« Here's How Democrats Are Trying To Frame The Palin Pick | Main | Issues And Answers: Palin Pick Perfect For Purple Polities? » The Tickets: Iconography Comparison30 Aug 2008 06:53 pm
Read these images... and comment.
Comments (160)
Don't diss the tacky look. That works pretty well. People look at it go, "Completely unprofessional? Hey, so am I! I'm voting for the amateurs!" 
Why is that trite SNL phrase "That's the ticket, yeah...yeah" going thru my head???
Obama looks older in this than he appears in person. McCain looks like Boss Hog and whatever-her-name-is looks like Daisy Duke... maybe an add for the Hazard County Fair or something. It is really amazing the difference.
Yikes. The McCain/Palin sign looks like a local cable commercial. AND..... my 86 year-old, college educated mother thinks that Palin is a "pip", that she will "speak her mind", thinks it is FINE that she will be on the campaign trail non-stop with a four month old with Down Syndrome at home, and is not at all worried about McCain kicking the bucket......sigh......
Well, we know who's drinking Coors.
mccain/palin looks either like a chipper police lineup or someone told them "look over here! and look uncomfortable!" i could have photoshopped that in about 10 minutes and i'm not particularly good. you can't even pretend they're standing next to each other because of the perspective. can't they hire a graphic designer? i know i drank the kool aid but the obama/biden ad just looks classy.
The Only News at 9:00!
Obama and Biden are looking off into liberal Lala Land to their own left while hovering on a cloud or emerging from a fog or something. McPalin are looking right at you, Mr. and Mrs. Sixpack. ;-) Seriously, though, the Obiden ticket looks more professional and more aesthetically pleasing. Go J-Mac and Saracuda!!
Pretty easy to snark, but there are distinctive qualities to each. Obama-Biden shoes BO front and center, with his running mate to his right, his campaign to his left. Ergo, he is in the center(ist). Note the lack of names on McCain-Palin, only the word America, implying "putting the country first." I guess the "ticket" is designed to highlight the sharing of focus or something. Not sure why that's bolded. At first glance McCain's is a bit ungainly, with bunting that doesn't exactly scream "vigor" or 20th century for that matter. Obama's continues his thematics, blue and the circle logo. No mention of change...for a change.
The "Ticket America" one is vaguely Evening Newscast Ad looking, and a bit threatening. It also has a "You Suck at Photoshop" look, I expect because it was thrown together by an intern at 4 in the morning. It doesn't show any connection between the two candidates. I expect that they can get someone that knows photoshop to make a better one later. The Obama-Biden one it very nicely done, the two look connected and on the same stage, plus comfortable and not forced. Very nice.
The main difference to me is that Obama and Biden look like they are standing next to each other -- McCain and Palin don't. They are just pasted one on top of the other. It seems to underscore the idea that they don't know each other -- that McCain had spoken with her for under a half an hour prior to her selection.
Looking at these from a perspective as a documentary film maker, these two pictures fall into two very different photo/film traditions. Obama and Biden are staring off into a vista that the viewer can turn to see t hemselves; the idea is to project a shared journey into some presumably hopeful future. The folks in the photo and the folks looking at the photo are supposed to be doing something together; the viewer is with Obama and Biden. The McCain/Palin image, of course is staring right out at the viewer: the two figures are trying to do something to the viewer more than with him or her: to persuade. It's more immediate than the Obama campaign's approach, which has power. But it is a pure pitch, and as such it runs the risk of falling into the trap of seeming more like a pitch for a product than an introduction to two very important people. More simply -- if you were promoting the NFL season, you'd put football heroes into the same poses that Obama and Biden use. If you are trying to promote your 6 o'clock news team, you'd end up with exactly the kind of image that you have with McCain and Palin. Which works? I'm biased to the Democratic ticket. But acknowledging that bias, it still seems to me that the Obama/Biden pic is the more ambitious, and I think that 's a good thing in Presidential symbolism.
What strikes me first:
Sigh. So many lefties with IQs higher than mine (as Clueless Joe Biden would say) yet it falls to me to point out what Marc (ditto on the IQ) is noodging for here. To wit: The Dem iconography has the Messiah in the front, Biden smaller and over his shoulder and kind of washed out. The Name Obama is big and the name Biden is smaller and the font is lighter. The effect is to foreground Obama and background Biden. In other words, this is all about OBAMA and Biden is along for the ride. The Republican ticket is a partnership -- equal and on the same level. McCain and Palin are presented as equal partners. Yes, that's right, lefties, the woman is equal to the old white guy. In other words, it's Obama and some white guy, versus the team of McCain and Palin. Biden, you see, is disposable. It's all about Obama. For us (Republicans) this is about a partnership between McCain and Palin. And the images show that.
The McCain-Palin image has a certain state fair quality to it, which I assume was intentional. The Obama one has his rising sun 'seal', and both he and Biden are looking away from the camera, which is an interesting choice. One comment on your previous post, since you didn't allow comments there, about the prospect of a hockey mom in the White House: A common Democratic criticism of Republican candidates has been that they are out of touch with the hockey moms/working folks; the Palin pick neutralizes that tack. So the new tack is that we need more elites in D.C.? I wonder how much traction they are going to get with that one.
Three comments: 1) The Obama Campaign has much better graphic designers in their employ. 2) Only Obama and Palin have the "it" factor that catches your eye and makes you want to know more. 3) GOP just can't help itself -- they play the patriotism card at the drop of a hat and in their sleep.
As a woman, all I can say is: Palin is so embarrassing, she makes me cringe.
