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7/3/09
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14 comments
editorial The O Controversy
BARACKOBAMA.COM (LEFT), LESOTTEN.COM (RIGHT)
On the left is the Obama campaign's logo from 2008. On the right is the Otten campaign's for 2010.
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Imitation, as the famous quotation goes, is the sincerest form of flattery. Apparently not in politics, where coattail riding, it seems, is not a time for bipartisanship.
Possible Republican candidate for governor Les Otten’s campaign logo — a mostly red, white and blue O with a green leaf — looks a lot like the O used by Barack Obama in his historic campaign; so much so that the state’s Democratic Party issued a press release to point this out. If the battle of the O signals the level of political discourse we’ll have to endure, it will be a very long campaign.
Aside from the fact that it should fall to President Obama to defend his logo, not the Maine Democratic Party, this is the typical style of shallow campaigning that has turned off so many voters.
What do voters learn from such spats? That campaign consultants have too much time to spend on what they consider clever visuals — their candidate’s or the other guy’s — and who is copying whom rather than solutions to problems that Mainers and Americans care about.
Two hours after the Democratic Party sent out a press release accusing Mr. Otten, who is considering a run for governor as a Republican, of plagiarizing then-candidate Barack Obama’s logo and Web site, Mr. Otten’s exploratory committee says their Web site was built “from scratch” by INsyt of Farmington. They helpfully noted that the Web site is built around the letter O because their candidate’s name begins with that letter. The color scheme? American with a green leaf representing “the renewal of Maine as a leader in energy independence, job creation and real tax reform.”
In case anyone was confused about why this was a big deal, Arden Manning, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party offered this:
“The truth is, Barack Obama was not elected President because he had a snazzy graphic and well-designed Web site. Barack Obama was elected president because the majority of Americans identify with his policy positions and values, and support his leadership of our nation.”
Bingo. Mainers will not vote for Mr. Otten, who may or may not enter the race, because his name starts with O, which lends itself to a snazzy logo. They will make up their minds based on the candidates’ stances on taxes, school funding, government spending, environmental protection and other issues they deem important.
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It is similar. But knowing he is a republican I couldn't help but notice the colors are almost exactly opposite in placement conveniently with the red over the blue. I think this must be intentional, why else would the stripes be blue and not red? The stars in red? Clearly making a quick point to voters (in my opinion, I really don't know the guy and am speculating) that he ain't Obama.
Just went to his site and yes in set-up and structure is a lot alike Obama. I guess he is willing to admit that Obama's online networking and fund raising was very effective.
As for the content lot of generalities and very little planning. "Maine needs to warm from within. The wind is blowing. The trees are growing. The sun is shining. And the core of the earth is warm. The future of energy consumption in Maine can start changing today. It is up to us." OK how do plan on doing this with out spending crap loads of tax payer dollars or better yet are you willing to stand up in front of a broke state and admit you want to invest in the future? As much as I like the idea I have a feeling this guy has no plan and is just spewing fluff that everybody can agree with.
Also just a small observation, I find it hard to believe that Lesley as a Owner of the Boston Redsox, and all his other business adventures is in touch with what is going on in Maine and could understand the hardships Mainers endure. He ain't got my vote yet, and judging early feelings on the guy he won't get my vote.
What was he thinking? The last thing someone should do is try to be like Barack Hussein Obama, especially since he is dragging us downward into Socialism. God bless the USA!
The issue is not that he stole it, but that they lied about it after they were called out. "Built from scratch"? Hardly. Perhaps a "tax increase" won't be a tax increase if Mr. Otten is governor, either. Watch out for this one, people.
Now is not the time for these hi-jinks. Mainers have real problems that need to be solved. Maine has voted independent in the past. Now is the time to do so again. You have more than two options Maine. Don't be afraid to vote independent!
I don't know about the rest of you but I could care less what shape a politicians logo is.
Another day, another BDN slam of Republicans and a love note to the great and powerful O.
If nothing else this has gained lesley some additional publicity, I mean there is no way we see this guys face on CNN if not for this similarity.
He was on the voice of Maine this past week....and although I didn't listen to the whole interview....what I did hear didn't impress me. One question was if he was governor would he sign the same sex marriage into law....his answer....no comment at this time.
But I do like his logo better than obama's
So BDN are you really saying people shouldn't vote for Otten because his logo is close to Obama's? Thats pretty shallow isn't it?
Both parties have earned a robust O.
I personally like Obama's more. The stripes should be red and never blue, everybody knows that.
I think that Otten is trying to outshine his opponent Sen Peter Mills. Mills has a very environmentally designed sign that he has been using on his senate gubernatorial campaigns.