Obama campaign asks artists to ‘work for free’ on jobs posters, sparking outrage

The Daily Caller ^ | 10/20/2011 | Steven Nelson

[martosko]

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is asking artists to design promotional posters that convey a message: “support American jobs.” The brutal irony for artists, however, is that they will receive no payment for their work.

The campaign, which has $61 million on hand, will reward only the three artists whose work is selected for use. The compensation? A copy of their artwork, signed by the president.

The Graphic Artists Guild isn’t pleased with the ask. On Saturday, the guild issued an open letter to the campaign voicing outrage over what it called a “shameful” competition.

[martosko]

In other words, the Obama campaign's 2012 pop art will be created by starving artists. By STARVING ARTISTS.

[BunnySlippers]

They are no longer doing this covertly.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Shouldn’t democrats be paying full scale UNION painters???

/not one bit of sarcasm!

[cripplecreek]

I’m a capitalist and would be happy to come up with something for him....for a fair price.

Capitalism is the most non ideological, non racist economic system on the planet.

[muawiyah]

During the Great Depression artists were hired by the government to do permanent artwork for government buildings.

They were paid.

Today's Democrat party doesn't believe artists need to be paid.

This campaign should be boycotted and any artist seeking a little fame trying to skirt around the edges to get at the Obama Money should be dealt with harshly by his or her fellows.

[MrB]

This is pretty much what these elitists are envisioning for their future -

the elite live a life of royalty,
and all the peasants work for them basically as slaves.

[fhayek]

Isn’t it funny that liberals are generous with other people’s money, but they are very tight with their own.

[moovova]

The art guild could rename itself as a solar-energy company and get a govt loan for a million bucks (or 500)...

[HIDEK6]

It astounds me that so many musicians, art types, etc. are still big government types when this sort of thing goes on.

Government entities sponsor concerts that compete with private entertainment ventures, and the concerts don't pay!

The musicians can't see that big government is not only directly competing with them, but also lowering the standards and the pay scale.

[WOBBLY BOB]

now where's my Lincoln bedroom sleepover voucher?

[Huskrrrr]

[Tigen]

Well of course boy zero would ask useful idiots to do it for free and they will too.

[Truth29]

The Graphic Artists Guild will be getting a visit from the Obama collective explaining to them that they had better get with the program or find themselves lumped with the Tea Party and kicked off the Hope and Change train.

[circlecity]

Looks like the O is a lot tighter with his money than with ours.

[chimera]

It's always been that way. Look at all the rich liberals (Warren Buffet et al.) who are out there screaming "raise my taxes". They really mean, raise other people's taxes, because the libs will always find a way around paying their taxes.

Look, if these people wanted to pay more, they can do so. We've all pointed out how the government is more than happy to take voluntary contributions. Just send the Treasury a check, they'll deposit it.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Obviously these artists just can’t appreciate being part of the “collective”

[maggief]

That’s priceless ... and it’s not even signed.

;)

[Vendome]

The proletariat’s are now openly being engaged to support their supreme leader for spiritual sustenance.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Work for the government for nothing?

Well they’ll give you some turnip soup.

Sign of things to come?

[blackdog]

Reminds me of the psychosis affecting China under Mao. Villagers would bring their little girls to him every night for him to glorify them with his stink. Artists and craftsmen would have to produce works for him or face prison and certain death.

We're not quite there yet, but close.