McCain and Palin's "The Ticket For America" is a dead end journey as it projects a continuation of the Bush Administration. With this selection, McCain has eroded his own campaign strategy; 60+ days before the election and he wants to introduce a new strategy? His old strategy evolved over the past 19 months and failed to gain traction. This performance is unacceptable and the "Tickets" should be returned for a refund.
"For us (Republicans) this is about a partnership between McCain and Palin. And the images show that." I honestly don't know how anybody could write those sentences with a straight face, McCain having picked the woman after only 2 or 3 brief meetings. So absurd.
Yes, McCain/Palin do look like the Tampa/St. Petersburg evening news team, don't they?
My wife and I went next door to meet the folks who just moved in.... John McCain/Sarah Palin. is she his wife? So, errr John and Sarah, where did you two meet?
Neither is great. Obama's has a crowd behind him, playing into the idea that he's a pied piper of zombie followers. But he and Biden look relaxed and confident. The Republican ad looks like they're promoting an evening infotainment show like Current Affair. Her smile looks ridiculous. And what does "Ticket for America" mean?
@gamechanger quote: "The Dem iconography has the Messiah in the front, Biden smaller and over his shoulder and kind of washed out. The Name Obama is big and the name Biden is smaller and the font is lighter. The effect is to foreground Obama and background Biden. In other words, this is all about OBAMA and Biden is along for the ride. The Republican ticket is a partnership -- equal and on the same level. McCain and Palin are presented as equal partners. Yes, that's right, lefties, the woman is equal to the old white guy. In other words, it's Obama and some white guy, versus the team of McCain and Palin. Biden, you see, is disposable. It's all about Obama. For us (Republicans) this is about a partnership between McCain and Palin. And the images show that." i may be drinking the Obama kool aid but you've got to be smoking something. dems know women are equal to men but repubs and specifically McCain don't support equal pay for equal work. so to only be equal in symbolism is insulting and disingenuous. plus it's the VICEpresident. they're NOT equal. it IS about Obama vs McCain. and if you really like McCain do you consider Palin his equal? if so, you must not really think much of McCain. oy in terms of iconography, obama/biden appropriately symbolizes this difference in their position.
It's a good thing for Obama he has women and senior citizen demographics locked up ... otherwise, the kind of (knee-)jerk commentary we're hearing on lineup #2 might cost him some crucial votes.
O'Biden: Fired up and ready to go! McCain and Palin: 3rd wife (or yet, 4th daughter)
Can one not imagine McCain saying, 'Don't you worry your pretty little head about it!'?
they're not even trying to be subtle anymore, are they?
The grumpy and his nurse.
Adam S:
off topic but to reply to Ambinder in the post below--yes I would agree with Obama that the press are dummies. If they can be lead by the nose on this Palin pick into making it credible. yes you are definitely all dummies. She may be smart and capable but she is not ready for the VP nod. Period. This is not a movie guys. Wake up and do some reporting. Why not report on exactly how much vetting she had?
Young and old will enjoy a fine selection of pancakes at IHOP!
The T and A is very prominent in the McCain/Palin image.
What strikes me most about the McCain poster, aside from its in-your-face qualities, is the prominence of the word "America." Also, by not putting the names of the ticket on the poster, they bolster their theme of Country First. It's kind of kitschy but that's exactly the audience they're aiming to attract. The Obama-Biden poster seems like a pretty standard campaign advertisement in comparison--more slick, more focused on the "brand." For what they're aiming to accomplish--shoring up the base and attracting the NASCAR, working-class voter--McCain's is more effective, although McCain and Palin do kind of look like father and daughter.
Marc you get your panties in a wad over ONE EMAIL ON A WEEKEND from the Obama campaign? Come on, guy!
The McCain/Palin sign looks like something from The Onion, or a Christopher Guest movie. Actually, it looks like an advertisement for a local news team from a mid-sized city.
Are they already making a remake of "As Good As It Gets"?
Several items jump out: O/B uses a serif font with the well-thought-out color scheme and the size difference that goes nicely with the photo (pres & vice pres aren't on equal footing, so this imagery works with that). M/P uses a sans serif font that looks downright scrunched - with a poster that size, you'd think they wouldn't have to condense the text all to hell. O/B are looking to the right (gives us the sense they're looking forward...a good thing). M/P are looking right at us...more personal, but at the same time gives us the sense they're just thinking of the here-and-now (i.e., election) rather than what comes afterwards. All the colors in the O/B image are cohesive - patriotic, but not bland. The background on the M/P reminds one of the Big Green Wall that did McCain a lot of good on the night Obama clinched the nomination. The bunting not only clashes with the background, but looks like it could be part of a skirt that Palin is wearing (the reds look so much alike, they could be part of an outfit).
One of the two has a beautiful articulate woman. The other one does not. Anybody who looks further than that is (a) looking for slick packaging and marketing and (b) getting it from the campaign that broke its promise to abide by campaign finacing limits.
Even Biden's name is muted. The Obama-Biden photo has a big emphasis on Obama. The McCain-Palin one says we are a team.
I guess that Douthat has just come over his keyboard for Palin. Again. Never seen Rossy with such a hard-on. Beauty Queen who is full-on anti-abortion even in rape/incest. It'll two sets of underwear for him for a while. I'm not sure Ambinder's balls have any cum left for 'An Officer and a Gentleman'. Imagine how fat he would be without his thrice daily bashing while imagining himself as Deborah Kerr and McCain as Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity. Yep - this ticket has it all, appealing to sexually frustrated ugly bastard militant Catholics, to morbidly obese closet cases.
Team McCain is stealing Obamas design. Check out the semi-circle banner behind McCain and Palin. The Blue coloring forecast a horizon like Obama's O. I do like the background image of supporter behind Obama and Biden.
Well, you have Obama and Biden looking presidential, and below them it's the No Hair/Big Hair Ticket '08, now in photo-shopped color!
