Obama's Latin Metaphor: "Yes, We Can...What?" [Updated]
Not Exactly Semper Fidelis
By Dan McLaughlin Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Barack Obama is like Jesus but cooler | Obamafiles — Comments (43) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
So, Barack Obama has recently debuted his very own presidential seal, declaring him to be President of Obama for America. There are several obvious problems with the Great Seal of Obamastan:
1. It's exceedingly presumptuous and makes him look like he thinks he's already won the election. What's next, his own "Hail to the Chief"?
2. It reinforces the cult of personality aspects of the Obama campaign.
3. It's possibly illegal, in violation of a federal statute governing the use of facsimiles of the Great Seal (see here and here) (H/T).
4. Its color scheme is unfortunate, given that Obama's trying to get his rhetoric (as opposed to his record and his platform) away from being the blue-states-only candidate.
Anyway, all that being said, let's take a look at the Latin motto that adorns the seal. Presumably, somebody in Obama's crack marketing department decided that a seal needed a Latin motto to replace "E Pluribus Unum" (from many, one) on the real Great Seal, and they appear to have sent somebody off to figure out what "Yes, We Can" translates into in Latin, and they came back with "Vero Possumus."
Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly), it appears that either nobody on the Obama campaign understands Latin, or the marketing genuises on the campaign felt that something that looked like Latin was more important than the real thing. Because what they have instead produced is not just appalling Latin grammar - as RS Director Emeritus Thomas Crown pointed out, in Latin it sounds more like a child saying "I do it!" - but a marvelous metaphor for Obama's entire campaign.
UPDATED: Well, just to prove you can never ask too many educated opinions, Dr. Weevil has weighed in and disagrees with the various sources I consulted, and thinks the Latin works.
Read On...
Let me begin with a brief anecdote. A few years back, I thought it would be kind of cool to have a Latin motto for my blog. A bit pretentious, perhaps, but in keeping with the spirit of the blogosphere. I further thought that I might try combining the Latin mottoes of my college (Holy Cross' motto is In Hoc Signo Vinces, "in this sign you shall conquer") and law school (Harvard's motto is Veritas, "truth"). But rather than just run with "In Veritas Vinces," to mean, "in the truth you shall conquer," I ran the motto by Dr. Weevil, who knows his Latin, and he corrected the motto to "In Veritate Vinces," which is apparently the gramatically correct version. As it turned out, I never did locate a place to put the motto - to this day, it is only used to greet me when I log in to post - but the point is, even for a weblog read by about a thousand people a day, I made time to check with someone who would be in a position to make sure I got the answer right.
Not so for whatever unfortunate soul on Obama's staff cooked up this by-now roundly-mocked seal, and not only because they produced something more like the kind of Latin you see in Road Runner cartoons ("Candidatus Pomposassamus")*. You see - and again, I have checked with multiple knowledgeable sources on this one, starting with my wife - the verb "possum," which he uses here, is a "modal" verb that needs a "complementary infinitive" to complete its action or meaning. As my wife pointed out, my 10-year-old son's Latin textbook** uses the example "hoc facere possum," meaning "I am able to do this," as the proper usage. In plain English, what this means is that "vero possumus" translates roughly as "truly I am able to," and you can't say "I am able to" in Latin without saying what it is you are able to do.
Which, when you think about it, is so true of the Obama campaign in general. Obama has appealed to voters in general and young voters in particular with the can-do optimism of "Yes We Can," but his appeal is very deliberately vague - unlike, say, Ronald Reagan, whose optimistic appeal was specifically tied to ideas like a stronger military, a more assertive foreign policy, and lower taxes and fewer regulations, Obama's campaign is mostly about Obama himself, and as I have noted before, his optimism tends to curdle in a hurry when it comes to a number of the core functions of the federal government, let alone faith in the American people. Obama reminds me more and more of Bill James' description of Chuck Tanner's tenure as manager of the Atlanta Braves as:
a parody of positive thinking, representing positive thought chopped loose from life or the understanding of life, positive thought rescued from the sea of values and hailed supreme over all others, positive thinking lying on a great pedestal dead as a beached tuna. The problem isn't with the idea that a team will play better if they keep a positive frame of mind. The problem is that this homily is Chuck Tanner's entire concept of how to manage a baseball team.
Yes, we can, as long as nobody asks what it is we can do, or how we are supposed to get there. Perfect.
* - Yes, I swiped the second word from a commenter here on RS, I forget who. BTW, this is off topic, but those old Warner Brothers cartoons used to use allusions to Latin, opera, classical music . . . nobody today would assume that the typical consumer of cartoons would get any of those references. Come to think of it, maybe that's not so off topic after all.
