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February 6, 2008

Your Turn: San Diego

By Michael Shaw

Mccain-Jim's

I was really fascinated with the McCain image that appeared on yesterday morning’s NYT front page.  I found it particularly unusual as the shot they chose to mark his Super Tuesday victory. 

Given our mission at BAGnewsNotes,  we have a unique opportunity in the coming days to consider and analyze — from the beginning — how the media goes about visually framing McCain.  This photo, taken by Mario Tama, the fine Getty photographer and friend of The BAG, was taken at an aircraft company in San Diego on election day.  What do you make of it, both the shot itself, and the fact The Times elevated it the way they did?

If you’re new to the site, or have been hesitant to jump into the discussion, by the way, I’m offering you special encouragement as we all visually move into the post-Bush era.

NYT Front Page image September 6, 2008

(image: Mario Tama, Getty Images. San Diego.  February 5, 2008.  via usatoday.net)

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  • NinaBerman

    McCain the commander, first and foremost, see the war scar more visible than ever, giving blessing to a young man who must surely be in the military. Was there a caption? Interesting how his wife seems preoccupied, a little sad, but McCain is able to keep it together. Very interesting picture

  • http://justbetweenstrangers.blogspot.com/ acm

    he looks like he’s giving the military equivalent of a benediction — shades of future Commander in Chief action?

  • http://www.sherrychandler.com Bluegrass Poet

    He has taken the fairy tale away from Obama. Now McCain is the little guy who’s taking on the machine, the prince who lifted the sword from the stone.

  • http://www.jaxxattaxx.com/ black dog barking

    “Plastics.”
    Looks kinda like a somber private moment, odd place to be having one of those. The regular folk gathered around seem to be respecting the moment. The camera folk? Nah. Maybe this is a subset of bleeding — leading.
    So McCain’s lefthanded? (Pen in left hand, gripped for business. Watch on the right wrist.)

  • Jacques

    I’ll tell you what my first thought was, McCain greeting a wounded veteran coming back from iraq.

  • holga

    the mood of this frame very internal, minus the one smiling dude on the left. the media is setting a stage for a very sentimental view of mccain. all the faces in the picture (minus goofy man) are creating a sense of quietude in contrast to the great noise and rage that must take place in a situation like this. mccain looks very genuine. and his mood is affecting everyone in the image, it seems. the media is saying look at this man; look what he lives and creates. that’s what i see…

  • Jacques

    My second thought was that he was thinking about shoving his tongue down his throat.

  • gasho

    Interesting shot, indeed. McCain has a shadow on his face even in such a well lit situation. The shadow to me tells of his experience in war, something he seems to share with this man. The man’s hands are folded and his eyes closed, he seems humbled, and hurt.
    McCain, to his credit, is giving his full attention and honestly connecting to this person. What strikes me, though, is that McCain’s policy of ‘more war’ is going to create thousands more of these painful situations – is McCain ready to face an army of pain that HE, specifically, has created? I hope we never find out.

  • Tom

    Bless you my son, go forth to Iraq where we will be for the next 100 years.

  • http://www.bagnewsnotes.com The BAG

    One take I had: Is the media taking the edge off the “age issue” by framing Mac — here, at least — as a fatherly figure? (Good luck, though, given McCain’s peevish, smirky, little boy nature.)
    Re: the caption, it was thoroughly benign: “John McCain of Arizona and his wife, Cindy, greeted supporters on Tuesday at an aviation company in San Diego.”

  • eab

    I’d agree with those who think it resembles a benediction. He’s definitely solemnizing something — go forth into battle, my son? — and he’s focussed and engaged with the young man.
    I was also struck by that front page headline:
    “McCain Gains Wide Support. Clinton and Obama Battle.” I guess it’s technically true and all, but some narrative foundations are showing as well.

  • jtfromBC

    the gwot piper posturing
    and
    For the task assigned them
    Men aren’t smart enough or sly
    Any rogue can blind them
    With a clever lie
    Brecht

  • http://profile.typekey.com/flyingshark/ flyingshark

    How about we go into the missus being in “the light” and Darth Lite being in the shadow of the young buck he’s “bucking up”.
    And the guy on the left with the headband, smiling. He’s looking at Ms. Darth Lite, and in reaction, she almost appears to have a: “there he goes again” look. She’s not happy about something that’s transpiring here.
    And McCain- he’s holding a pen. Is he left handed? Is he just taking a break from signing autographs? Or a break from signing up recruits?
    And as a personal note. What do you do in the face of a McCain putting himself in your space like that. If you know anything about his background, you certainly have to have a sense of deference to, or for him. It’s not just that he is a war hero, there’s lots of those, but his hero status comes from being a prisoner of war, which rattles anyone’s mind. When you play as a kid, you’re always emulating the combat soldier, you never “play” P.O.W.. What’s disturbing, is that McCain is consciously playing on all those emotions when he puts himself in front of you, and I don’t think the young man there knows how to react either, his hands remain clasped in front of him. Out of servitude?