There's a new sitcom named Ticket for America? I haven't heard of it; which network is it on? HE is an ex-POW turned multimillionaire. He has power, wealth, and more houses than most people have ties. But can anything -- or anyone -- calm his savage temper, and teach him to love again? SHE's a young creationist who knows little about politics and is in trouble with the law. He'll take her in -- but can he teach her the ways of Washington before she embarrasses him at the big Telecom Ball?
Mark, I agree with the post above, your snide comment about the Obama campaign forwarding the poll information is very telling. You sound depressed. I'm sure McCain MEANT to email you the announcement of their pick before everyone else, but hey, he was busy making his decision. I'm sure another Sedona barbecue will soothe the hurt feelings of his 'base',oh sorry ... his press pool.
The Ticket for America looks like a two-headed turkey.
McCain looks relaxed and young. A good picture of him. The best I think I've seen. He looks calm and reassuring. nice lavender tie. Palin has somehow been photoshopped to be right beside him, but her shoulder is behind him, so it looks like there's something impossibly wrong with her anatomy. The red of Palin's dress clashes with the bunting, and makes the bunting look fuschia, instead of red. Palin looks like a caricature of a diner waitress. I've got old 70's women's magazines with pictures that look just like Sarah. Her hair is too high, and nobody but she wears it like that anymore. (Maybe she'll start a trend). Her eyes are too open. She looks (forgive me) like an eager squirrel. The light carves her face, and there is no light on McCain's face, so he looks, literally, like he is in the shadow. This is partly what makes him look more relaxed. He looks like he's got a hyper cheerleader next to him. She looks bright and appealing, but give her a week and she's going to look like some movie character (Fargo? I've never seen it, but this is what I'd imagine. A waitress from Fargo) There are too many colors - particularly too many reds - the bunting, her lipstick, her dress. The Title SHOUTS at you. In spite of this, my first overall impression of the MP ad was that it hit its target audience, which I am not.
Here's what the McCain/Palin poster does for me: This woman quite possibly may be the one called upon to stare down Putin/Mendeleev during a major crisis in Eastern Europe. Eek! How far the party has fallen in the national security arena since the days of Reagan/Bush Sr...
Speaking as someone both unemployed and also sexually ambiguous, I think the McCain/Palin combo works very well here. I want to fuck the Vice President, but not as much as I want the President to fuck me. I dont want any blacks or Catholics in my sexual projections, thank you very much.
I think the capped TICKET AMERICA says everything about what the McCain iconography is trying to say. Not subtle but in line with the "American president Americans have been waiting for" thing McCain started with. Its also sort of old school, remindes me of buttons from 50's campaigns.
As long as we're comparing, we might as well compare apples to apples. (What's that noise? Oh, it's those Republican trolls from up above stuffing their ridiculous criticism back into the box.)
Looking at McCain and Palin, I can't helping thinking that it looks like the box for a cheap porn movie c. 1980 - Republican MILF II or something similar. I keep expecting to see Ron Jeremy looming behind them.
It's Karen Walker with her father!
Someone up there had a good analysis of the Obama one. Messiah, all about him, and so forth. I like that, but a little too somber and intellectual for my tastes. But Boss Hog and Daisy Duke. That's funny.
Marc, Is it true you have three testicles?
McCain/Palin looks like a commercial for one of those cornball movies where the boss and secretary fall in love after 90 minutes of unconvincing plot twists.
"Grandpa Munster meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
Could it be that this is the poster for Palin's Purity Ball with her grandfather? Seriously, that's a terrible piece of graphic design - she looks like a chipmunk, and he looks like a moderately successful bar owner in New Jersey. Obama and Biden have the cool look down - kind of like two cops working together, scanning the area. Very nice, classic style and well integrated.
McCain/Palin look like they're riding a ferris wheel, they're at the top, and the cart that they're in begins to tip forward as the ferris wheel circles around...whee!!! That red, white and blue thing behind them? A rear airbag... Obama/Biden...stately...wise...good judgment...forward looking...good for the country!
Marc, regarding the Gallup numbers, it's possible that their internal numbers are showing the same reaction. Sully's analysis of the crosstabs over at the Dish also indicate that Palin is poison among undecideds.
What strikes me most is the difference between the smiles. Obama and Biden both look relaxed, happy, and confident; McCain looks a little stiff (although less so than usual) and Palin just looks like she's trying way too hard.
I agree that the Obama banner is more professional looking, but I think that has more to do with the skill of the respective graphic designers and the Obama campaign's emphasis on its website than with any conceptual difference. Conceptually, the thing that jumps out at me is that McCain and Palin are the same size, and side-by-side. That's unusual, no? I don't think any of this means anything, but it's just something that jumped out at me.
Palin is actually larger than she really is in that graphic. If that were Palin's actual size, she would have a head the size of a pumpkin.
They're both silly in their own way, but . . . The Obama image is in keeping with the campaign's very consistent branding/marketing/imaging. The McCain image is just out of nowhere. WHat happened to the McCain star/military iconography? It really is like a last-minute "how the hell do we put this together" sort of thing. I expect it to change soon, but McCain lost some branding/marketing with this abrupt change (and also the crazy pick, but I digress).
the Obama-Biden poster has a black guy and a white guy--relaxed, equal (sorry, I'm a child of the 60s; kids won't even notice) McCain-Palin reminds me of network news with an old guy and a sexy female co-anchor: again, sorry to say this, but my sense is that the girl doesn't get the job because she possesses gravitas
The Obama/Biden image has them posed to be on Mt. Rushmore (notice the angle the camera is shooting from). The McCain/Palin is, as others have said, is like an ad for the local 10pm news team. (And the font size is damn near screaming)
I mean, it's difficult to begin on why the McCain / Palin one looks as if it was created by somebody with no design sense, but let me suggest one thing to the graphics team: if you're going to show your candidates side by side, find a couple pictures in which they appear to be lit by the same light (preferably the front and above). Here, they're both lit from a side-front light which puts a side of their face in shadow. This two-face effect is further troubled by the fact that they're lit from opposite sides, so any illusion (it would have to be an illusion since they'd only met once before Friday's rally) that the two were photographed at the same time is lost, and the final image looks like a scrap book. Further messing with the illusion is the fold in the banner at center frame which seems to cut the space in half giving the whole thing a Haley Mills, split-screen feeling. In short, strikingly poor craftsmanship. If they really raised $7 million in the last day, they should consider hiring a new branding team.
