Would Obama-As-The-Penguin Posters Have Been OK?

Tim Cavanaugh
Reason
Saturday, August 15, 2009

Vandalism is likely to be the charge in the case of the Clermont, Florida Joker posters. An unnamed individual has been questioned by local police in connection with placement of signs around town showing the familiar image of President Obama as Heath Ledger’s edgy, reinvented Joker in 2008’s rebooted, dark, edgy Batman 2.0 reimagining The Dark Knight. I just spoke with Clermont Police Capt. Eric Jensen about the circumstances of the interview and the case-building process described by the Orlando Sentinel here:

City officials, meanwhile, are trying to determine what local crimes might be associated with the posting of the images on public and private properties. They’ve also been busy ripping down the sticky signs because they’re a violation of city ordinance regarding illegal signs.

Jensen said he doesn’t have a good count on the number of posters put up because, he said, “People are going out and tearing them down.â€