gladly forward-postage due- a drop-cloth to PBHO and BitterMoma. We do not do our own house painting anymore and those damn monster canvas drop-cloths are a bear to handle.

    Anything I can do for my country [tear >==< here] I will do.

74. #74
    On October 9th, 2009 at 12:48 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, I think Gibbs better report this fraud to Ebay where they got it!

75. #75
    On October 9th, 2009 at 6:09 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    New White House china pattern?

    ECS

76. #76
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:14 am, TomB said:

    I am inspired to write an original haiku.

    two adolescents
    juliet and romeo
    fall in love and die

77. #77
    On October 12th, 2009 at 1:12 pm, yohannbiimu said:

    If any Republican president had put a piece of fraudulent “art” in the White House, we’d still be hearing about it. The lap-dog media’s silence regarding ANY negativity towards Obama is unsurprising.

    But you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope Obama continues decorating the his house (its HIS, you know) with as many pieces of rubbish and plagiarized art that he can find. It is actually very appropriate that Obama did so–to keep everything genuine and true out of his and his administration’s presence.