This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
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.' "