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Do I have your attention? Good:

After last week’s VP debate, Freedom Eden made a post questioning the taste of some Reuters photos of Governor Palin’s legs/shoes, taken by Carlos Barria.

I saw some of those photos on Reuters, and didn’t think anything of it, even inserting one into Curt’s post. Here are some others, not by Mr. Barria:

Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin stands at the podium during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Don Emmert/Pool (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin stands at the podium during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Don Emmert/Pool (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)


A supporter of Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, shows off her t-shirt as Palin’s red shoes are seen on stage during an outdoor rally in Fairfax, Virginia, September 10, 2008.
REUTERS/Jason Reed

At the Reuters Blog, Robert Basler is asked:

Blog Guy, a few days ago you did an item about how photographers cover the shoes of women candidates. I think you were just putting us on, and I’ll prove it. What kind of shoes did Sarah Palin wear at last night’s debate in St. Louis?

In response to Mary’s reaction at Freedom Eden, I wrote:

I actually like the shot.

I don’t think it’s a shoe fetish with photographers. And even if none were taken of Biden’s shoes, I’ve got in my files, McCain’s shoes and Obama’s shoes.

It’s one of those things that captures perspective and a bit of an artsy statement.

What I see is a reminder that this is a “pit bull with lipstick”…and high heels. That she is a woman who has taken the baton from Hillary and is running with it.

I still feel that way; but now, these photos might be crossing the line of taste (from Ace of Spades, via NewsBusters):

I’d say it’s a rather unflattering shot of the Palin boy fans in the foreground. But what were the intentions of the AP/Reuters photographers? These might be heelish shots; but was that the intent of the photographers? I don’t know. It’s just not that uncommon to take perspective shots like this. For instance:

John McCain’s socks are visible as he speaks during the CNN/L.A. Times/Politico Republican Debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Jan. 30. The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination hopes to take control of the race in Super Tuesday’s primaries and caucuses. David McNew – Getty Images

Not exactly a flattering shot of “old man” McCain. But is it intentionally biased? Negative? What impression does it leave on the viewer?

I’d say this one is unflattering of Senator Clinton, because of the boredom faces:

The youth vote? Maybe in 2016 or 2020.
Photo Credit: By Ricky Carioti — The Washington Post

More shots of Hillary’s shoes on the Reuters Blog.

But again, it’s hard to know the intent of the photographer who happened to capture/stage the shot; and the editors who published it.

Not all photos of Senator Obama are flattering, either. But take a look at these of Saint Obama, and tell me what was on the mind of the photographer:

Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama speaks in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Rick Wilking -Reuters

Proselytizing politics, like a Sermon on the Mount?

Here’s the whopper-shot:

Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is pictured on stage during a campaign rally in Bristow, Virginia, June 5, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)(C) is pictured on stage during a campaign rally in Bristow, Virginia, June 5, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

That has got to be, the most sanctimonious, smug, self-important, condescending, nose-in-the-air shot of the Man Who Would Be President. At least, that’s what I get from the photo. Obviously, the photographer was trying to capture a dignified, sanctified image of Senator Savior Obama, halo and all.

Wonder what kind of artsy statement this photographer was trying to make:

President Bush gestures as he makes remarks at the 2007 Republican Governors Association gala at the National Building Museum in Washington last night. Lawrence Jackson, AP

Of course, the photo of the day should be the following:


A guest wears footwear decorated with a Barack Obama theme at Belmont University before the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee October 7, 2008.
REUTERS/Jim Young


Obama flip flops!


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Hey, thanks for linking to my Oddly Enough blog. You might also want to have a look at the item I just posted a couple of minutes ago…

http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/2008/10/09/ill-have-a-half-calf-latte-please/

regards,
Bob Basler

I feel like I owe her a $1 now.

Hey guys! hows life in the trailor park?

hows life in the trailor park?

I don’t know.

You haven’t invited me over to visit.

I noticed that shoe thing… very weird. But what the heck, at least they are nice shoes…

I am SURE Her legs are nicer than ANY of the other candidates.

Vote Gams!

I must admit that I love the view. A lil more, please? I’ve never seen a VP that I was attracted to physically. It’s weird, neat, but weird. Feels a little like incest or something.

I’d like to play “stump the candidate” with Palin.

What is this, the trenchcoat thread???? I thought this was a conservative site. I guess I’ve been duped (yet) again.
Baldwin ’08!!!!

Well Richard, I’m a conservative with beautiful daughters and granddaughters and I think the way this thread is going is sickening. Wondering if some of these “ahem” gentlemen have daughters and do they think that their daughters deserve to be respected for something other than their body? If so, why doesn’t Sarah Palin deserve the same?

As old as I am, I think I would have to personally take care of some creepy young man, old man? whatever, that would show such disrespect to any one of my own.

Why are we seeing these photos, doesn’t Sarah Palin have a face?

It’s the only thing the McCain campaing people have left. And all the while the economy keeps sliding farther downhill. And then people ask why Obama is leading by so much. It’s because the McCain campaign people are a bunch of nincompoops. They think the public will go for this stuff.
They could care less. They’re too worried about their accounts.

Richard, it’s not the McCain Camp that is generating these photos. Did you even read the beginning of the thread? It’s the media that has some kind of fetish with Sarah Palin’s legs and shoes.

McCain is out there talking about the economy, from what I’ve read, a third of his stump speech deals with the economy. Instead we get reports on whatever he says about Ayres and photos of Sarah Palin’s legs and shoes.

Thank you, Missy.

The “photos thing” is a subliminal tactic to mock Palin by media types. One of my many hobbies over the last 30-so years was in community theater and entertainment, in the techncal aspects (directing, writing, lighting, set design/construction, staging, and performance). To do so, required a lot of research and study to present the best possible shows for the viewing audience. Even though our shows were live, You learn a lot about things like texures, color use, balance, etceteras. Many of these aspects also transfer to photographic art and techniques. These photo’s are much like the Gibson interview where camera angles had Charlie dwarfing her and appearing as a strict school dean reprimanding a disobedient co-ed student. The “calves shots” with young men in the background is intended to elicit a sort of seductive “Mrs’ Robinson” (Movie-The Graduate) view of her. The photo of Obama pointing into the sky is reminescent of Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting of God and Adam. These are subtile but subliminally effective. The Reuters pics are no different than this month’s Newsweek cover that zoomed way in on Sarah’s face without doing their typical airbrushing they would normally have done for anyone the media actually respected (to conceal blemishes and hair). Hence; Just more media crap.

Wow. Those leg shots framing the boys definitely cross the line of good taste.

There’s absolutely a “Mrs. Robinson” vibe there. It’s degrading to Palin.

They aren’t news photos. They’re editorials.

Oh come on now… she’s a self proclaimed pit-bull and a maverick to boot. She can take a little ribbin. By the way, her feet look horrible – get a load of those veins. Betcha she’s got some ugly toes from those ridiculous shoes.

Anyone who knows:

How can I post an image onto a comment? I want to share a truth-speaking picture I found.

Patriot,

Are you gay or you just hate woman?

@Patriot: This may be the feminist side of me stirring up, but I do believe the MSM is still playing the “she’s a woman, she doesn’t belong in politics” game. They didn’t do this to Hillary because I never saw her in anything but a pant-suit (case in point, the picture above). To me, it’s all the better that they do this, though – she looks stunning, and she’s powerful enough to kick your ass. No one said you can’t be beautiful and not know how to handle a gun at the same time.