Right-wing Provo painter returns, trashing Obama | The Cricket | The Salt Lake Tribune
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The Cricket
Sean P. Means
Sean is the movie critic and columnist for The Salt Lake Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @moviecricket.
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Right-wing Provo painter returns, trashing Obama
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Provo artist Jon McNaughton's painting "The Forgotten Man," depicting President Barack Obama stepping on the Constitution. (Painting by Jon McNaughton)
Published on Feb 3, 2012 11:17AM

Provo artist Jon McNaughton -- the guy who two years ago painted Jesus Christ holding the Constitution, with single moms and journalists on the side of the devil -- is back with a new canvas, one that targets President Barack Obama.

The new painting, "The Forgotten Man," depicts Obama stepping on the Constitution -- while George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan comfort a despondent Everyman. On Obama's side, gloating, are Democrats Bill Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt (standing up, by the way) and Jimmy Carter, along with (for some reason) George W. Bush.

On McNaughton's website, he provides detailed historical explanations of the painting's many elements, from the dollar bills on the ground (representing the growth of the federal deficit) to the ominous storm clouds overhead. Although, in usual McNaughton fashion, you don't need a translator to grasp his heavy-handed politics.

McNaughton's new painting is getting some national attention. Tricia McKinney, a staffer for MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," posted the picture on the show's blog -- turning it into a caption contest.

Among the choice captions from Maddow's fans:

  • "Despite grand efforts from the windbags off-frame to the right, Obama manages to save the Constitution from blowing away completely."
  • " 'Is that my Wall Street Journal?! You rat bastard!' "
  • " 'SIR! I do say, please remove your foot from your long form birth certificate.' "
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