In honor of Barack Obama’s 100th day in office, an artist has painted what is just one more rendering of Obama as Jesus Christ complete with crown of thorns. ‘The Truth’ will be unveiled on April 29th in Union Square in New York City. Read more about it below, see photos and watch a video.
‘The Truth’ – a painting by Michael D’Antuono
No, it’s not some clever blogger’s photoshop or cartoon. It’s a real painting by artist Michael D’Antuono and it’s called ‘The Truth’ in honor of Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office.
The acrylic painting depicts The One appearing much like Jesus Christ on the Cross with a crown of thorns on his head. He is opening the curtain (much like biblical symbolism of ‘the curtain ripping’ at the crucifixion) revealing the Presidential Seal.
The popular artist, insists he isn’t claiming The One is Messiah, but only inviting ‘individual interpretations’ of his painting. And he generally paints non-political subjects, but felt the need to make a statement.
“Aided by the media, politics has taken a nasty turn in the last decade and I firmly believe that this is one of the underlying causes of our nation’s current problems.”
Once on display in Union Square, the painting will be seen by one viewer at a time behind a voting booth-inspired set up. Kitschy!
Some are saying this painting is controversial. But we’ve seen all this messiah-worship before. This is nothing new except for the fact The One has a flag pin on this time. heh.
As in the days before the election and leading up to the inauguration, the media is again ramping up the worshipping of Obama. Case in point: Time’s gooey review of The One’s first 100 Days.
“The most important thing we now know about Barack Obama, after nearly 100 days in office, is that he means to confront that way of life directly and profoundly, to exchange sand for rock if he can. Whether you agree with him or not — whether you think he is too ambitious or just plain wrong — his is as serious and challenging a presidency as we have had in quite some time . . .
(…)
Perhaps Obama’s most dramatic departure from the recent past is his public presence: cool where George W. Bush seemed hot, fluent where Bush seemed tongue-tied, palliative rather than hortative. Bush would never admit a mistake, but Obama said the words plainly — ‘I made a mistake’ — when his appointment of Tom Daschle as health-care czar tanked, one of the few significant setbacks during his time in office.”
Yes, it IS a mildly amusing article full of fluffly phrases to make Obama sound quite extraordinary. But as you can see, they simply can’t praise The One without beating up former President George W. Bush. Pathetic really.
Update: Artist Michael D’Antuono has cancelled the planned public unveiling of his latest work “The Truth” at NYC’s Union Square Park on The One’s 100th day in office due to overwhelming public outrage. The artist’s decision was based in part to the thousands of emails and phone calls; online blogs and other public commentary received in the first 48 hours following its release.
More photos and a video of ‘Obama as Jesus Christ’ are below.
The Truth Painting: Obama as Jesus Christ Photos
The Truth Painting: Obama as Jesus Christ Video
April 27th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Yea but Rhayader.
I defense of Grant the context at play is “messiah” and a picture of Obama resembling something that reprersents great faith, not tangible reality.
Obama could never rise to the spiritual meaning that Jesus holds.
Thats why in my statement I rendered and simplified it to simple “teachings”
Sin would have to recognized as those described by God since its Obama posing as if on the cross. A personal perspective of what is and is not sin is not in play if you’re a devout Christian
Jesus did hold less contempt for people than Obama did by calling them arrogant.
The pain that Jesus endured is without question more than Obama has ever endured.
Jesus did advocate giving all enemies the benefit of the doubt, but only to a certain extent where saving your own life should never be debated.
A logical argument against a spiritual argument is kinda moot, dontcha think so ?
As far as hell goes I dont think its for Grant to say what Gods decision for Obama will be in the end.
I take offense to Christians like Grant who think they are so holier than thou to the point they have the nerve to think they know whos worthy of what destiny.
The teachings of Christ are that we are all entitled to mitigating deeds and actions in our life that allow us to be redeemed in the face of sin.
People like Grant are the reasons I stay away from Churches and organized religion today.
Jeez, can you imagine saying something like that to a kid whos raised to believe in God and then some judgemental idiot says to him hes going to hell ?
Grant, does the book not teach you to forgive and pray for Obama so he can be in the precense of God ?
Dont get me wrong, Obama in my opinion is the worst president weve ever had, but as a Christian you’re worse.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Swine Flu, Mexican Flu – Whatever!…
The flu frenzy in the media is back:
The outbreak of swine flu should be renamed “Mexican” influenza in deference to Muslim and Jewish sensitivities over pork, said an Israeli health official Monday.
Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the re…
April 27th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Kudos to Mickey (7)!! While President GW may not have been the flashiest nor the most eloquint, he certainly has my vote for the most honest and humble president with the most integrity. I greatly respect his difficult decisions as well as those he felt were in the best interest of our nation. I shudder to think where our nation would be if Mr. Gore were sitting in that classroom of children on 9/11. I do not consider myself a Republican nor a Democrat, but an American with a conscience. Instead of Obamadolatry, we should be focusing on prayer for those in power that God will guide them to do His will until the time comes when we shall answer to Him.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Look at the picture again with the proper caption added:
“I’m FAABULOUS!!!”
Then it makes sense.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:09 am
These pictures make me want to vomit
April 28th, 2009 at 5:14 am
I think that it is truly remarkable that if I discuss my faith in Jesus with a co-worker…I am considered “in-tolerant”. Yet, when someone else paints a photo that slaps Christians in the face…it is considered art. Where is everyone’s tolerance for the beliefs of Christians?
April 28th, 2009 at 5:34 am
@Micky: Yeah I see what you’re saying, but that only works if you consider that “Obama as messiah” context meaningful or relevant in the first place.
If I write off this painting as an artistic statement concerning a false religion, I am not obligated to consider religious objections to it. I’m not attempting to defend the painting’s religious implications; I am ignoring those implications altogether because I consider them unimportant.
