The deal with the seal. Some historical info.

[Skip Intro]

This is just fact. No intent to "tear down" our nominee. This is merely to shed some light on why the new Obama seal, now reportedly ditched, met the chorus of disdain that it did.

The seal was first used in 1880. Was changed once in 1945, so that the eagle, who first faced the arrows in his one claw, now faces the olive branch of peace in his other claw. Since then, the seal has remained unchanged.

The changes the Obama camp made include: replacing the latin for "out of many, one" with the latin for "yes we can." And replacing the shield, which symbolized the thirteen colonies coming together to form our new nation, with the well known Obama campaign logo.

Read about the seal here:

The first President known to have used a presidential seal is Rutherford B. Hayes, who had one designed for use on White House invitations in 1880. From the start, the design had the head of the eagle turned to sinister, i.e., to the viewer's right, toward the talon holding the arrows of war. No one knows why that choice was made; it may have been intended to differentiate the seal from that of the United States, or simply an error. President Roosevelt decided to update the design in the winter of 1944. George M. Elsey, a naval aide, was assigned the task to sketch a new design. He called on Arthur E. DuBois, Chief Heraldic Consultant of the Office of the Quartermaster General of the Army, who pointed out the incorrect position of the eagle's head and convinced Truman to have the eagle turned to dexter, which is the normal position for heraldic eagles in general, and also the same position as in the Seal of the United States. The change was implemented by President Truman, on October 26, 1945. The design has not changed since.

This one-time change has given rise to the myth that the eagle's head changes position to indicate wartime or peacetime, but that is obviously not true. The eagle faced right from 1880 to 1945, and has faced left ever since. It is nevertheless true that, when the change was made in 1945, the announcement referred to the symbolism of the eagle facing peace instead of war, and this symbolism has been alluded to many times since, although it was not the motivation for the change.

The presidential seal is not used to seal documents, but as a presidential insignia on White House documents, objects and staff clothing. A copy in plaster or papier-mache always adorns the lecterns from which the President makes public addresses.
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/usa/usheroff.htm

and here:

The first U.S. president to use a seal distinctly for the presidency was Rutherford B. Hayes who authorized its creation in 1880. Hayes used the seal for White House invitations and on the president's standard (flag) on a field of blue with four gold stars in the corners. Woodrow Wilson was the first president to apply the presidential seal to a state china service instead of using the great seal. Harry S. Truman had the seal redesigned on October 26, 1945, adding the circle of stars and re-orienting the eagle towards its own right, making the seal consistent with long-established heraldic custom. The fact that it was now facing the olive branch, thus symbolizing that the United States favors peace, was given as an explanation for the change.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States#cite_note-0

I'm sure conclusions have been made and opinions formed on this, but I haven't seen the factual history of the seal here, and thought it relevant. This is presented for informational purposes only.

[rug]

1. I can't help not looking at the fasces when Bush gives the State of the Union speech.

[Prophet 451]

11. Why?

Contrary to popular opinion, the fasces doesn't represent fascism, it symbolises the rule of law.

Ah yes, that would explain why seeing Bush standing next to it would be strange.

[silverojo]

2. Unfortunately, it's things like this which worry me about Obama

He has always had a penchant for really bad faux pas, which create controversy where none should exist. I pray to God something like this won't come about to bite him in the @$$ in the general election, because this country CANNOT endure another Repuke president.

Obama should have learned from John Edwards, that the slightest misstep can ruin one's political chances (remember the $400 haircut?). It doesn't matter whether said misstep is completely irrelevant to the issues of the day; anything, however silly or trivial, that offends people will cost you votes.

When it comes to messing with the Presidential seal, stuff like that should be left to our own Swamp Rat, the Photoshop master. :D

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. You seem concerned. nt

[DevonRex]

5. How worried are you? Very worried or very, very worried? nt

[MonkeyFunk]

6. It wasn't a big deal

It was a mistake, but quickly rectified. I predicted when it first appeared that we wouldn't be seeing much more of it - somebody on his campaign got a little over-zealous, I think.

[PM7nj]

7. Obama has a penchant for really bad faux pas? Have you seen this guy McCain?

...Iran is training Al Qaeda.
...I will veto every beer.
...Gen Petraeus goes out everyday in an unarmored humvee.
...dehydrated babies can get bottled hot water.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. Let it sink people.

:thumbsdown:

[mopinko]

8. really

i thought we were done with needing to grit our teeth around here. but apparently not.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. It's the scary nazi possums that have me worried.

I had to leave the rally and take my frightened children.

Why won't somebody think of the children?

[Prophet 451]

10. That was very interesting, thanks n/t