Google Refuses To Remove Michelle Obama Image

Although Google has taken the rare step of making a statement as regards an unflattering image of Michelle Obama that figures prominently in their image search results for her name, they are stopping short of removing the image from their search database. The image can be found here.

Although Google won't alter the process that places the offending image among its top results, the company placed a house advertisement with the headline "Offensive Search Results" above the picture. Clicking the ad leads to a statement that says, in part, "We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google."

The statement apologizes "if you've had an upsetting experience using Google," but it states that Web pages are not removed from its process unless the content is illegal or violates the company's webmaster guidelines. Rubin said nothing in the guidelines deals with this kind of imagery.

Google has posted similar statements in rare instances, notably in 2004 when searches for "Jew" yielded a virulently anti-Semitic site as the top result. Rubin said the statement is sometimes used in situations in which there are "offensive search results on an innocuous query."

Comments

[Peg C.]

Wow, that is quite a bit more than an "unflattering image." My goodness.

[jpc]

Is this the artistic inspiration for that image? This is a "Bush as Chimp" image from 2005.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2XWjMcltqQhKU-ij0cOAAw

[Calypso Jones]

one of her better pictures....is this going in the First Ladies book?

[templar knight]

I don't suppose google apologized for allowing the George Bush image as a chimp to stand on a particular web page. I didn't think so.

[What?]

I think Michelle Obama is not the goddess the MSM claims she is, but MO looks nothing like this picture. I wonder how anyone knew it was supposed to be MO.

[J]

I can't stand the woman, but this offends me.

[ShyAsrai]

i DO find this offensive, as i would for anyone. but - as is oft stated when liberals are called out for the viciousness of spurious attacks on Gov. Palin - by inserting herself into the public discourse, MO has to take what is thrown at her and no whining by her or her supporters! MO should just be grateful her daughters have not been attacked like the Palin children. right? Right?? RIGHT???

[Darth Venomous]

As you might expect, I have no problem with it. But only because no one's ever apologized for the Chimpy McBushitler pic, or the pictorial of John McCain as a bloodthirsty warmonger (remember those?), nor is anyone apologizing for the way Sarah Palin's been mistreated (by Lecherman, PowerGlutesMilkyLoads, etc, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseam).

The Left started all this long ago. The Left could start _ending_ it today, if they so chose. Otherwise, I have zero sympathy for all the gnashing of teeth this will cause.

[your mama]

Calyspo jones is spot on,if the left can't take it don't dish it out.

[templar knight]

Darth, you could never trust the Left to end anything. They would lie, cheat, steal, kill or whatever it takes to advance their agenda. If they could see any benefit in calling a truce, that is what they would do, just so long as it benefitted them. As soon as it didn't, the truce would be over. You can never, ever...did I mention ever, trust the leftys to keep their word. They are totally, completely...bereft of any honor whatsoever. As in none. Nada. Zilch.

[x11b1p]

5,4,3,2,1 SILENCE - I guess boycotts are only for the right?

[Ad rem]

I thought the picture captured her true "inner" beauty.....

[tomcj]

This photo is interesting. It would be nice to know how much racism there is in our country. The Politics of Hatred, which have been practiced forever and everywhere in the world, are one thing, racism is another.

This summer I was in a cancer clinic for chemotherapy and the conversation turned to Obama. A woman told a racist joke and the nurse just said, "Oh, you!!!!" until a black man walked in and everyone fell silent.

It was assumed that since we were all white before this, anything goes. I have also been places where people play "Ni!@er Poker" and have heard more racist, anti-Semetic, and ethnic jokes than I could care to remember.

Some racists feel justified because blacks are racist or because people insult Sarah or because people insult President George W. Bush. Most people today forgive themselves because whatever they do, Obama and his Kool Aid drinkers do worse.

People in general must not really believe in God or accountability, but especially conservatives do not believe in God, not in the traditional sense. Conservatives, as indicted here by "ad rem" and "your mama" and "Calypso jones", believe racism is justified because of Obama and the liberals sins.

Conservatives really are the party of Situational Ethics: there is no right or wrong because whatever sins conservatives allegedly commit are not important compared to what liberals do. Even racism is a virtue for today's conservatives because let us face it: no matter what conservatives do, they evade responsibility for their actions because so many really believe in self-pity and affirmative action for true believers.

I am not talking about Daniel Larison, but rather the company here. Lazy corrupt thinking should have consequences in the long run, but in the short run enjoy yourself. Even GOP elected officials have called Michelle a Baboon and passed around photo's of Obama as a scared set of "sppok eyes". Very funny because black people and liberals and Obama are bad.

[tomcj]

Who says conservatives are not hilarious? Vide what "Ad rem" chortled:

"I thought the picture captured her true "inner" beauty.....
Posted by: Ad rem | Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 04:29 PM"

pure comic gold! sweeping comic genius!!! Mark Twain, move over! There is a new hilari-ist in town!!! Not racist, no. just people who hate black people hanging around complaining about the Obama's and taking a break from worshiping Sarah, repeating what Rush said, and feeling sorry for themselves because they get so angry when they lose an election that they cannot do anything but rage and wallow in self pity.

[Fe]

Are you sure this isn't another Condi Rice photo manipulation?

[tomcj]

Why do racists show up so often on conservative sites? Are conservatives really so proud of being racist?

It would also be nice if we knew how many people, black, white, oriental, and even North and South American Indians are racist.

It is clear that "Calypso jones" and his fellow laughers are just racist haters. It is also clear that many GOP and conservatives are angry and self-piteous and feel Sarah trumps all: any racist or hateful remarks are justified because, like our Savior who has nothing on her, Sarah has suffered so much for her beliefs and for our salvation.

[Darth Venomous]

"It is clear that "Calypso jones" and his fellow laughers are just racist haters."

I think what's clear is that you're a dumbass.

[wii raquettes]

I disagree. The internet content has nothing to do with Google, Google simply indexes data. If something offensive appears in your results....effing deal with it. Welcome to earth.