** - Charles Jenney Jr. et al, Jenney's First Year Latin, p. 398. If you are wondering.
« Dueling June Obama fundraising claims? — Comments (2) | Patrick Gaspard chosen as Obama's new political director. — Comments (9) »
Obama's Latin Metaphor: "Yes, We Can...What?" [Updated] 43 Comments (0 topical, 43 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Well, not really, but as a fellow alumnus of Collegium Sanctae Crucis, I'm glad to see someone recalls our motto . . .
Are you sure it wasn't "Chu-Chu-Rah-Rah?"
BRASSBAND77
Yes, one of the great moments in Latin translation.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
The radio's too laudy!
'Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a
delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted
by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds
forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick
up a turd by the clean end.'
Anyone else know what a scavenger a possum is? They eat ANYTHING!
To a conservative, seeing is believing. To a liberal, believing is seeing.
To buy into that breed of progressivism you do have to swallow a lot of force-fed BS...
"Once within the maw of Leviathan, degree of digestion is irrelevant." - Michael Fisk
http://www.nrsc.org/membership/
Not sure if that's the best direction to go in here...
Note the key words "CREATED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN."
What's your next trick, equating Obama's hubris with the Presidential Physical Fitness program's seal?
your point, Reagan-made or not, doesn't address the substance of the original argument. If you really want to go down the path of calling BHO's seal "illegal," then there are going to be numerous seals that need changing. Including the ones I linked to.
I hope that you weren't competing for a prize, or anything.
Speaking of which: Indy4USA never got around to telling me who was doing his thinking for him. Feel like being more forthcoming?
You feel like being more forthcoming, by the way.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
"And before you splutter, please note that I'm already on the record on this thread as not caring about whether Obama's Seal is in technical violation of federal statute."
Seems like you still care, ML. You can take this point up with the author if you wish.
"You feel like being more forthcoming, by the way."
Is that an imperative or declarative sentence?
...since you apparently don't feel like telling me now.
:looking around: Kids, learn to read in general, learn to read posts before you comment on them, and when a site moderator demonstrates that he's uninterested in reading other site's talking points, well, read the darn warning.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I get much entertainment out of the troll and the :ka-click (pause) Blam.
So I say, keep sending the lower IQ trolls our way.
___________________________________
Just like PayPal, except it's free and a $25 bonus to sign up!
Eh, I find it all funny, but I don't think point 3 sticks.
I can't imagine anyone stupid enough to think that his little 'seal' is somehow the Presidential seal.
Yes, yes.. it looks kind of like it, but it isn't even the same color....
This 'seal' of his is to the real presidential seal what a monpoly 100 dollar bill is to a REAL 100 dollar bill.
If someone tries to pass off a monopoly 100 to buy stuff, and the shopkeep is stupid enough to think it is real money, they deserve what happened.
I do, however, think that his 'seal' shows a bit of his arrogance... and a bit more of why he is unelectable.
----------------------
Dependence is Slavery.
I mean, to me this sums him up perfectly. He knows his "people" meaning brain-dead supporters, are not going to check anything he puts in front of their faces. The media is not going to make a big deal about anything he says or does.
He can do anything, say anything, put anything in writing and he expects his masses to just accept it.
This is what his entire campaign will look like and this is what his Presidency will look like.
MelZ
Looking more closely, I, too, can find nothing objectionable in the translation. In fact, I probably would have used exactly the same phrase for "Yes, we can."
I may not be an expert (2 yrs college Latin), but I could easily read the Latin without needing to recall Obama's motto.
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.
Certainly, more apropos.
"Nec Aspera Terrent"
bene ambula et redambula
Contributor to The Minority Report
====
"Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm." -- James Madison
Not to mention it couldn't be more disrespectful to the United States.
CNN says the seal is gone now... It was a "one time thing", or err, a few day thing or whatever.
It's not technically incorrect to use possum without a complementary infinitive, but as far as I know it's just not done. The only time I can think of when it would be appropriate, is if you were responding to a statement someone else had just made that supplied the missing verb, so that it would be clear from context. Basically, your college prof might be ok with it, but I bet Cicero wouldn't.
Anyway, possum doesn't have the connotative force he's going after. He wants something that implies power and the can-do spirit or whatever, and (again, as far as I know), possum is much more neutral and bland; it's not "we can," it's "we are able." The whole thing's pretty clunky.
Latin teacher, who came back from a Summer in Italy studying Latin and tried to translate "eat more possum" into English.
I had a prof in college who went to Greece.
