Posters of Obama as Joker pop up in LA

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Posters portraying U.S. President Barack Obama as The Joker from the Batman movie "The Dark Knight" have been spotted throughout Los Angeles.

The poster of Obama, wearing The Joker's trademark white face make-up and elongated lips, also carries the word "socialism" above and below his image, FoxNews.com reported Tuesday.

Obama's healthcare policy, which includes a public medical insurance option, has been criticized by opponents as opening the door to a government takeover of the nation's healthcare system.

Fox News Channel said it was unclear who produced the posters.

The Joker's character in "The Dark Knight" was an anarchist, not a socialist.

Heath Ledger, who died Jan. 22, 2008, of an accidental drug overdose, won an Oscar in 2009 for his portrayal as Batman's nemesis.