  • http://www.fromthearchives.blogspot.com Megan

    What is going on with race in that picture? In a typically Californian crowd, McCain seems to have found the only white kid in the place. McCain may revere and connect to the handsome military white guy, but who is being left out? The heavy dark-skinned guy behind him, still looking around for a connection? The hip Asian-Am guy with the bandana behind and left? They don’t get McCain’s attention. Certainly no women are anywhere close to McCain or getting some attention from him.
    (Loved this discussion, btw, for staying close to the visual analysis.)

  • Cactus

    flyingshark made a good point. McCain can always be counted on to somehow throw his heroic past in front of his path for all who approach him to reflect on. The LIFE magazine casually thrown on the table, his lame arm with the soldier’s bracelet, all little reminders that he was a hero and to be respected.
    I guess we don’t have to speculate who the NYT will be endorsing for president???

  • Steve

    It’s not just a pen, it’s a Sharpie! Not another Sharpie President, please. Off subject … imho, McCain seems to be seen signing more autographs than other candidates. Like, at every event.
    It’s a sad picture. An intense moment before many cameras. The young man’s gaze down – crossed arms, Mrs. McCain looks concerned. (Does she ever talk in public?) Agreed – the caption is missing important info.

  • glichte

    Faith healer.
    “I am calling you OUT devil! I’m calling you OUT!” Can snake handling be far behind?

  • http://www.bagnewsnotes.com The BAG

    Just to add some context, Mario Tama (who shot the photo, and has been traveling with McCain for Getty), just wrote me the following:

    I can tell you briefly that this did seem like a genuine moment, McCain paused and really took hold of the guy to give him some comfort. He was almost certainly military but I didn’t get a chance to talk with him as I was caught in the whirlwind of the media horde and then had to rush back on the campaign plane. AP identified him as “unidentified soldier” and Reuters said “wounded US Marine.” You usually see the candidates going through the same motions repeatedly ad nauseum, the handshake, the backslap, the hug, the wink, posing for a photo with a supporter, kissing the baby…But this was the first time I saw him really take time to pause and connect with a stranger with whom he seemed to feel a real connection. The man seemed genuinely moved and comforted by McCain.

  • http://www.bagnewsnotes.com The BAG

    More from Mario after he had a chance to read through the discussion:

    Regarding one of the comments, it seemed to me that the soldier grabbed MCCain first and really wanted to say something to him, at which point McCain listened in for a few moments and then took hold of him in that posture. It was of course very loud with campaign music blaring and shutters firing so it was impossible to overhear what was said. McCain does often call out to veterans in the crowd or onstage and they’re always dressed with their medals and military paraphernalia and he will often pose for the requisite photo with them. But this wasn’t like that at all. The “soldier” was dressed simply in a t-shirt and standing far away from the stage.

    Regarding Steve’s comment, I’ve been trying very hard (so far) not to draw comparison’s between Mac and GDub.  It’s due, I’m sure, to my early onset PTSD.  (“S” for Shrub.)
    And Megan, regarding sticking close to the picture, I couldn’t agree more.

  • jake

    McCain is bat-shit crazy. If Cheney doesn’t invade Iraq McCain will. These feral animals have so terrified this country that all value zombies will will follow them over a cliff to glorious victory. Try to find Goerring’s quote on how to enslave a population. It’s a few paragraphs of utter evil and simplicity.

  • http://www.woodka.com donna

    I’m actually most struck by how tightly laced Cindy seems to be. McCain’s excessive “warmth” is contrasted with her coldness and severity.
    Or maybe she’s just had too much botox.

  • http://home.comcast.net/~sfs73/index.htm MonsieurGonzo

    Cactus : “What I see in the photo is a son eagerly telling his father something and that father is giving his complete attention to him without reservation for some other agenda, i.e., campaigning.”

  • Sage

    I believe the scar on McCain’s face is from the surgical removal of a melanoma.

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