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I don't remember Navajos wearing headresses like this one!!
I thought Dine was the correct term, not Navajo!

More proof that graphic design cannot ever be mistaken for art. This rip-off of U of I's foppish chief illiwick only hurts the Obama campaign. The, and I use the word loosley, "artist" that made this shirt must be a Hillary or McCain supporter masking as an Obama supporter.

... is the name of the game.

I'm sorry to anyone whom I've offended with this shirt. I had intended to remain mute and watch discussions like this happen (that was the real purpose of this site), but there was too much offense taken and, it seemed, too many minds changed for me to keep mum. I never wanted to change anyone's mind about Obama, for better or for worse.

To address some issues raised in this thread:

1) Of COURSE this isn't an official Obama shirt. Of COURSE.

2) Follow the link to the site - there are about 45 of these images, each one more ridiculous than the last. How could you possibly think that there is a political statement inherent in this? It's absurd humor, nothing more.

3) To those who are shocked at the inaccuracy of the costume headdress, I'll reveal the formula for making these images:

Take the name 'Obama',
elide it with another word,
search google images for that word,
take the first useful result that comes up,
put it on the picture of Obama.

Try it yourself.

I mean, look at Jackie Obama - that pillbox hat is painfully obvious as a costume.

4) To those of you who assume I'm 'cashing in' on Obama's campaign - I'll do as the Senator did yesterday and give you a financial disclosure. As of now I've sold 5 shirts. 2 of them were to me. On each shirt I make $3. I consider that remuneration for the hours and hours of photoshopping I did just to make myself and my friends (and hopefully Senator Obama) laugh.

But seriously, there is a warning, on my website, not to buy my shirts because they're poorly manufactured. It says, in part, "...buy one only if you're really in love." Does that sound like I'm cashing in?

To the gentleman who said:
i think it's just plain stupid, i mean, what's the connection? it makes utterly no sense what so ever. i fail to see the politics of this. if it were connected in some way then maybe i'd "get it".

... you, sir, are the only one who "gets it."

- Noah

I totally agree with the person who said that this is not an official t-shirt. Check out the link from the zazzle.com site: http://senatorobamas.com/. The Baracky Horror Picture Showbama? Bozobama? Unabama? The real problem is with the ignorant, racist t-shirt manufacturers who think that Indigenous people are as funny as a pair of Groucho glasses.

This is a perfect example to educate society of the correct cultures of Indigenous peoples of North America. The chief regala represents the chief leaders of Plains and Navajo leaders don't wear such attire.
It would have been awesome to see Obama standing with Indigenous peoples rather than being made to look like he's making fun of them.

To the creator of this t-shirt, you can find some awesome readings on how to approach Indigenous history, culture and representation by finding writers whom advocate decolonization. These readings will help you to formulate a correct product geared towards the Indigenous customers.

Tacky. Sign of inexperience to allow someone to use your name so flagrantly, got that Navajo Nation officials?

As a Barack Obama supporter, judging by the response, the only one too, here's a few things to keep in mind:
1. This is not an official Obama campaign shirt, it's a third-party vendor cashing in on the hype.
2. Third-party vendors are at every Obama rally and campaign event. Some times, they have decent stuff, but most of the time, I pass over their wares. Mostly because the Obama campaign doesn't see any of that money.
3. Official campaign T-shirts are available at the Barack Obama store at his Web site, they don't carry this T-shirt and probably never will. Each purchase made on the Obama store goes directly toward the campaign to help hire and retain much-needed staffers to organize (at the grassroots level) precinct captains and voters and coordinate them about the get-out-the-vote effort.
4. The senator is educated enough to know that my cousins to the south traditional name is Dine, not Navajo. He probably wouldn't be so flagrant about this ignorance.
5. I know I'll catch hell for saying this, but honestly, who ever saw a headress with electric blue feathers outside the context of the Mardi Gras Indians?
I think it's an ironic gesture. And I've been accused of being an irony-loving hipster, so even if the vendor could somehow make a portmanteau out of Lakota or Sicangu and Obama (first of all, good luck), then I'd probably wear it, minus the headress.

There is no evidence whatsoever that Obama or his campaign have anything to do with this. By the looks of the website, it just seems like the typical cashing-in that many try to do in election years. It's offensive, but I don't think we should jump to slamming Obama without knowing for certain that this came from him.

Ignorance is alive and well where ever you go.

Shonie De La Rosa
sheepheadfilms.com

Maybe, obama could sign the T-shirt and then it could be displayed in the National Museum of the American Indian.

Or, Obama could wear this on his next visit to the National Congress of American Indians - oh yeah, there is no visit, just a stupid T-shirt.

Obama political fashion for Navajos - first fry bread, now this?

Sorry...it's hard to take this seriously.

The real question is - will Obama come to the Navajo Nation REZ wearing that T-shirt? If he does, I suppose all the Indians could sign it - kind of like a treaty.

Just think if all the skins were wearing this T shirt and showed up on election day en force. Then, Obama would see that all the Natives love him because he paints himself like an Indian.

Nah - just kidding!

