A Canadian Political Thriller!

This portrait of Canadian Liberal candidate Stephen Dion, was inspired by the popular portrait of  U.S. Democratic candidate Barack Obama. That image which people may recognize from the sea of red white and blue at the Democratic convention, was designed by an American artist of relative fame, OBEY; who’s known best for his high contrast rendering of Andrea the Giant. As a fan of the Obama design and proud observer of Canadian politics, I couldn’t help but thinking of our own liberal hopeful here in the North; and in particular how he notoriously lacks any of the charisma and popularity of his Southern counter part. Talk about High contrast.

The Canadian Liberals are rating dramatic lows in the poles, and it now seems possible that Steven Harper and his Conservatives will get their majority in Parliament even before things wrap up in the States. Much of the blame for the Liberals lack luster performance has fallen upon Stephen Dion for his lack of character, and its true. But I have no doubt in my mind that its his image, that isn’t resonating with voters, more so than his policies. I can tell you as an illustrator, that I know exactly how to draw someone who I want to show as looking weak and powerless, and that the fastest way of doing this would be to draw a guy who looks like Stephen Dion. Fair or unfair, we all recognizes this as the stereotypical nerd: The weak male. Not only that but there’s his English, the mannerisms, the hard sell carbon tax. But really, how much is it about what he’s saying and how much is about how he looks and sounds? Are we about to enter into four years of a Conservative Canada because A: Stephen Dion looks like a “dork”. And B: Because We’re all too busy dreaming about Barack to care? The cause to make Dion dynamic, sexy, Obama-esque may be hopeless. But isn’t he our only hope? The “Canadian Political Thriller” is an oxymoron perhaps,  but maybe its time for us to look beyond image, and start thinking about what’s best for our country, regardless of how boring the answer may seem.