Is The Obama “Presidential Seal” Illegal?
June 21st, 2008 at 09:06am Matt Margolis
18 USC Sec. 713 …
(a) Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great seal of the United States, or of the seals of the President or the Vice President of the United States, or the seal of the United States Senate, or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress, or any facsimile thereof, in, or in connection with, any advertisement, poster, circular, book, pamphlet, or other publication, public meeting, play, motion picture, telecast, or other production, or on any building, monument, or stationery, for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.(b) Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
HAT TIP: The Weekly Standard.
I’m not expecting much to come from this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama gradually stops using his presumptuous seal if enough people raise questions.
In the meantime we’ll continue to make fun of Obama’s audacity.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
42 Comments
1. Blogs For Victory »&hellip | June 21st, 2008 at 9:08 am
[...] UPDATE: Is Obama’s “presidential seal” illegal? [...]
2. Danish Artist | June 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Why do you insist on smearing this man?
The political attacks?
Perhaps, with his symbolism over substance campaign, he brings it upon himself.
This is not surprising. Since when are liberals interested in the rule of law when it applies to themselves?
okay you useful idiots, lemmings and talking point parrots, come to his rescue with the endless excuses, “no big deals”, deflections, whining and what-not.
3. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | June 21st, 2008 at 10:05 am
I know you are not a lawyer Mr Margolis but can you read? This is about the copyright of the Great Seal of the President of the United States. Using the seal and the words “President of the United States” would be illegal. Using an eagle with arrows and olive twigs is not illegal in anny manner because this is an original work of art. But I did not have to tell you that because you knew this already.
What this does is put every one of you on what David Axelrod has planned out as a “pointing and gaping trip” the political version of a “snipe hunt.” They’ll float something relatively harmless out making you and most of the right wing punditsphere point and gape while millions of dollars more pour into the campaign from people who actually listen to the candidate.
Axelrod is having bags of feather dropped on his candidate compared to the pianos that will fall on McCain in the coming months.
4. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
Cavalor’s absolutely right about this. Axelrod is very, very sharp. Do you realize how difficult it was to beat Clinton for the nomination? He just SAW things developing that nobody else did and took advantage of them.
She was 20 points ahead of Obama in December, but Obama had laid the whole non-partisan thing on so thick that the media laid into her, giving her one fire after another to put out, while Axelrod and Obama studied the primary and caucus rule books in every state and realized that if they could get down to two, there was no way she could lay down gin on Super Tuesday.
Thus, they scooped a lot of caucus delegates let everything else split 50/50. And Clinton of course made the mistake of leaving Mark Penn not only “in charge” but also let him “moonlight” on his day job. You think Axelrod didn’t notice that and wasn’t able to take advantate of it?
It’s the same here. Obama’s got kind of a media headwind now because since March he’s taken a series of mainstream Democratic postitions and has been very quick to defend himself when McCain attacks. So, they do exactly what Cavalor says. They pick out little things to needle the opposition which they know have no meaning, so they can go about solidifying their base and using Dean’s 50-state strategy.
Axelrod and Obama have been cleverer still. While McCain takes his economic advice from Carlton Fiorina and Tom Coburn (funniest thing I’ve ever heard), Obama has added as unofficial economic advisors George Soros, Paul Voelcker and Warren Buffett. They already had Alan Blinder and (rare non-partisan Bush appointee) Gregory Mankiw putting the whole economic team together.
5. neocon | June 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
Vicodin,
Playing the race card didn’t hurt either for Obama. That 94% of the black vote certainly helps. I wonder if they are all issue oriented voters? Hmmmm……
Secondly, Soros has bought and paid for Obama and will expect him to toe the socialist agenda. Obama is merely the sock puppet of those wealthy, one world, financiers who have zero empathy and zero in common with average Americans.
That will kill Obama in the general.
Say hello to President McCain
peace, neocon
6. Jeremiah | June 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
making you and most of the right wing punditsphere point and gape
Point and gape?
I already knew he was a socialist. So, no surprise there. His agenda is as deadly for America as the ideology of Middle East terrorists.
while millions of dollars more pour into the campaign from people who actually listen to the candidate.
Yep. Make no bones about it, listen they will and fooled they will be…unless, of course, people with a sense of ‘Right’ and ‘Wrong’ have anything to do about it within in the larger scope. Good people, caring people will leave no stone un-turned.
In the event that the majority should become captivated by Obama’s “hope” rhetoric then that would be a good opportunity for a lesson learned.
Do we have enough smart people to realize this?
I’m not a betting man; November will prove that.
7. Want.War?ENLIST! | June 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
These marshmallows being thrown at Obama will do little. America is fed up with these tactics.
Change, is on the way.
8. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Neo: Of course, Obama played the race card in the week ahead of the South Carolina primary. He was in 3rd place with Black voters behind Clinton and Edwards at the time; he was playing to win. After losing NH, how was he going to have a chance at the nomination if he didn’t cinch up the Black vote in SC? Politics is rough. You have to expect the worst from your opponent. I have no doubt this one will get dirty. I hope it does. Makes it more fun.
Look, Obama wasn’t my first choice. In order, I liked: Kucinich, Clinton, Paul, Edwards, Romney, Richardson, Obama. But I like what Obama’s shown me since March and I much prefer him to McCain. Personal opinion.
George Soros is not a socialist. I don’t know too many socialists whose work it is to make money attacking f/x derivatives! He is a political liberal in the American sense of the word.
Warren Buffett is a Democrat, but he’s a fiscal conservative. Paul Voelcker is a Republican and a fiscal and monetary conservative.
I think all of Soros, Buffett and Voelcker are financial and economic experts who do have a social conscience. Let’s say that none have ever resorted to the kinds of tactics Carlton Fiorina employed against average-working-Americans when she was CEO of Hewlett-Packard, to be sure.
9. LiberalNitemare | June 21st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Interesting how a flag pin on your lapel is a sign of false patriotism, but mocking the presidential seal is just fine.
10. jayhay | June 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
i sent you that part of the code when you first dumped the blogs 4 bush title and added the presidential seal to this site yourself…
11. JPL | June 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Cavalor — What a gaseous phony you are. Anyone familiar with U.S. copyright law (which you clearly are not) knows that this matter has absoutely nothing to do with copyright. The Seal of the President of the United States, like ALL works of the U.S. government, isn’t entitled to copyright protection:
Even if the Seal had once been copyright-protected, which it wasn’t, that copyright would have long expired, since the original Seal was first published 128 years ago — much longer than the U.S. has ever recognized a term of copyright.
What this matter IS about, instead of copyright, is Obama’s utter arrogance and egoism in appropriating the official Presidential Seal for his presidential campaign, and his cheeky contempt for the federal law that makes this a crime.
Insulting Matt Margolis in this instance doesn’t make you look smart. It makes you look like a fool.
12. Hking | June 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
No crime…you guys are grasping at straws….
13. JPL | June 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Crime or not, you’re missing the point:
“It’s the EGOMANIA, stupid.”
14. JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Deleted - off topic.
15. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
They’re seeing the electoral map and getting freaked out is all and they’re falling right into all of David Axelrod’s traps!
The longer it’s about patriotism and flag pins and illegal presidential seals and Barack “HUSSEIN” Obama, the longer Obama has to make his case on the issues, which I believe he’s done rather well so far.
“Hussein” doesn’t mean Hitler for crying out loud! It’s a very common name. The ruling family of staunch US ally Jordan has the same name. It’s like “William” or something. Republicans have droned on and on and on about that name so much that whatever carry it might have had is gone. It’s yesterday’s news.
16. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | June 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
12. JPL | June 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The explicit requirement of permission to use the Presidential Seal is tantamount to a copyright since it is a protected emblem and not a “work.” Mr Noonan must have secured Presidential authority to utilize it on his blog.
The Margolis should have seaid that JPL instead of making this a legal or illegal matter which he knows it is not as well as you and I do.
But just shouting at your “base” that you cannot trust this Obama because he is a black man is wearing thin on the electorate these days innit?
17. FmrMarine | June 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
cee
>>>But just shouting at your “base” that you cannot trust this Obama because he is a black man is wearing thin on the electorate these days innit?…
But just shouting at your “base” that you cannot trust this Obama because he is a MULATTO is wearing thin on the electorate these days.
There fixed
18. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | June 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
18. FmrMarine | June 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
You say MULATTO I say Mr President.
19. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Cavalor: I have to say this is the first time I’ve seen the word MULATTO in print in I don’t know how long! I never saw or heard it through long campaign for the Democratic nomination to be sure. I really don’t remember.
But, FmrMarine, by writing MULATTO you are calling attention to the surprising fact of Senator Obama’s mixed ethnicity. He had a Black African father and a White American mother? You gotta be kidding me? For real? Why didn’t someone TELL me?
Racism turns my stomach, FmrMarine, but at least tell me your last name is Halsey or Mountain or Roosevelt or Mitchell or Quimby or Robertson or Deane or Freelinghuysen or Gentry or Hancock or Bryans, ok? And tell me you’re from one of America’s first families. Otherwise, you’re no less a mutt than Obama or me.
20. JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Vicodin and Cocoa,
An interesting handle. Is that the recipe for Rush Limbaughs favorite beverage? All you rushies out there now don’t get offended.
Thank you for keeping my post alive. You are indeed 100% correct. The longer this is about Karl Rove issues which only have meaning when the repubs have an economy to work with.