"great new youtube video of team McPalin... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUVQDmLf7s" I couldn't bear to watch the live video because McCain's "discomfort" with Palin was so evident. Perhaps it's best if the campaign poster plays down their 'connection.'
Are they headlining one of those 'purity balls'? The image of those two is just a little creepy. Cindy is probably reviewing her pre-nup as we speak.
I am an Obama supporter 100%, but I do not agree with him making Biden's name and picture smaller than him. He appears to be saying that Biden is an individual he will throw around ideas with, but who does not represent his message and ideals 100%. I will never vote for McCain and think the Palin choice proves he does not put America First because he is putting a novice a heartbeat away from the presidency. However, he is putting him and Palin together as a ticket while Obama has Biden as a side kick. Ben, NYC
huge improvement for the Dems compared to 2004. remember Kerry/Edwards where Edwards was more prominent. And Bush/Cheney had a very streamlined and powerful lockup. the banner looks better for McCain. still, the worst thing for McCain is his faux-military logo with BLACK as the primary color.
Having grown up in the Los Angeles TV market, I'm looking at McCain/Palin and thinking Jerry Dunphy and one of the many half-his-age, knock out anchorwomen he was partnered with over the years.
This Fall On NBC, George Peppard and Fran Drescher star in the hilarious new sitcom, "Have You Seen My Nuclear Briefcase?"
This Fall On NBC, George Peppard and Fran Drescher star in the hilarious new sitcom, "Have You Seen My Nuclear Briefcase?" Sorry, but it's Brian Dennehy and Geena Davis.
"Sorry, but it's Brian Dennehy and Geena Davis." No way not Davis. Geena Davis is tall.
Channel 2 Action news. And now with John Sydney McCain for the weather, I am Sarah Palin, with your 3 o clock news. John, how is the weather in Beaverton-LAME. Marc if you get a chance please ask Palin how she feels about McCain not supporting equal pay for equal work because that would mean her V.P salary would be docked,right?
I think the key difference is that the McCain/Palin image is 2.5x larger than the other one. Otherwise, they look pretty much the same to me.
Last time McCain was in trouble he married Cindy.
Geez, Some nasty lefties on here. I'm sure you'll win middle America over with your snark. No wonder Ambinder shut off comments. As for the fake Fred above, what can I say except that I'm flattered by your obsession with me. Sorry the feeling isn't mutual.
Prediction: By Monday, this blog will be renamed "The Reported Blog on Politics FOR AMERICA."
"I couldn't bear to watch the live video because McCain's "discomfort" with Palin was so evident" He might have been uncomfortable because she was heaping praise on him at the time. Dunno about you, but I get pretty antsy when people compliment me in front of others...not that it happens often. *cough*
I'm not sure that America can afford a ticket from the Republicans. Haven't we paid enough?
The McCain one bothers me because of red/white/blue half circular object. I do not care for those. Either use a flag or nothing. I think not using the names is a mistake. A close up is not a good view for McCain. The Obama one is easier on the eye and used the names. It is easier to look at than the closeup view of McCain.
John mcCain is Ticket, Sarah Palin is America. Together they're out to shake up this sleepy old world. The laughs start January 2, on NBC.
What occurs to me is: the Obama-Biden piece is going to get changed now. It was one of the first things to emerge after Biden was announced after all. Now it's bread-and-butter time, not fog and mirrors time. As for McCain-Palin, equal partners... remember McCain and his mysterious pledge? I'm thinking he's going to promise to reverse the ticket in four years, after giving the new face of the Republican party a few years to study at his knee. After all, Sarah is exactly the candidate everyone was looking for, back when the Republican primaries started, and it became clear that what they really wanted was McCain's body with Romney's head and Huckabee's heart.
Glad to see you haven't changed your ways one bit, Ambinder, you smarmy, timidous little shit.
The McCain/Palin ad reminds me of local newscaster ads that run on the sides of buses.
If McCain-Palin is the Ticket for America, then obviously Obama-Biden is the ticket against America. That continues the theme of Country First (so Obama puts country second) and the American President America Has Been Waiting For (so Obama is the guy with the weird background and funny name that real Americans want no part of).
You could put a wallaby in front of bunting and republicans would vote for it.
I bet that Palin only had a very few existing formal portrait photos to use for this rush job, and that the design of the McCain/Palin banner was based primarily on how to best use the available shots. This is her official Gov. of Alaska shot, probably the only one the campaign could snag anonymously before the announcement. The difference in lighting on McCain and Palin alone makes this banner really amateurish. I further bet we see a new treatment at the convention next week, after the McCain campaign has had a day to shoot both candidates together.
I'd love to give you an insightful comment, but the picture of McCain and Palin just reminds me of how appalled I am by McCain's so-called judgment. Country First MA. I continue to hold out the hope that the electorate is not as stupid as McCain is counting on.
mccain has a stupid grin on his face as if to say "look who I was able to snag" and palin is just portrayed as eye candy.
