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September 26, 2008

Financial Crisis: Obama Gets Played In Background Check

By Michael Shaw

Obama-Mccain-Crisis

“We” made progress?  “We” will have a deal? 

This is all McCain could have hoped for, and more.  Johnny comes beyond late to the party, throws a hand grenade into the budget process, then wakes up Friday morning to find, right there on the front page of the NYT, the hero on the march (in his $500 loafers) holding down the middle of the Capitol rotunda while Obama is walking away, out in the rain somewhere without an umbrella. Properly weather-attired agent with his back turned doesn’t help either. 

And then, check out the headline lower left.

… And if you think the headline somehow mitigates the visuals, perhaps tying McCain more closely to the chaos (the word “chaos” floating directly over Obama’s head, by the way), Rove would say, people read the pictures, not the words — especially when they’re this good.  Look at this juxtaposition a week from now and you’ll have wonder, where was Obama when the s–t was going down?

Finally, this lends a lot of sense to the fact McCain spent most of yesterday morning dragging the visual press literally from one end of Congress to the other, and back again.

(images: Mills/Crowley – NYT. Front page. Washington. September 26, 2008)

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  • matt

    i think you’re missing a couple of other key elements here.
    first, obama’s pic: suave and confident walk, hand in pocket; unafraid of a little rain; carrying newspaper shows he’s doing his homework; black woman hoping for red/blue unity umbrella to protect from a coming financial storm; outside the corridors of power.
    mccain’s pic: curved stone suggests bending rules and principles; police protection; gawking picture takers asks who’s playing the big wig, “celebrity” here; looks small beneath paitings of revolutionary heroes.
    fascinating.

  • Jon Simmons

    While I agree that the Obama shot is unfortunate (why does Barack Obama have his back turned to Barack Obama, and why does he look like he’s dressed for “just another day on Wall Street”).
    What shouldn’t be overlooked in the McCain shot is Joe and Jane Q Public snapping pictures in the background suggesting the political escapade for exactly what it was, a photo op.

  • Gary

    Ok, but when you compare the physical profiles shown right next to each other, Obama comes off as the far more in-shape and dynamic figure.

  • Gary

    Not to mention that the flash makes McCain look even whiter than usual, bleach white, that is, a deathly pallor in my view.

  • http://www.media.mit.edu/~nvawter enzo

    my first take was Obama with paper – informed. McCain empty-handed, clothes fitting poorly.
    McCain may be in the rotunda, but with overweight dudes and cops around, he looks like he’s at the science history museum.
    i really like the posture of the woman with the umbrella. she looks relaxed. it points out how far from “chaos” we are.

  • Middleagedhousewife

    I don’t usually disagree with you, but I do in this case. My first impression was Obama’s on Main Street; McBush is in the golden halls of elitistville. Of course, I am biased.

  • lifekatana

    But what about “Fate” floating above McCain’s head?

  • sadja

    i also got the sense that Obama appears open and available to the public – unafraid of being “exposed” whereas McCain is closed in, “the people” are held back as if “keep moving, nothin to see here folks”, keeping a tight lip.

  • http://www.woodka.com donna

    Yup, Obama’s in touch with us and how we feel, McCain is in the marble halls.

  • http://theothersideof635.blogspot.com Texrednface

    Let’s add sniveling, (or sniffling), what’s that in McCain’s left hand? a tissue?

  • http://www.kn.com.au Earl Mardle

    One more instant take on the pair.
    Obama is in the lead and out in the world, McCain is closeted away, inside Washington and walking behind. And both are walking away from the right.

  • http://alovelypromise.blogspot.com Nell

    Not to mention that today, after Johnny Drama took credit for a bailout deal that clearly didn’t exist, he looks like an idiot.

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