Factcheck.org: Did Clinton Darken Obama's Skin?

 

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Here's the YouTube version of the debate clip:

However, Obama's skin tone is somewhat darker in MSNBC's streaming version of the debate on its Web site.

Our conclusion: Had the bloggers compared the CMAG version of the ad to the MSNBC version of the debate, they would have a far less compelling case for intentional darkening in the Clinton ad. To our eye the Clinton ad has a noticeably less reddish hue, but whether it looks darker or not depends on which version of the ad is being compared to which version of the original debate footage.

Why the Differences?
Without access to the project files of the editor who produced this ad, we can't measure precisely what color manipulations were performed. However, we can offer some observations based on our own experience, if you'll bear with a brief interlude of techy nerd-speak.

Some of the differences may be due to video compression required by YouTube, which encodes video to Flash format and re-sizes it, using its own required parameters before posting. The Clinton camp may have had one color scheme in its original video and ended up with a slightly different one after YouTube's processing.

In our experience posting videos to our Just the Facts feature, conversion to Flash format drives up contrast and reduces the mid-range color values that are frequently found in flesh tones and facial detail. We've noticed that Obama, and other candidates, appear drained of a bit of their color in some of our videos after they've been processed for posting.

Still, the Clinton ad makers may have darkened the Obama images intentionally, to some degree. When it comes to video editing, the possibilities are overwhelming. But that doesn't necessarily mean their motives were racist. We note that the entire ad is cast in dark tones and even Hillary Clinton herself appears in shadows, as though she were working late into the night.

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Logan6 @ 03/29/2008 6:05:34 PM

    Hillary Clinton needs to begin to prepare her exit from the race... Several sources in her own camp admit that she has virtually no chance of winning the nomination except if she succeeds in finding James Hoffa's body and moving it in Obama's flower garden to put the blame on him.

    Since there is little chance for the body to be found, she makes all these negative assertions. The goal seems to be the 2012 election. By putting enough doubts on Obama, Hillary is hoping that he will lose to McCain and that she or Chelsea (who is also an experienced leader after her journey at the White House mansion) will be able to run in 2012. The Clintons might then be able to capitalize again with the rental of the Lincoln Bedroom to big lobbyists.

    Whatever happens, since the Judas story with Richardson, we know that Hillary believes in ressurection; she or her husband Bill would be Jesus if I understood correctly the story. So, we can assume that Hillary will not hesitate to play the kamikaze with this election or the next one since she will probably reborn again, as the savior.

    Hillary Clinton needs to begin to prepare her exit from the race before she hurts herself or others.

  • Posted By: Karenn1 @ 03/14/2008 9:13:33 AM

    This is the Clintons M O ..I know how washington works ,l have experience,l can twist and pervert with the best of them.Obama your .not ready.

  • Posted By: where are the facts @ 03/13/2008 7:19:31 PM

    If you have this much time, why not spend some of it investigating the very real issue of Hezbollah's cyber threat? Do some good for a change and stop the hate coming into our country. Thank you.

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