Obama and Biden have unforced, natural smiles and are looking out of frame... possibly to the future? Their photos were taken in the same photo shoot and look tonally balanced. The graphic incorporates a mass of people in the background... supporters buoying the candidates forward. Recognizable snatches of the iconic campaign slogan are visible to keep the graphic on message. This is a clean, polished graphic in keeping with the rock solid branding they have managed throughout the campaign. The McCain/Palin graphic features two headshots cobbled together. There was no time to coordinate a shoot, as they've only met once before the announcement. Lighting is especially disconcerting. She has a much warmer light for her shoot. His face tends into the blue ranges indicating a "cooler" light kit. Her head seems noticeably larger than his, but this will be fixed. His expression feels a little forced. She looks great. It's an odd choice to throw the clip art bunting behind them. Maybe to differentiate from the Obamaesque "sunbeams over blue backdrop" in the far background? The lack of names seems weird, but they know her name wastes space better spent on "America." That said, "Ticket" is an old-timey political term. "Team" or "Choice" would have been better.
Overhead Ambinder at a bar after DNC night 2 "I've only got a small cock, but I've got 22 stone to bang home with"
Overhead Ambinder at a bar after DNC night 2 "I've only got a small cock, but I've got 22 stone to bang it home with"
"The Ticket for America" is cheesy, but no more cheesy than "Obama for America." This isn't an accurate comparison. The Obama image is from the home page banner, while the McCain image is the temporary main image on the home page. The correct comparison is the two banners, which are much more similar. The Obama banner is more purely aesthetically pleasing. I would choose it over McCain's for inclusion in a coffee table book of modern design or for discussion in an intro design class as a more interesting specimen. McCain's is still servicable. But this is an election, not a design competition. As political messages, the two images attempt to do different things. They succeed at that. Obama has the Big O over "Obama" in white, and Biden in a smaller font that not only has a color closer to the background color, but also is obscured a bit by the airbrusing. The font is a refined, serif font. Obama is clearly closer to the viewer than Biden, and his shoulders are nearly parallel to the viewing plane with his head turned just a bit; Biden is at about a 60 degree angle. They are looking up and away at something that depends on your point of view: a new hope, adoring crowds, Obama's next job, etc. The airbrushed haze makes the image ethereal, or ephemeral. Obama is saying, "I, and maybe Polonius here, will build America into a shining city on a hill." McCain doesn't need no cute "M" logo. "McCain" is above "Palin" to show the ranking, but they are both distinctive white and the same size. The font is bold, sans serif, but not an exterme geometric font. It is trying to be assertive but not aggresive. The McCain star remains, and the yellow/blue complement is traditional. Both McCain and Palin are looking straight at the viewer, with Palin behind McCain but both about the same distance away. (They should have her do a reshoot with a blue or gray suit.) They're a team. Zoom out a little and you'll see Tim on sports and Mitt on weather. A little further, and maybe you'll see the studio crew; you know, regular folks. The images are distinct. There is a little blending at the edge below "Palin" but no haze everywhere. John and Sarah will fight for YOU, and Uncle John wants YOU to prevent forest fires at 11. The choice the two images present is a vote for an idea, or a vote for a man and a woman. That seems to be what both designers intended, so they did their jobs.
Hey trolls, you do realize the Atlantic is a center-right publication, don't you? So why on earth would you expect Marc Ambinder to be balanced in his reporting here? That's not his job, nor should it be.
Biden is definitely, and pointedly, a secondary and subordinate figure in the Obama/Biden graphic. McCain and Palin are presented as equals -- a united front. For political purposes, I think the second, more egalitarian message is probably the better, more useful, one Hokey is not necessarily a disadvantage in political imagery. And sophistication is not necessarily an advantage. It all depends on your audience. My first job as an advertising copywriter was with an in-house agency for a direct mail and retail women's clothing business. I did the newspaper ads (copy and layout) for the retail stores and small space direct mail ads in major magazines. The long standing, extremely hokey (what is called in the ad biz "horsey"), graphic elements my boss insisted had to be in all our retail ads -- ridiculous borders, gigantic star bursts, etc., etc., that made even the most expensive top of the line brand items look cheap, embarassed me. So when my boss left town for a month long buying trip, I cleaned up our act -- clever headlines, simpler, cleaner, more sophisticated layouts, etc. I'll never forget the first Monday after she returned to town. She came straight to my desk and threw Sunday's ad in front of me. "Darling," she said, "you don't understand. I WANT schlock." Her point of course was that schlock was her marketing strategy, her brand look -- it made the store look anything but sophisticated while it made the customer, who was buying upscale merchandise at full price despite advertising that screamed "sale" and "cheap" feel like they were getting away with a bargain. When I went looking for an agency job, the only ads I put in my portfolio from that first job were the more sophisticated ads I did while the boss was out of town. They had the right look for the audience I was then trying to sell. But my boss was right, schlock was the better strategy for HER audience.
For those of you had had only heard of Sarah Palin before yesterday, this is the same stock headshot she has used since running for governor of Alaska. It is photoshopped next to a similarly overused headshot of McCain. That this is less obvious in the (also very likely photoshopped) OBiden picture should tell you what you already know about the Obama campaign's superior graphic design capabilities. But there's another angle here. Biden is supporting Obama, but they stand apart, indicating independence of posture and symbiotic confidence. McCain and Palin, being parallel, can convey either of two things (1) a relationship among equals or (2) a relationship where the fortunes of one are inextricably linked to the fortunes of another. Without Palin, McCain is the standard bearer for a party who's base would otherwise be lukeworm about him. Without McCain, Sarah Palin is . . . well, Sarah Palin. And while Marc does tend to get a little overexcitable about esoteric process issues (see his post about Democrats "thinking we're dummies"), I wouldn't necessarily call him a center right shill.