He spoke greek. . . but was confused by a sign he saw over a shop.
The word was gibberish to him.
He sounded it out a few times, trying to think of what it meant before the sounds clued him in.
Phi-Delta-Omicron.
phi- de- oh.
vi----de---- oh
video.
It was a video store. They spelled it phonetically, for some reason.
----------------------
Dependence is Slavery.
Which America is Obama for? North America, Central America, South America, or Latin America. If it's North America, does that include Canada and Mexico?
I am wondering if this seal will be used as part of a marketing outreach to Latinos.
I think the seal looks absolutely silly, but the Latin is actually OK. I'm taking AP Latin and I'm the President of the Ohio Junior Classical League, for what it's worth.
Vero means truly or indeed; he could also have used 'ita' here.
Possumus is the first person plural, present active indicative of 'possum' meaning I am able or I can. Generally, that verb needs an infinitive (like in Dan's example), but since 'possum' is just about the only verb in Latin you can use to say 'I can/am able', this is probably the best choice he has.
He might want valeo, which is more along the lines of "I am strong enough."
The overall point is that there is no defined action that will be or can be done. In English his campaign motto is simply lacking what it is he can or will do. In Latin it just amplifies the fact that he has no plan just platitudes.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Caesar, Cicero, nor Plato could resurrect an interest in Latin any faster or better than Obama has done in the last few days. Who would have thunk it?
Plato wrote in Greek...but your point is dead-on. Scary, that.
Obama's 'operatives' have been secretly launched to determine the function and style of the President's toilet on Air Force One.
If true (and this is merely conjecture) the nominative Democrat presidential candidate might be attempting to replicate the item for use as his very own mobile 'potty chair' for use during his campaign travels.
Good Lord! What's next? First the Presidential Seal, now the Presidential toilet all be alert for subversive attempts Presidential tooth brush.
What a presumptious, self-enamored DOLT!
De Opresso Liber
how to disable the smoke alarm, where to hang the christmas trees and if Michelle has her own toilet elsewhere in the plane.
ridiculous, all he is doing is trying to look more presidential in order to disoell the fact he is not qualified
or not to smear. . . .
http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/the-obama-campaign-fighti...
Seriously, this picture just BEGS to be photoshopped. I propose a competition for best motto. Here's a few possibilities. Anyone who can provide the Latin translation is welcome to try:
"I'm an Empty Suit"
"you'd best HOPE we let you keep your spare CHANGE"
"Only Racists Disagree With Me"
"Maxism We Can Beleive In"
"The Obamasiah"
"I only LOOK like Alfred E. Neuman"
"Get under the bus, already"
"Judgement and Experience are overrated"
"Surrender while we can!"
"The 70's called. They want thier President back"
_____________________________________________
"You can't save the Earth unless you're willing to make other people sacrifice" - Scott Adams (speaking through Dogbert)
definitely need to photoshop "1979 Wants its President Back"...
"Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment"- Barack Carter Obama
I'm not a photoshop guy, but my idea would be to replace the seal with a sign that says "I'm with Stupid"
Have an arrow pointing up at him.
----------------------
Dependence is Slavery.
it seems to any patriotic and rational American that this fraud really drinks his own kool aid and is one of the most arrogant SOBs to come down the pike.
Could you imagine the GOP putting up a "McCain for America" sign?!! As if America has been expectantly praying and waiting for this Obamboozler for 230 years- and this guy NO ONE HEARD OF BEFORE TWO YEARS AGO..
he really is not just a fraud, a liar, a hypocrite but is fundamentally dangerous in the fascistic tendencies of his team and slavish followers..
"Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment"- Barack Carter Obama
I think when the google informed whoever coined the this Latin phrase that there is no direct Latin translation for "yes" then they panicked.
Just wanted to point this out in light of his campaign now claiming the seal was a one-off:
http://obamacom.blogspot.com/2008/04/obamas-presidential-seal_29.html
http://www.barackobama.com/images/bg.jpg
Rather than a one-off, it seems like they've been working on variations since at least April.
This pathetic maroon is desperate! He should be locked up in a nut house for this one! This fool(nobama)is out of touch with reality.....
I would not be suprised to Hussein Obama standing in a small room somewhere in D.C. stating: "this has all been one be fakade"....
or "facade" for those not familiar with "My Fellow Americans" circa 96...
Hussein is a all smoke and mirrors...This "seal" is yet another grand example of a hollow windbag with no intestinal fortitude.
-------------
Stranded in a blue section of a red state.
but do you really have to say "at the end of the day?"
------------------------------------------
This signature left intentionally blank