Obama On A Donkey: Artist Creates Messianic Parade

Obama's triumphal entry: Gentle, riding on donkey

DES MOINES, Iowa – Amid the pomp, circumstance and celebration of welcoming a new president, an artist in Iowa created an inaugural parade sure to draw attention, even hundreds of miles from Washington, D.C.: Barack Obama, riding on a donkey, complete with waving palm fronds and "Secret Service" escort.

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan declared in October that when Obama talks, "the Messiah is absolutely speaking." But artist Matthew J. Clark's parade – marching Obama through the streets of Des Moines in similar fashion to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem – takes the messianic imagery even farther.

You gotta admit, this is kinda neat.
It's done with class and nothing offensive about it.

Although I'm sure there will be some that might gripe about something anyway.


Hey look, Obama pulling a Juan Valdez.


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Matt J Clark - Artist's Web Page

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[edit on Mon Jan 26 2009 by Jbird]

It is a little amusing. Plus, the fact that the donkey is the symbol of the Democratic party puts another spin on it too. That dummy looks a little creepy though....

Cute. Yes, the dummy looks creepy, but then, I think Obama looks a bit creepy, too. Not a one line post cuz I know it must drive the moderators nuts, cuz they mention it from time to time. Oh, and Civlity and Decorum are Expected, too.

reply to post by Alxandro


Well, as a Christian, I'm not sure if this is funny, sad, bad, or just retarded, I'm voting for number D though.

-Lahara

It's really starting to become alarming for those who are cluing on to this. There was no apparent reason whatsoever for him to ride a donkey, unless you know what's going on.



Trying to be like Lincoln. Trying to be like Jesus. And I'm sure the artist has friends in high places, and this was "authorised".

If he's not a deceiver, why can't he just be himself instead of using the subliminal mind tricks?

[edit on 26/1/09 by NuclearPaul]

This is dispicable, this coutry has been built on core values under GOD and this is an added disgrace to them. Many Men and Women faught for us to have freedoms and now thosevalues are so corrupt the warp the minds of many. There is no control for what these oppressors in high places feed us.

Because I know and claim GOD's promises. I can only post and pray for any person who is touched by a picture that places Obama in a portrait of perfection. They need help that only God can provide!!!

"and he shall be a great deceiver"
"the World will whore after him"

Wake up world and seek the Truth written in the scriptures of the Holy Bible, this is the time of economic breakdown and is the beginning of woes, next will be peace and prosperity (sound familiar?)don't be fooled. God loves you. Seek your true Father Our Lord and Savior through our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Don't wait until there is no time to claim GOD's promises...Repent and Seek him NOW!

reply to post by Alxandro


That's amusing. The dummy could have been done a lot better, though. It's kind of creepy as someone said - and it doesn't look like Obama at all.

But it's a cute idea.

I don't think it's cute at all, but I'm not going to lie and say it offends me as a Christian.

It's just plain stupid.

Why is there a continual need to compare Obama to Jesus, or Lincoln, or Kennedy, or whoever else? Why can't he just be himself?

reply to post by nyk537


I think the artist was being sarcastic as to the idea of Louis Farrakhan calling Obama "The Messiah".

Originally posted by nyk537
Why is there a continual need to compare Obama to Jesus, or Lincoln, or Kennedy, or whoever else? Why can't he just be himself?

I think he is himself. People are compared to other people all the time. And I can certainly understand comparing him to Lincoln or JFK. I mean, these are both past presidents and there are some qualities about the man that resemble certain qualities about those past presidents.

What is the fascination with comparing him to a "Messiah" or Jesus? I have no clue. You'd have to ask those who continue to do it. The artist was fairly vague about it, not admitting to making fun of Obama's supporters OR simply being satirical. So we don't know his intention.

But, interestingly, Merriam Webster defines messiah (little m) as:

2: a professed or accepted leader of some hope or cause

Could we say that Obama is an accepted leader of some hope?

Wow, judging by the reactions it seems I underestimated the folks that I thought would get offended.
There was a time and a place that I myself would have gotten offended at the attempt of anyone trying to use Jesus in such a way to create blashemous art for the sake of controversy.
However, I've learned now to nip it in the bud by telling myself that is NOT art and that is NOT Jesus.

Seems to work for me but my apologies to NYK and Nuclear Paul if you got offended.

I agree with xeros that the artist is using sarcasm to make a point and the reason I thought it was done with class is because he did not have to resort to dunking That Dummy in a big jar of urine or creating him naked in chocolate.

Chocolate?
Hmmm, there is a joke in there somewhere.