Ironically, the Obama-Biden poster makes the experienced Biden look (convincingly) like Obama's sidekick, whereas the McCain-Palin poster frames the inexperienced Palin as McCain's equal partner. It demonstrates the relative levels of confidence of both candidates, in both their picks and their campaign's direction.
McCain/Palin look like the 5pm Newcast Team on any local affiliate... Obama/Biden look a bit more polished with Obama clearly taking the center role.
When I was in high school, I used to work in an office where part of my duties involved graphic design-type work that I did on Microsoft Paint. The stuff I did looked like the McCain-Palin one. I made them that way because I hated my boss and my job. I would guess that a lot of graphic designers for local news agencies approach their jobs in a similar way. If Dunder-Mifflin had been asked to design the logos, I would have guessed Michael would have done the McCain one, Pam would have done the Obama one and Dwight would still be rambling on about Ron Paul. The McCain one looks like the news station thought they needed a younger look, so they stuck the cranky old guy with a younger co-anchor and he's angry about having to co-host what was once just his show but can't be too obvious about being pissed while the new female co-anchor is worried the old guy is going to try hitting on her with falafel. It reminds me of the posters for "Good Luck Chuck" in that the man and woman are obviously photoshopped together.
She looks like his secretary.
McCain/Palin looks like two trophy heads mounted on a wall.
is this really a question for the good of the country i hope she withdraws and he uses the moment to appoint romney or snowe or anyone else who, god forbid, he wins could reasonably be expected to serve the two functions of the veep: 1. president of the senate 2. successor in time of crisis
"Looking at McCain and Palin, I can't helping thinking that it looks like the box for a cheap porn movie c. 1980 - Republican MILF II or something similar. I keep expecting to see Ron Jeremy looming behind them." Good one Jasmine! My wife has said how Palin looks like a porn star but only when she stands next to McCain.
The McPain ad looks junky - it prolly cost a fortune too. Remember the story of Fred Thompson and his bimbo, oops, staffer, now wife. She wanted to spends tons of money on some junky website made by political friends. And here you have the McPain ad that prolly cost a fortune made by some political hack. The republicans have become a joke on one hand and a real danger on the other. Many people speak of banana republic. What would the United States look like - what would the business, political and economic tableau look like? Well, you can certainly make a solid case with recent events, with the decade, and with this set of crony trash running the government. And well, you know what? When I heard the Cindy McPain quote that she was offended, I remember that imams were offended at Ezra Levant. Well, Ezra had one heck of good response. We should offend those that will not take ownership for their failures and those that want to trash our financial and real economy and our freedom. Does anyone really believe that McPain has an appropriate frame of ethics? Or rather does anyone serious want to defend the McPain frame of ethics? The Palin choice! Keating alone should have given everyone enough information and background on this power mongering, crook. All is well, though, McPain is a POW and Cindy is offended.
What do people think about Jed Report's claim that the McCain campaign's use of this Palin picture violated Alaska's ethics law?
Some fun comments here. Deborah at 8:45 pm made me laugh especially hard. I do think the McCain-Palin one looks like an ad for Omaha's Most Trusted News Team, tonight at 10.
"At first glance McCain's is a bit ungainly, with bunting that doesn't exactly scream "vigor" or 20th century for that matter."
Something about the picture made me think McCain-Palin were running on a promise to increase the number of America's battleships to guard against the threat of the Kasier's Germany.
Obama/Biden - Respectable, Typical. Snore. McCain-Palin - All I can think of is the butchering of the Tom T. Hall song/ beer commerical... "And TWINS!!!"
The McCain/Palin grahpic reminds me of a new newscast team that will be axed due to horrendous ratings in the course of 2 short months or less.
Is it me, or does Johnny Mac look like he just let one, and Miss Congeniality looks like she's trying not to look like the smell is killing her? It's pretty impressive that they could achieve that result, given that they were shot separately and photoshopped together. And - I think she might be a succubus; every time I see her next to him his face seems to be melting just a little bit more. He's aged considerably since Friday morning. He'll probably be a mummified husk by Election Day. Oh - and what's with that bunting? If I'm not mistaken, that's a piece of clip art from Microsoft Works, circa 1993. Makes sense, tho, since McCain's still trying to master Windows 3.1.
Regis and Kelly
The M/P picture makes me think of some evangelicals who've just shown up on my doorstep and are just BURSTING to give me the GOOD NEWS! First instinct--close the door.
Make sure to put AMERICA in huge, capital letters. This is the AMERICAN ticket, as opposed to our opponent, who is...what? Let the stealth smear campaigns fill the gap.
Change (looking from left to right = looking ahead) Americana - Very Reagan-like
Obama-Biden: Young black dude, with a white crusty old dude behind the scenes, pulling the strings?
wow, look at that lady in the red blouse! Who is she? Weird smile, but right there next to that old guy.
Marc has made the ticket he is trying to shill for really, really big, and the one that he actually admires, really, really small. ;)
Oh, and that bunting makes me think of the tail part of a paper and tissue Thanksgiving turkey centerpiece.
Krusty and the bear hunter. I thought that went straight to video.
her hair is bananas.
Thanks to Tom Levenson for the explanation of what is really going on. gamechanger's point that the McCain image shows that the McCain campaign is a genuine partnership just reinforces for me how cynical the whole exercise is. There is no doubt that McCain wants some of the Palin magic for his ailing brand and to push Pail into the spotlight, but McCain has chosen Palin precisely because if he can't get his buddy Liberman the last thing he wants is any meaningful partnership. Well done to Marc. One of the best threads I have seen in a long time.