I was really just picking on Grant’s use of the word “must”, particularly given the caveat he made about non-believers. Personally I think the painting is pretty lame, and it won’t be finding a place on my wall any time soon.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:41 am
For the religious wing-nuts out there: Is there any possibility that God answered your prayers regarding saving our country from the obvious path it was headed down and He put Obama in office? If not, you’re showing a lack of faith.
Not comparing Obama to Jesus but if, and that’s a big if, Jesus were to return, you knuckle draggers would more than likely kill him again.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Action.
Your ignorance is astounding.
Anything that happens in life can be attributed to Gods will one way or the other all depending on you perspective.
I see Obama as a test to the resolve of Gods believers, you see Obama as the cure sent down from above.
I could also say that he is the beast with the mark that will bring on the end times if you wanna go that route.
And talk to me about knuckle dragging when right now all the left wants is to hang Bush and staff regardless of what the facts are.
Wise up.
Yea Rhayader.
It makes perfects sense if your looking at it from the pew Grant is sitting in.
Hes a perfect example of what gives the Christian right a bad name. We on the right need Christians like him like we need Jeremiah Wright.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:54 am
The unveiling has been canceled because of the outcry from the public. The artist insists that the work was intended purely as a political piece. “The religious reference was used metaphorically and not to insult anyone’s religious beliefs. If that is the effect that my art has had on anyone, I am truly sorry,” says D’Antuono.
Did he really think people of faith would look at it and say,’Wow. that is the truth.’
He is very talented but he had to know this would anger people. He has a website with his work on it and it is very good.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Let me first state that I am a very far right-wing Conservative Christian. I voted for McCain-Palin and I think Palin would be an outstanding Presidential candidate. That said, it seems to me that the behavior of my fellow right-wing Conservative Christians is all too often not edifying. I think that one of our goals as Conservative Christians is to edify, and from what I have observed and listened to from my fellow Conservative Christians across America is not that. I have heard lots of anti-Liberal diatribes by my colleagues, but I don’t know whether God would like us to spend all your time screaming at the left. I don’t know that such behavior will help true Conservative Christians win elections in 2010 and 2012, and I don’t know that such behavior will help further the kingdom of God.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:11 am
well …
if you think about it, a Christian God probably would not care very much at all about politics except for
1.) israel and war
2.) general behavior and morals
and
3.) especially abortion
on the first two calm discussion would probably be the correct way
on the third … some screaming could be in order
April 30th, 2009 at 5:15 am
todd though i appreciate your position, a couple of things:
first, no one is screaming in this post;
and second, maybe a little screaming is exactly what christians should have done before we were ever saddled with such a man as our president. if you think appeasement and acquiescing are christian virtues, you are wrong.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:24 am
yikes – it has been too long since i have posted here – i need to enter all my info each time i log in…. hello to all of you!
This Obama worship is really disturbing. I guess we need to let the libtards have some fun, until reality sets in and they have to turn the country back over to the Republicans to fix. Maybe we’ll come riding back on a white Pontiac!
April 30th, 2009 at 5:33 am
@kate: Yeah because screaming religious fervor always improves the political landscape, right?
Just messing with you. I’ve drowned out the religious right for years now, so I don’t care one way or the other.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Kate – what is your definition of religious right?
BTW – there are a lot of Republicans that are Catholic, Methodist, (gasp) even atheist.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:45 am
Rhayader, I mean, not kate – apologies…
April 30th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Oh I know MBT; I am not against “the right” in general (at least, no more so than I am against “the left”). I just don’t like it when people insist that religion should inform legislation, or any other government behavior. The Constitution demands a separation of church and state for a very good reason.
I was just responding to Kate’s comment about Christians screaming about Obama. I’m not an Obama guy, I just don’t think religious objections mean all that much (or, at least, shouldn’t) in the political arena.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:13 am
mbt!!!! get back here!!! we miss you!
Rhayader i tend to separate christians and religious right for some reason. mostly semantics i guess but in response here to Todd, i was mostly referring to abortion and yes all the ridiculous absconding of christian symbolism by this administration and its lackeys.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Yeah fair enough Kate, there is a legitimate distinction there. Plenty of Christians feel no need to impose their religious views on the public sphere. Plenty of hard-line political conservatives have, at most, a passing religious affiliation.
That’s not to say there isn’t a healthy dose of Christians seeking to unconstitutionally inform the public discourse with their religious beliefs, but it is by no means universal.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:59 am
There will always be a public discourse of religion. The consitution protects religious speech and also protects speech against religion. The public discourse of religion, or lack thereof separates us from other countries which only allows one religion.
Kate – thanks! it is good to be back.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am
“constitution” apologies.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Just for clarification — by “public” I meant official political business, not just general speech that takes place in public. I have no problem with anybody getting up on their soapbox and doing their thing. I just don’t think we should have legislators and other officials basing their decisions on religious doctrine.
May 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
to kate: you said, “if you think appeasement and acquiescing are christian virtues, you are wrong.” First of all, I never said that appeasement and acquiescing are christian virtues. Second of all, I would like to ask what your reaction was when Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was removed from office and the Ten Commandments monument moved from where it was. That happened under the George W. Bush Administration. Second, what was your reaction when President George W. Bush, when asked, said that Muslims worship the same god we do.
May 1st, 2009 at 5:45 pm
That painting is bullsh*t! I find that offensive! If he wasn’t trying to depict that creature you call a man as Christ then he shouldn’t have put the thorn crown on his head, or put him in a cross. I don’t give a sh*t what the George Bush did at least he was a natural born citizen! This man is the last thing we wanted to run this country anyone who believes in infanticide has no business being a father nor the leader of a great country like this one, AMERICA!!!