Obamacare: Where Have We Seen That Symbol Before?

tinypic ^ | ? some wise blogger...not me

[B-Chan]

You guys are all wrong. The symbol in the logo with the two snakes entwined about a winged rod is a caduceus, but it is not the symbol of "Hermes, god of healing". It is in fact the Rod of Hermes -- who was the god of commerce (and of gamblers and thieves).

The symbol of medicine is the Rod of Asklepius, son of Apollo, who was the god of medicine and healing. The association of the snake-and-stick symbol with healing goes all the way back to Biblical times (Numbers 21:6).

Remember: two snakes = Caduceus/Rod of Hermes, god of commerce; one snake = Rod of Asklepius, god of medicine.

[TomOnTheRun]

he fact that you ARE an artist is not helping your case. An artist would right away notice the similarities between the two designs... but rather, you tried to simply pass off the similarities due to the caduceus being thousands of years old. Keep digging. These red herrings are starting to smell.

Actually - that is exactly what I did. Literally. I commented on the similarities. The symbol was clearly drawn from the caduceus and not the Nazi military symbol. The Obamacare logo very very clearly uses a staff surmounted by wings with coiled snakes - a symbol associated with health care for about 2,000 years... It's not using an eagle or a phoenix as the Nazi's did. Think what you will about red herrings. I, frankly, don't care. Take something like this to the general public and be laughed out of the room if you want. I'm confident enough in my interpretation.

[TomOnTheRun]

Well, I don’t remember the caduseus having the Obama “O” logo on it before. In fact, i dont remember any other president HAVING a personal logo.

KNow - the caduceus wouldn't have had the Obama logo before. That's just it - they are trying to associate health care and Obama and make it a positive association.

You are right about American president not having personal logos before but it's a trend we've been building up to before now with campaign images and slogans. I don't like it but it's probably a trend that will stick around for at least 60-100 years. Obama was just the first one to do it well. I doubt he will be the last. Market branding, logos, process workflows - all of these things are being taken out of the corporate world and adapted for use in politics.

[TomOnTheRun]

Ok artist, what president’s have had a personal symbol, like the “O” logo attached to everything they do? Sure is Hitleresque if you open your eyes. Next you can talk to us about all the adoration Obama art. Always done in an ersatz Soviet or style, complete with dramatic gazes towards the horizon.

I commented on another post about this. You are also correct that he is the first president to continue using his campaign logos after the campaign is ended but it's a trend we've been working to for a long time. Logo, branding, focus polling, process workflows, even color psychology ... all of these things are being taken from corporate world and adapted for politics. I think this trend is here to stay for a while. I expect in the next hundred years we'll be deciding whether or not to vote for the Tastycrat or the Fingerlican.

[TomOnTheRun]

Can ANYBODY say why it is fringe or suspect for me to say it is more likely that the logo designer is trying to link this with a caduceus - a symbol of healthcare for 2000 years - rather than the Nazis given that this is supposed to be a logo for a healthcare program? That symbol is EVERYWHERE around hospitals. Hasn’t anybody here watched Grey’s Anatomy or ER?

[TomOnTheRun]

who was the god of commerce (and of gamblers and thieves).

YOu are quite correct. I did say in an earlier post that he was a god of commerce but he does become associated with healing later on long after this symbol was created. The symbol comes with him. Hermes was pretty persistent - he later morphs into other things like Hermes Trismagistus and such. A google image search for caduceus brings up a LOT of websites for Hospitals and M.D.s

[NathanR]

Caducus AKA Rod of Hermes. The wings and serpents come from Hermes AKA Mercury. In America it is often used instead of the Rod of Asclepius which has only one serpent and no wings.

Asclepius was the Greek god of healing.

[paythefiddler]

strikes me as narcissistic
break out the Greek columns

[nralife]

Can ANYBODY say why it is fringe or suspect for me to say it is more likely that the logo designer is trying to link this with a caduceus - a symbol of healthcare for 2000 years - rather than the Nazis given that this is supposed to be a logo for a healthcare program?

BECAUSE, it doesn't have to be an either or situation.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Tom, I’m not arguing with your points. You made some very good ones.

I just find it interesting—the two do remind me of each other. That is all.

I do think there are other similarities in how each party views the use of authority and power, too. And to see the art drawing a parallel, I just thought it was curious.

I certainly do believe the designer had a caduceus in mind when making the logo...but similarities in mindset can also create a similarity in design sometimes, too, don’t you think? :)

Just a thought. I have not attacked you in the least...I appreciate your contributions to the thread.

RD

[blackbart.223]

"I'll go as far as to say this is hilarious but not that I find it sinister."

It may not be a copy of a Nazi symbol however I still find it sinister.

[blackbart.223]

" A google image search for caduceus brings up a LOT of websites for Hospitals and M.D.s"

The Caduceus is worn by many medical proffesionals to symbolize what they do. I worked as a paramedic for quite a few years and wore one. For a political hack like Obama to use that symbol and attach his propaganda to it is insulting.

Any questions?

[TomOnTheRun]

Thanks! I'm sorry BTW - any harshness in that comment was not directed at you in particular. It was supposed to be a general comment to several other people. My understanding of the way things worked here was that undirected comments just got made to the name of the person who started the thread. I'm new though and probably got something wrong.

You seemed very reasonable and polite every time you spoke. I'm sorry if I did not.

It is an amazing similarity though. I bet if you sent this the graphic design team leader for Obama he would have kittens or his head might explode...

[Brugmansian]

Yes, but Hussein and his lame propaganda ministers decided to put HIS campaign logo underneath the caduceus.

I've seen it on a bus he was on too. Is there any precedent for a president using a campaign logo after the election?

[penelopesire]

Excellent gif! Prepare to have it go viral!

[DuncanWaring]

I actually got it from here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2309010/posts?page=4#4

[theDentist]

Wow. I didn;t think much of it Recovering, but Rush is talking about it right now. I bow to you, good find. From now on, you get the REAL novacaine.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Ha! I see he has it on top of his web site today, too. I am a Limbaugh 24/7 subscriber.

Maybe I ought to go to work for the guy. :)

[theDentist]

Maybe he read it on FR last eve...