The difference in aesthetic quality is pretty stark. However, as a designer, what bothers me is that the McCain design comes across as simply reactive. In parallel with a campaign that is primarily negative rhetorically, McCain's designers appear unable to commit to an original, proprietary visual case for their candidate. What happened to their previous green scheme (hideous, but it left a lot of room for an upgrade...)? Or the black scheme (I thought this direction could have evolved into something strong and elegant. And, while we're in parentheses, why did they avoid the traditional red? Every visual cue helps...)? The McCain strategists really seem to flail around with their branding. Are they equally uncertain from a tactical point of view? The only new piece of information this McCain poster provides is its reminder to voters that their candidate is American. Ugh. A design bait-and-switch from the time-honored campaign tradition of Not That Guy. Cheap.
Suddenly, as if overnight, the Obama-Biden ticket has become the safe choice in a dangerous world, and the McCain-Palin ticket looks risky.
Compare the two? One is the ad for an upscale store, the other is the ad for the local store whose marketing department decided that they needed an ad that looked like the bigger store's ad, so they aped all the big elements in terms of colors and elements but missed all the compositional subtleties that make the original ad better, more professional, and more appealing.
i honestly thought that obama/biden's layout looks more polished, professional and just pleasant to look at. the mccain/palin's layout looks pretty average, novice and is just, not pleasant to the eye. as though it's haplessly designed at the last minute. honestly, the professional level of the two is like, comparing a Saatchi & Saatchi design with some college-level design project
As a Democrat, this is how I read these two images: Obama/Biden is about Obama. The larger, brighter type of Obama's name puts Biden firmly in his place as a subordinate, as does the smaller image of Biden behind Obama. The Obama logo itself reflects the campaign's emphasis on Obama, not on America. The Democratic ticket, this campaign cycle, is about Obama and his unique personhood. That's reflected in the image. McCain/Palin puts America solidly in our consciousness and puts the running mates on an equal footing, side by side. The McCain/Palin logo reflects that (but isn't shown here); the names are equal in size and intensity. The Obama logo and appeal is certainly more sophisticated and McCain's is more old-fashioned, more directly appealing to patriotism. But it's also bold in the sense that it puts a woman front and center.
On the first glance the McCain/Palin picture dosen't seem that bad, so names on it could be useful.
McCain and Biden are looking to our right, seeing the future out there. There's interest built in to the selected shot. Palin and her grandfather...er...running mate are staring out front at us ;- she's saying "gee, isn't this NEAT!" and he's saying "I hope I don't get my ass kicked TOO badly in November..."
For us (Republicans) this is about a partnership between McCain and Palin. And the images show that. i think that's right. the M/P drives home the point that mcCain could go at any moment, so by supporting the ticket, you're essentially voting for sarah palin for president.
I'm reminded of a brief essay by Roland Barthes, titled "Photography and Electoral Appeal" (collected in his "Mythologies"). An excerpt: The conventions of photography [...] are themselves replete with signs. A full-face photograph underlines the realistic outlook of the candidate, especially if he is provided with scrutinizing glasses (my emphasis). Everything there expresses penetration, gravity, frankness: the future deputy is looking squarely at the enemy, the obstacle, the 'problem'. A three-quarter face photograph, which is more common, suggests the tyranny of an ideal: the gaze is lost nobly in the future, it does not confront, it soars, and fertilizes some other domain, which is chastely left undefined. Almost all three-quarter face photos are ascensional, the face is lifted towards a supernatural light which draws it up and elevates it to the realm of higher humanity; the candidate reaches the Olympus of elevated feelings, where all political contradictions are solved[.] Prescient.
Where i said "my emphasis," i'd meant the preceding "especially...glasses" to be italicized. Darn.
The first thing that really strikes me is how much the McCain's team tries to copy what Obama has been doing but make it much more in your face and bold. See the color scheme is exactly the same. Its also damn clear that Palin is there to look younger.
Obama and Biden look into the future. McCain and Palin are trying to hypnotize you into voting for them.
The real difference is this: with the Obama graphic, Obama is clearly in the foreground, as one would expect...he is at the top of the ticket. With the McCain graphic, Palin has equal billing with McCain...it's apparent that McCain is trying to ride Palin's coattails... Which suggests how weak a candidate McCain really is...if the GOP wants to nominate Palin for President they should just go ahead and do so...of course, if they did she'd lose in a landslide...which is one more reason why the McCain ticket needs to lose in a landslide.
I just love that subliminal message in the
The resolution of McCain's face seems to be different than that of Palin's. Looks like she was photosopped in as a last minute replacement.
The perspective of the Obama-Biden photos invites the viewer to mentally fill in the rest of Obama's and Biden's bodies -- to imagine them as two men of full stature, leading the country into the future. The McCain-Palin photos, on the other hand, were -- along with the bunting -- cut out of old magazines with snub-nosed scissors, and Elmer-glued onto a piece of posterboard. Looks like a Vacation Bible School project (no doubt, that's Palin's influence). Very two-dimensional. The composition of the Obama-Biden photo has Obama centered and larger, leaving no doubt that it's Obama who's in charge, Obama who's the President. In the McCain-Palin photo, all the signals are in conflict. Yes, McCain is slightly in front. But he might as well not be in the picture, so irresistably do one's eyes track to Palin's red-frocked, bee-hived, toothy, wide-eyed neon sign of a face. (McCain's decidedly unpresidential shirt-and-tie combo doesn't help.) Who's in charge? Anybody? Indeed, contrasted with both Obama AND Biden -- their natural, open, confident, broad-shouldered smiles putting the world at their feet -- McCain, with his forced, nervous, grudging clinch of teeth and his slightly hunched bodily demeanor, runs a two-phone-line real estate agency in Omaha. Business is a little slow, so he's just hired Palin. He figures that that perpetually chipper, aging cheerleader thing she's got going on will be just the "ticket" to help him sell all those ranch houses he's had listed for a year-plus now. On typography and color: Although McCain uses a sans-serif font, Obama's more loosely kerned serif font is altogether more open, crisp, and modern. And the blue of McCain's background is just wrong. One more thing: If Sarah Palin seriously is going to run for VP, Cindy McCain's going to have to buy her a vice-presidential tailor. That red jacket she's wearing looks off-the-rack from J.C. Penney.