They don’t, they know it, and they’re scared. That’s why the editors had to delete me.
Impeach or persecute Obama over this seal business. Give it to Ken Starr, and he’ll spend 60 million trying to connect it to the Clintons.
Losers.
21. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
JAT: Thanks. Handle comes from playing cash poker in clubs and casinos. That was my poker “food” — vikeys and hot cocoa.
Rush Limbaugh is an Oxy man and I think he drinks whiskey and smokes cigars. I’ll have a cocktail with dinner but I’m not much of a drinker and I don’t smoke. Not that Oxy’s bad. Crush it up with some flake and you’ve got a treat! I don’t blame the Pigman at all for that. He’s got good taste in opiates!
I didn’t notice your comment being deleted. Mark and I disagree on 99% of things but he’s pretty good about a no censorship policy. The only comment that was scrubbed today that I noticed was a really vile racist screed. Your comment was pretty measured and polite.
I think the Republicans won the last two presidential elections because they’re excellent at these personal side shows and tying them to morality and patriotism and themes, whereas Democratic candidates have tried to outthink Bush and it didn’t play.
Axelrod is the difference here. He really is amazingly adaptable as a campaign manager. What he’s doing now is pure genius. Instead of keeping Obama in mothballs as he had for most of the fall and winter, he’s got him defending and attacking and baiting these little hooks for the Republican attack, unlike Brazile and Shrum who were terrified of offending Republicans.
22. neocon | June 21st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Terrified of offending Republicans??? - Vicodin
That’s rich Mr. V. How exactly were they terrified? And please, show me examples of their restraint. LOL.
The GOP has won 7 of the last 10 POTUS elections primarily because this country is still center-right politically, and cares a great deal about National Security.
peace, neocon
23. JPL | June 21st, 2008 at 10:05 pm
“I think the Republicans won the last two presidential elections because they’re excellent at these personal side shows and tying them to morality and patriotism and themes….”
Still don’t get it, do you, VC? FYI, morality and patriotism aren’t “side shows;” to most normal Americans, they’re the main event.
“The longer it’s about patriotism and flag pins and illegal presidential seals and Barack ‘HUSSEIN’ Obama, the longer Obama has to make his case on the issues, which I believe he’s done rather well so far.”
Tee-hee, please keep believing that, TC! Because the more Obama talks about the “issues,” the more voters — especially young voters — realize that he’s incoherent, radical, and dangerous.
24. JPL | June 21st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
“But just shouting at your ‘base’ that you cannot trust this Obama because he is a black man is wearing thin on the electorate these days innit?”
I couldn’t agree more, Cavalor! I COMPLETELY agree that Americans should oppose ANY presidential candidate who is incoherent, radical, and dangerous, regardless of the color of his skin.
25. Jeremiah | June 21st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Where will we be after 10 or 12 trillion dollars in subsidies to help all the “poor” people, for murdering unborn children, for welfare, for illegal immigrants?
Where will we be when the laws are changed to jail white people for being white?
Where will we be when Christians are being jailed for not accepting Sodomy?
Where will we be when our schools are segregated into black and white schools, And no Christian schools allowed?
Where will we be?
Doesn’t sound like a very “Great” society, does it?
Hear me! Barack Obama is dangerous!
May the power of God Almighty strike with a veangance truth into the peoples hearts, so that this country may be spared His wrath!
26. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
JPL:
I’ll grant you that from the start of Obama’s campaign until March, he was kind of incoherent and in a bit of a Chauncey Gardner mode. He’s been very specific since then. You surely don’t have to agree with his viewpoint.
Please clarify for me what you find radical or dangerous about him? I consider myself to be radical. I have extremely radical left-wing social views by American standards, medium conservative views on eocnomics, somewhat radical right wing view’s on taxes and extremely radical right wing views on capital markets.
27. js | June 21st, 2008 at 11:07 pm
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
Thats pretty clear, dont you think Vico?
28. Jeremiah | June 21st, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I consider myself to be radical. I have extremely radical left-wing social views
You’re border-line. You need help. Leftism is a disorder.
29. JustAnotherTaxpayer | June 21st, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Deleted - mindless insults.
30. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
JS: I’d have to read it in fuller context but I don’t read any politician’s books because I know they’re all ghost-written. Out of context I can’t interpret it.
JEREMIAH: Now you are taking my words out of context. Even out of context, though, your conclusion is silly. Leftism is not a disease and more than Rightism is. it’s short-hand based upon how the representatives sat in the French parliament which represents a set of views or a philosophy. But “borderline”? You’re no more a psychiatrist than I am. I happen to think your religious ravings are nuts, but I think you’re sincere.
31. js | June 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
lip service vico? you pay lip service after asking for details?
lol, what a cad!
32. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
What I don’t understand is that Cavalor, Pain, Carlton, Sarah, Robin, Gabrielle, all of us, are willing to come to your house and debate you and read all the insults, yet the stinking lot of you are too chicken to come to our house to debate us.
33. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
OK, JS, I’ll take a crack at that one if you want. I’m guessing here but I think he means that if felt that the US takes its “War On Terror” to the extreme that places White Christians as rulers and everybody else as subjects, he’d side with Muslims. In that sense, I can’t say I disagree. Look, I live in South America, if McCain is president and lives up to his promise to invade, I’m surely not “supporting the troops”!
34. js | June 21st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
so they are right…hussein would abandon the principals that created the USA and endorse muslims, and throcratic dictatorship….which is exactly what endorsing muslim is…upholding thier koran…
is sucks that anyone would want that…and living in south america…with chavez running rampant down there…do you really want to face the future as his power base grows….he is more dangerous than hitler…..reality…..and taking sides with america’s enemies…just because of what…you forgot why we went to war in iraq? the half million children that saddam HUSSEIN slaughtered for a political point before the entire world….ya…your mind is about as ripe as dung for the socialists…and you are walking head first into the guillotine….you ever figure out why russia and china are backing the muslims….pretty simple….because theocratic fervor ignite wars…and they stoke the history of the fallen caliphate to thier advantage….playing with a fire that will eventually consume them as well…because not only is islam not a religion…it is one of the most effective military arms that ever existed….and it walked halfway around the world before it could be stopped…
wake up…south america has a choice to make…freedom and justice…or the socialist route that chavez is trying to suck the entire south american continent into…..
35. js | June 21st, 2008 at 11:37 pm
and yes, stupidity should be insulted…stooges and witless peons should not pick up the sword of righteousness when they cant figure out what the truth is to start with!!
36. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
JS: That is just plain old fucking brain dead. You don’t know anything about Hugo Chavez or about the poliitics of South America at all. You haven’t been here. You don’t know any Venzuelans. Write anything you want about America or the Bible or which is your favorite Republican and why, but don’t write about that which you have no knowledge.
37. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 21st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
JS: Don’t waste your time offering your opinions about international affairs because you don’t know anything about them. It would be like me trying to offer opinons about the Bible.
I at least know my limitations.
38. js | June 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
are you telling us that chavez is not moving venezuela toward communism? wake up…and dont assume anything about me sir….that why I have an advantage over you….trust me….the conditions of human affairs in south america hold no special significance in annals of history…..if you think different you are only fooling yourself…..
39. Vicodin-N-Cocoa | June 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 am
JS: I don’t think that Chavez is moving Venezuela towards communism, no. There are no restricitions on private enterprise. There are functioning stock, bond and commoditity exchanges. There is a highly functional if not superior banking system. There are a number of political parties. Don’t forget his effort to expand executive power to a degree less than Bush and Cheney have failed in a popular referendum and that Chavez honored. Property rights and the rule-of-law are honored to the extent that when Chavez tried to nationalize a few banks, he wasn’t seizing them. He began by offering 25% above stock market price. The shareholders balked and negotiations continue.
I don’t agree with most of Chavez’s economic views but his country is so wealthy that he can afford such fiscal looseness. I’d say his Central Bank was pretty damned conservative actually. I would call Chavez a Social-Democrat.
That said, I believe it’s time for him to wind down his presidency and hold a fresh set of elections. If the people feel he’s done for them they should put his party back into power, if not they should vote them out. As long as the price of oil stays high, he’s a factor down here no matter what my view of him is.
Like you, I am opposed to communism. I think that capitalism has its flaws but it’s the only system that works to allocate resources efficiently if not always fairly. Chavez’s Venezuela is hardly your problem. China is a communist dictatorship that you all seem to forget about because they are a dollar sponge. If you really disliked communist dictatorships you’d urge Republican leaders to force China to de-link its currency from the dollar. Right now China just owns your country lock stock and barrel.
40. JPL | June 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
VC — Fair questions, have to go work on our garden while the sun shines, but will be back later to comment.
41. js | June 22nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
CARACAS, Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez announced Sunday that his government’s sweeping reforms toward socialism will include the creation of “collective property.”
Vowing to undermine capitalism’s continued influence in Venezuela during his television and radio program “Hello President,” Chavez said state-financed cooperatives would operate under a new concept in which workers would share profits.
“It’s property that belongs to everyone and it’s going to benefit everyone,” said Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro whom opponents accuse of leading Venezuela toward Cuba-style communism
think all ya want…but hugo already upended ya…
42. neocon | June 22nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
“Right now China just owns your country lock stock and barrel.” - Vicodon
Actually Japan owns and buys more treasury notes than China. Secondly, Americas economical investment into China far outweighs Chinas investment here.
Just FYI
peace, neocon