Time Clowns Condi's Face In Leadership Poll

Perhaps you remember this USA Today flap via Michelle Malkin:

DEMONIZING CONDI

No, Condi isn't possessed; the photo was manipulated.

Time dot com goes one better with a leadership poll they are hosting today.

Talk a look at the three images at right. If not the same picture, they are very close. Unfortunately, at Time dot com (the last is a screen cap, the second the actual image from here) Rice's face appears to have been reduced vertically though not horizontally, giving it a caricature's look if I've ever seen one. It's absurd.

I suppose they are breaking in a new photo editor, just as USA today claimed.

Update: You should also see here and here for full discussion.

To me, the fact that it WAS taken from an earlier group caricature does not excuse using it alone in this new context for a tease to a poll on leadership.

It is inappropriate placement for a caricature, at best. The implication in the teaser is that Rice is a caricature. No other pol is caricatured in the story relating to the poll.

That there is an appropriate picture later inside the poll only points out that one was available. At best, my opinion is that it was poor editorial judgment in context. Joking is fine. Mixing a joke in with a supposedly serious topic is another.

Comments

[Cindy]

These fools should be so lucky to have faces themselves that anyone would remember or even care to distort and caricature.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

I noticed this a week or so ago and told Lorie Byrd. We had quite a conversation about it on my blog and at Polipundit. Here: http://www.thewideawakecafe.com/?p=1111 and here: http://polipundit.com/index.php?p=12796

[BJ]

It's obviously a illustrated caricature, not a photo - standard (non-racist) Condi fare if you ask me. You can tell by the hair and the giant teeth.

[Curtis]

While "modifications" of this type are subject to interpretation (regarding intent) they nontheless ought to be captured and reported as this site did, so I thank you.

Personally, I don't approve of these differences displayed in the modified photo because I actually wonder about the editor's intent.

[dorkafork]

A vertical compression wouldn't make her neck that skinny. It's a caricature. There are other caricatures at the top of the leadership poll.

[Tester]

Computer graphics can do just about anything. Pretty soon, it opens up all kinds of new entertainment categories. Read more.

http://futurist.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/04/the_next_big_th.html

[Mike]

Here's the original group caricature: http://www.time.com/time/2006/time100/walkup/

Not all that bad in its original context, which is other candidates of Times 100 Most Influential of 2006, in which Condi's winning the leaders and revolutionaries division.

[Jenn M.]

This is a non-issue, it IS a caricature. She's surrounded by several other caricatured public figures. There's a 'straight' photo of her next her name in the poll. (Unless the site has been altered/'fixed' since your posting) But come on, she's a political figure, not a religious icon. Condi's a woman full grown, she can take it--

[Brian Carnell]

Obvious caricature. Please *look* at the image next time.

[Sissy Willis]

That is what political caricature is all about. Calm down, big boy.

[anon]

ha ha, what a moran.

[Beth Donovan]

Look at all the pictures on that Times article - they are all caricatures. They do the same to the Pope, Hilary and that guy from U2.

Relax, and worry about the big stuff.

[mooneyguy]

What an idiot. Do you not recognize this cartoon from the five that were published with it in Time Magazine? Sheeeeesh!

[None]

Stupid rube.

[edub]

You need to post a mea culpa ASAP.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

I think the commenters are being too hard on Dan. This happened to me also a few weeks ago when I first saw the "photo" of Condi Rice. Her photo was posted by the poll for quite a while and I wondered why after I checked out all the others involved in the poll. Not very many conservatives at all. The caricature of Hillary Clinton makes her look better than she does normally in my opinion and the caricature of Condi Rice makes her look worse.

[Dan]

I updated and stand by my position - this is poor editorial judgment or control, at best.

[Pastor Maker]

Dan is suffering from what one skeptic has coined the "ratchet affect".

The sufferer makes a claim, and when confronted with definitive proof that his claim is bogus, he cannot go backwards. Dan has become a caricature of a 101st Keyboard Commando.

Dan, hopefully there's a support group out there for you.

[Gavin M.]

I updated and stand by my position - this is poor editorial judgment or control, at best.

That's what you did and how to describe it!

How about a cartoon riot?

[Gavin M.]

No ital tag? Golly. Repeat:

"I updated and stand by my position - this is poor editorial judgment or control, at best."

That's what you did and how to describe it!

How about a cartoon riot?

[Evil Librul]

Jeebus...you tools are really grasping at straws now, eh?

Oooh...help, help! I'm being oppressed! I'm a conservative christian! Come see the violence inherent in the system!

Sheez.......

[Gregor Samsa]

Gavin nails it like Digby!!!! Really this example of bias is just the epitome of grasping at straws.

[Sgt. York]

RE: "How about a cartoon riot?"

On a silghly related note...

Last weeks South Park did a part-one of two on the Mohamed cartoon fiasco... don't know how part-two will turn out as Comedy Central is prohibiting South Park from depicting Mohamed (even though they previously depicted him along with Jesus as part of the Super Friends).

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[warrenb]

She IS a caricature. So the photo is accutate. Calm down with your nonsense.

[commie atheist]

There's only one explanation: You are an idiot.

[Richard B. Simon]

How DARE an American magazine caricature a political official?

[Ted]

Imagine the margin by which Condi would be winning her division if only Time's voters weren't prejudiced by this nefarious caricature!
...while simultaneously ignoring any implication they're easily manipulated.