Both Obama and Biden are looking to the left. Heh.
Lifetime presents Wilford Brimley and Tina Fey in American Ticket (formerly Mommy is Veep?) through November 4th. This summer fill-in is not expected to be renewed for the fall lineup.
Wow. They really lightened McCain's teeth, didn't they? They look lighter than hers! Nice!
That fade-out effect on Biden makes him look almost kind of ghostly -- like he's fading from the political scene rather than stepping up into the Vice Presidency.
The most unexpected implication now, for the voter in November, is that one can no longer claim to be serious about geo-political issues and still pull the lever for McCain-Palin. The foreign policy voter now has to vote for Obama-Biden. Moreover, the Palin pick highlights Biden's strengths, and highlights the Biden pick. John McCain has ceded all his strengths with this pick, and did so clearly on a faulty analysis that he couldn't win. Obama fatigue and buyer's remorse on the DEM side was finally settling in. Sure, Obama still had the edge. But nothing close to the lead that warranted the short-circuited brain attack that led to the Palin pick. This is truly bizarre, and once the media and the voters work through the fact that Ms Palin is a credible politician, strong speaker, and all round nice person, they can then move swiftly to the logical conclusion: she's the most underqualified pick for VP probably ever. All I can say is: I'm glad I was alive to see it!
The foreign policy experience argument ought not to be overblown.
Shorter McCain/Palin... "Boy, have we got a great deal on a pre-owned Oldsmobile for you!"
McCain looks like he just pooped a little. She seems pleased.
Dems think foreign policy experience is so important that they have a freshman Senator at the top of the ticket. Please.
To get cinematic ... The Obama-Biden one looks like a cinema ad for a comedic cop film like "Starsky & Hutch", while the McCain-Palin one looks like an ad for an film about a grumpy but lovable father and his ditzy daughter. Its not which film you would go to see, but which team would you allow to lead the country.
To get cinematic ... The Obama-Biden one looks like a cinema ad for a comedic cop film like "Starsky & Hutch", while the McCain-Palin one looks like an ad for an film about a grumpy but lovable father and his ditzy daughter. Its not which film you would go to see, but which team would you allow to lead the country?
Two thoughts: They both have an older and a younger candidate. Dad and the protege, if you will. But the GOP ticket has Dad in the lead and the protege next to him (though his shoulder is in front of hers), while the Dem ticket has the protege in the lead and Dad looking over his shoulder. I'm not sure it helps either campaign to do it this way: if I was the Dems, I would want Biden next to Obama to show that the experience will be right there up front. And if I was the GOP, I would want Palin further behind McCain, to show the experience up front. But I think this is worse for the Dems, because the last thing you want is the guy/gal who has not been tested up front while the one who has been tested is in back. Second, I think the Obama logo looks better than the thing behind McCain and Palin, which looks like a tablecloth hanging down from a table at a wedding buffet. Also, I don't think the slogan helps (The Ticket for America). They need a better slogan or just get rid of it entirely. It sounds like something Jon Lovitz would come up with.
It's Mr Roper and Suzanne Summers.
There were two thoughts I had... 1) It looks like something Comedy Central would have done. 2) That picture of Sarah Palin makes me think of a grown-up version of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) from the 1960(?)s TV show Batman
It is inconceivable to have even the potential of a creationist in the White House. It is no different than a Druid becoming Prime Minister of England.
"The Ticket" looks like the ad for this year's Take Your Daughter to Work Day
First thought - McCain looks really young for his age. The man is 71 years old - it's amazing, really. Second thought - Biden looks great, too. These photo people really work on the old guys. Final thought - Damn, the sexist commentary of Obama supporters will definitely not help the Dem's chances. The whole "It's McSugarDaddy and his ditzy porn-star/secretary"-meme is going to drive female voters nuts. As much as I think Obama would be a transformational president, I also think the rampant sexism of Obama supporters is going to be a real anchor on his chances in the general.
Easy to get sarcastic, and I don't have much to say about the Dem ad, but the McCain-Palin one is a clear play for burger eaters, hunters, fishermen, Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, and others who would rather the whole world go up in a mushroom cloud than vote for someone who 'thinks he's better than me'. It's an extremely effective ad, in my opinion, precisely because it looks unprofessional and unphotoshopped. This is much like the local ads rural Americans see every day, and there are a lot of people who prefer things that way. What we are witnessing with the whole Palin pick is an attempt to recreate the 'well, Bush is probably an idiot, but I'm voting for him because it seems like he'd be more fun to drink a beer with' phenomenon.
The Obama-Biden campaign image clearly places the emphasis on Obama (lefthand side = "1st billing" and the perspective has Obama appearing to be in front of Biden) while the McCain-Palin image is somewhat more ambiguous (McCain is also on the lefthand side, but McCain and Palin appear to be more equally positioned side-by-side and Palin's face is much better lit than McCain's).
The Obama-Biden one it very nicely done, the two look connected and on the same stage, plus comfortable and not forced.
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There's a new sitcom named Ticket for America? I haven't heard of it; which network is it on?
Posted by KathyF | August 30, 2008 6:58 PM