Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« “Thanks to their flexible lend… | Charges Filed Against Green Lake Pe… »

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

2008 / Nerd Nerds For Obama

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 4:00 PM

I think this is unprecedented. Comic books are usually a fairly apolitical field because lots of comics fans tend to be conservative, but now there's a social network called Comics Industry for Obama. Members include Mike Allred, who created a comic called Madman and also a comic book adaptation of The Book of Mormon, and Mike Mignola, who created Hellboy. The site is for fans and comic pros alike, and its tagline is "Let's make sure the good guy wins." Awww. Also, they have a nice logo. But this doesn't mean you have to suddenly start thinking Hellboy II was a good movie.

Also weird and new to this election cycle: Gamers for Obama. One blog reads:

We need to find ways to help Barack Obama, not simply in the real world, but in the virtual world. We need to create our own echo chamber where we can answer the lies, answer the distortions head on.

We also need to find ways to test messages and understand just how tough a job organizing is and find more effective ways to organize.

I think maybe they got the real world/virtual world bit mixed up, but still: it's nice to see geeks doing their part and being more vocal about politics than they usually are.

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

i've never understood the conservative nerd thing. you'd think that nerds of all people would be able to think outside the box and empathize with those in need. as a nerd myself, i feel that it's an essential part of my tendency towards radical political positions, for better or for worse.

Posted by douglas on September 30, 2008 at 4:10 PM

McCain/Palin would make pretty good comic villains.

Posted by Dougsf on September 30, 2008 at 4:13 PM

Most geeks were behind Ron Paul before he finally became irrelevant enough for them to toot for McCain.

Posted by The CHZA on September 30, 2008 at 4:21 PM

@1, And nerds have been put upon and mocked by others, so you'd think they'd identify with the little guy.

Posted by keshmeshi on September 30, 2008 at 4:31 PM

That's old school nerds. New school nerds are cooler. They don't read dorky, lame American comics, they read Manga. And Manga is very gay friendly. There's nothing a Manga/Anime fan doesn't like more than a some hot yaoi/yuri action.

Posted by Y.F. on September 30, 2008 at 4:53 PM

I guess McCain is Peter Parker then. He does all the right things for his country, but somehow society treats him as the bad guy.

Posted by John Bailo on September 30, 2008 at 4:55 PM

Information Technology Professionals for Obama

Posted by K on September 30, 2008 at 5:04 PM

Don't forget "Trekkies for Obama". Facebook it.

Posted by Sage on September 30, 2008 at 5:08 PM

Too bad these guys aren't old enough to vote, otherwise Obama would have the "Cherub Choirs for Obama" demographic sewn up as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW9b0xr06qA Caution, the above video has a high saccharine content. But, thanks to the involvement of some Hollywood bigwigs, the production values are top rate.

Posted by PopTart on September 30, 2008 at 5:36 PM

You think that's weird: http://www.noiseforobama.org

Posted by Jenny on September 30, 2008 at 5:42 PM

Nerds are conservative? That's silly. Comics are apolitical? Also silly. Have you looked at politics.slashdot.org often? Or the politics area of Reddit? Geeks and nerds are of many stripes and are into politics as much as any of us. This is dumb.

Posted by Um on September 30, 2008 at 7:33 PM

http://www.fantagraphics.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Please-Vote-Obama.html&Itemid=113

Posted by Eric Reynolds on September 30, 2008 at 9:17 PM

Irish-Americans for...

Posted by O'Bama on September 30, 2008 at 9:18 PM