Barack ‘N’ Tiger

I wonder if the frame on Obama’s head was intentional. I hope not. It’s what the right wing ranters rant about.
Harold

I think it’s hard to comment on the color of the “first black president” without it sounding bad, but I’ll comment anyway. I hope it doesn’t sound too bad.
I thought during the campaign that Tiger Woods did a lot to clear the way for Barack Obama. Woods is one of the best American heros we have. He broke all kinds of barriers in being the first black player in a lot of elite white rich clubs. He’s well spoken, professional, hasn’t been caught in any scandals, and is very easy for kids and adults to look up to with pride – regardless of color.
Along comes Barack Obama who’s biggest hurdle was being black and having to break down that ‘first’ barrier in another area. I suggest that Tiger may have softened that barrier somewhat — especially with the rich white country club crowd (which might have been a much tougher bunch to convince that a black guy was in their league). If Obama can do what Tiger has done, and successfully navigate the demands of his position, it will be a civil rights hole in one.
Seeing this picture is truly amazing to me. These two are both elite in their own spheres. But my question is, is Tiger showing Obama something — or is Obama showing Tiger something? The easy flow of a follow through and the political handshake as mirror image gestures. Grace and power. And all with a smile. What a shot.

Maybe Bo pooped on the rug.

They seem to be welcoming another/others to come in from outside (note the doorframe on the right) to join them in this office of power (note the books – law?). Their stances and open arms make an open circle, inviting another/others in with outstretched hands, as well as with their congenial facial expressions. They stand comfortably where they are – while their attention is focused on the others, they themselves are staying put – their outstretched hands are the only things in motion in the picture.
One could imagine maybe his daughters are coming in to the room here, especially from the height of their gazes. But i also like rob’s take above.

…I have maintained for a long while that it was the emergence of Tiger Woods as a non-threatening Half-Black American Male that allowed the comfort zone of many many white Americans to be expanded to the point of a subtle and perhaps even subconscious acceptance of Barack Obama.
…AND Tiger Woods is a winner. That helps too.

Harold: So what about the “Cabinet Room revisited” the posting immediately preceding this one? The frame around Bush was one of the first things I noticed…after wincing at the urn growing out of Condi’s head.

Tiger looks sort of tamed in the suit. I’m used to seeing him on the links in his work wear.

First time commenter here, because this one really bothers me.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned yet the minstrel show type pose. I guarantee we will be seeing this in cartoons by tomorrow. Racist, hateful cartoons with white lips, funny clothes and all.

It appears to me the older Tiger Woods becomes the more Thai he appears. If I did not know who he was I would not recognize him necessarily being of African descent. On another note, I would say that Indonesian Obama lookalike Ilham Anas, same skin tone as both, looks more like Tiger: http://www.fotoglif.com/f/0kwntrzf4whs

Funny, I told my husband last week that I thought Obama was able to be elected because of Tiger Woods. (Getting people used to handsome, personable, talented men of mixed race)

I think Tiger is introducing someone to the President and the President in reaching out to shake that person’s hand.

Of the age eligible voters in 2008, I bet more had thought at age 12 “I want to be like Mike” than “I want to be Tiger.” Their eyes and hands go out the side frame to something unknown. What would it do to the picture to include both wives?

Not about “mirror image,”, it’s about celebrityhood.

I assume the frame position was delibrate. Otherwise, a portrait in the background (which is what it is, I assume from the shape of the frame) would have destroyed the symmetry of the picture. Fleeting moments, hard aesthetic decisions. All in a day’s work for a top working photographer like Pete Souza.

Can I have this dance for the rest of my life,
Can I be your partner ev-every night?
When we’re together it feels so right,
Can I have this dance, for the reeeeessst of my li-ife?
This song by Anne Murray kept running through my head.
The photo is weird…

Obama is about to Dance away with Tiger. The fan of the bookshelf behind Tiger enhances the celebrety nature or “Saint” like stature of Tiger. Their non-intimidatory stance invites all the observers to wish they were the ones being welcomed into the room. Through this image Obama is tightly linked to the non politically driven ideology of Tiger Woods, and especially distances him from his predecessor and the grubby political activities which happened there.

The outstretched hands reminded me of the Stuart portrait of George Washington, I think it’s in the East Room, where it looks like he’s gesturing with his right hand for the observer to have a seat! Oh if I only knew how to link to that portrait….

Do you mean this picture, chachabowl?

Link tags didn’t work. Cut-and-paste:
http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/furnishings/george-washington-gilbert-stuart.jpg

You’re not alone, this was my first hit as well.

Excellent – we see in Callie Schells’s slide show at TIME that Obama studies the portraits on display in his new home. And the pose is appropriate to BAG’s invite to new commenters.
As an aside, I was pleased to learn that Obama uses Grant’s cabinet desk (eight drawers) in a small office, plus displays a neat portrait of Grant on another wall. I like it that the President honors another predecessor with ties to Illinois.

Wow! That simple change will really help with my hook?

Alphonse & Gaston: –you first; –no, after you; –please, I insist; etc.

Exactly, PattyQ. It’s so obvious I can’t believe it’s even worth a post or, especially, all these bizarre comments.

I’m not sure that the picture hits me in a bad way; I find the mirroring intriguing. I don’t have the feeling that it is about race at all. It doesn’t say that to me. Instead it says: Two people who are masters at what they do meeting each other -

The only thing that comes to mind for me is one word: elegant. I’d like to think Tiger is introducing his wife to Barack, however, it wouldn’t surprise me if they had met before. Although I believe it’s placement is accidental, I wonder if the square picture frame behind Barack’s head was used as a gibe against all those stupid halo photos of Bush. It made me chuckle in any case.

jasperjava – Thanks for the Washington link, I’ll save it and use it for my desktop next Presidents’ Day!

So very much, too much, I find, projected onto both public figures.
I don’t consider golf a real sport, that’s why you can limp and still play.
Obama is magical, amazing, wonderful, thoughtful, ethnic, etc, but he’s still surrounded by same ol same ol

It is a completely fascinating picture. They’re wearing the same suits and shirts, even. In so many ways they seem alike. Yet Obama is not a golfer, is he? He’s a basketball player.
There’s another interesting Pete Souza photo on the White House website, of Obama imitating the cricket swing of a black cricket player as they stand side by side, on his recent Americas trip.
Anyway, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Tiger goes into politics some day. Most athlete-politicians seem to be Republicans, but perhaps Tiger would buck the trend.

I agree with Patty, Tiger is performing the introduction and Obama is greeting the person – maybe Tiger’s wife?

it’s funny, I’ve always thought of Tiger as a really good-looking guy, but here he seems almost homely. don’t know if it’s the suit, the particular expression, being intimidated in the White House, a bit of weight he’s put on, or just the fact that we’ve gotten used to looking at Obama’s superstar smile, but, sadly, *that* was the first thing that struck me.
whatever mirroring the photo catches, I agree with others that the introduction (Tiger) and reaching for a handshake (Obama) is clear enough that attempts to stamp more on it ring a bit hollow to me. still, there’s clearly a connection between the two men and the current era…

I have thought for some time that Tiger Woods did a lot to make Obama’s victory possible. He became a familiar, comfortable figure for millions of people many of whom are not traditional Democratic voters and was a mixed race person who came to be trusted and admired in an unexpected role (not baaseball or basketball or football, but golf). That made it easier for Obama to also seem completely normal in an unfamilair role just a few years later.