The t-shirt is way past stupid. Everything about it is wrong. Moreover, if the Obama campaign thinks making him the "big chief" is going to impress Indian Country they are more clueless than I thought. Why not just use the Redskins logo? Obama doesn't know one thing about Indian Country. His speeches directed toward Native Americans reflect more rhetoric, more nonsense, more of the usual crap designed to get votes from people who will be ignored once the election's over. I vote to get rid of the t-shirt and by the way, NOBAMA!

The shirt has to be one of the worst..No real skin would be caught..even passed out..wearing it.

Ummm, I am definitely NOT impressed!!!

If this is what we are to expect from the Obama administration, it looks like we have just jumped back about two centuries, It is so hard to understand how, in this day and age, with the NCAA, NAACP and other minority groups fighting to change the thinking patterns that things like this are acceptable is an slam to forward progression for all NATIVES. Whoever came up with this design and concept is not only hurting Natives but also is ignorant to several facts as eluded to in the above comments.
The illustration itself makes reference to the times back when colored people were referenced with pictures of them painted completely black and with white big white lips carrying spears and with noses pierced and such....... that was plain wrong and so is this.
Come on people , wake up and smell the future, we cannot take one step forward and 30 years backward.

What's the connection are we breeding bama just to be stupid? This is chaa'.

The person who thought of this idea should be fired...

People who are "offended" need to get a life. I've seen hundreds of t-shirts with simular face/combo's on them. Maybe someone Indian who supports Obamo came up with the idea for the t-shirt.

My only question is what is the connection, isn't Obama Afican?

I think it is an attempt at something new and modern to influence the Indian vote BUT riduculous. Just because Navajo ends with an O, let's throw Obama on the end and BAM we have a t-shirt for all the Indians out there. It might have been nice if the image was accurate with the name but no =( Come on! I think whoever designed this could have research their attempt at a product more and come out with something that would actually make people want to wear it. I would never wear this shirt. Painfully inaccurate! Thumbs down!

This is disgusting. Wasn't it reported in the news this year, that Obama said the night before, he was watching a REDSKINS game? We are fighting these stereotypes and mockery in Michigan schools. Obama is making it easier for me to vote McKinney or Nader if it comes to that!

Geez, who the heck are they trying to portray this guy to be exactly by coloring a headdress on him? As like that one person's comment said......NAVAJOS DON'T WEAR HEADDRESSES! The Western World is trying to throw this into the arena of politics making this just as bad as "Obama Girl." Leave our d@mn culture ALONE!

It's sad ,awful , pathetic,and totally racist not only to the Navajo nation yet to all of the tribal nations all across America.I pray that common sense will see the error of those who created this hideous t-shirt!

What’s next, Pocahillary tank-tops? This is not a good idea; we’ve been dealing with images, icons, and mascots far too long to endorse such derogation of Naïve symbols, especially those misappropriated for profit.

My daughter's new word for idiot is jidiot.. I kind of like it.. so I would nominate and VOTE for the makers of this t-shirt to win the JIDIOT award of the month! Obama doesn't have an ounce of real knowledge of Native issues... hey let's dress Obama up and make him the new Chief Illini... Hail to the Chief.. ayeeeeeeee.....

I'm a huge Obama supporter and have campaigned on behalf of Obama on my reservation - the Navajo reservation. I personally find this t-shirt ridiculous and quite embarassing (as an Obama supporter). As previous comments have explained, the image and design have absolutely no connection to Navajo culture. The manufacturers must not be true political followers, but rather, are money mongers taking advantage of the political race. In the process of capitalizing on the Democratic party's long drawn-out fight, the manufacturers are sending out mixed messages to the voters--particuarly the Native voters--that may hurt Obama down the road.

I think it's agreat idea! See, this way, we can see the idiots who wear this T-shirt coming from a mile away and we can avoid them altogether!

Who's idea was this? He hasn't said anything about our people, it might have been here on reznetnews, or indian country but wasn't he 50 miles every direction from rezes up north, and notta one word about indian affairs, bagoneznaa'! Peltier for prez! Must a been a white guy's idea, or a wanna be ndn, cause real skinz got more sense than that.

by the way, does anyone notice how strikingly similar (exactly) the resembalnce the image is to "chief illiani" from illinios, university of illinois?

maybe one should contact them and see what they think; as in suit for copyright infringement?

i dunno, makes one think, eh?

jp

i think it's just plain stupid, i mean, what's the connection? it makes utterly no sense what so ever. i fail to see the politics of this. if it were connected in some way then maybe i'd "get it".

otherwise, what can one say but, "business as usual" amongst the colonialist, capitalistic people who are always looking for ways to cash in on anything and everything.

jp

So who came up with the decidedly NON-Navajo headdress, anyway??? Please, somebody get these people into an NDNS101 class and fast!!

Lesson 1: Navajos do NOT wear big old headdresses like that one. Those are from Plains people.

Lesson 2: These headdresses are for ceremonies, NOT for silly t-shirts.

Lesson 3: Do you know how long we've been trying to get rid of these stereotypes in Arizona, anyway??? This reeks of Oprah's producers calling up the Navajo Nation and insisting that pow-wow dancers perform for her--[yes, that happened]

Lesson 4: if this weren't so ridiculous, it would be sad. But what do you expect when you're dealing with clueless non-Indians?

This is incredibly offensive. Whose idea was this?

I am personally shocked. I find the design offensive.