Clearly Obama didn't oggle the young girl's butt. I have no idea why this is still being discussed. Perhaps the stupidest criticism I've heard is that if George W. Bush had done this, it'd be all over the news. Uhhh, really. Did folks somehow forget this?
Of course they did, because it never was (nor should have been) a story. Bush's photo, while far more playful, was also an optical illusion. Ditto for Obama's, although his is purely a work of lazy media fiction. Tell em' Tamron!This falls right in line with common stereotypes. A black man can't resist peeking at butts, even underaged ones. And his tall, muscular black wife probably kicked his ass when they got back to the hotel. Cause, you know, that's what angry, "obese" black women do.
Riiiiight. I can't help but think that there's a little bit of "oversexed Black man"-style racial politricks lurking under the surface here. What say ye'?
Question: Is "BootyGate" being blown out of proportion? Is there a double standard for liberals and Conservatives, or is this more black and white?
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This was a total joke. The media ought to be ashamed.
It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. They can't find fault with any thing of significance from his overseas trip so they just make up a controversy. Classy.
I agree with Monie and OneChelse. The media needs to do better. They just want something to make Pres. Obama look bad. The media has done this to people for years. What is the point of making someone a stereotype of being oversexed while black and all that other crap? He doesn't even fit the mold. The media seriously needs to focus their attention elsewhere.
What?!? You mean this is actually still being talked about?!?!
I haven't been watching the tube lately. What actually IS being said? Don't tell me they're pretending to forget about the video that THEY already showed us...
"Really, did folks somehow forget this?"
YES!!!! I actually did!!!! And thank you for reminding me of it! ROTFL
"I can't help but think that there's a little bit of "oversexed Black man"-style racial politricks lurking under the surface here. What say ye'?"
Nah. It's simply the antics of a media that is somehow under the brain-damaged impression that it doesn't have anything better to talk about. (Adinasi & spool, take it away.)
And don't forget---this particular Bush moment may not have left much of a mark, but the impromptu shoulder massage he gave Angela Merkel sure did. (Seriously, what the HELL was he thinking?)
"Yep, that falls right into common stereotypes. A black man can't resist peeking at butts."
(cough) That's right. (ahem) It's only black men. Yeah. (eyes dart from side to side)
I actually feel pretty damned sorry for that girl. I mean, who the hell needs this? Talk about unfair.
After seeing the video, this is a non-issue. But Sarcozy's a looker fo' real, tho.
...What exactly is George Bush doing in that picture??
And I hope that youtube video isn't implying that Michelle Obama is obese.
As for black men and booty anybody remember that song "Baby Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot? Yeah. It's definitely a black-white thing.
Okay, AB. Not to turn the tables on you but didn't you perpetuate the idea that Obama was looking at that girl's butt when you posted it last week? Yes, I know. It was only in fun. I get that. But EVERYONE who posted that photo assisted in the idea that he was really doing that. If you knew that it was some bullshit, then why even entertain the photo to be perceived as it is right now.
In that same token, I was wrong for commenting on the photo in the first place, also perpetuating the idea that he was oogling at that girl.
Well, I'm not going so far as to say it was intentional on the media's part.
Fact of the matter is that the pic does look like he and Sarkozy are looking at the young Chelsea Clinton-from-the-back-cuz-of-her-hair and not unless a reporter happened to recall the video footage with the image, I see how this is totally possible.
I don't think this was racist, perhaps stereotypical, but giving how much the media has been gushing over Obama, I couldn't see how this wasn't all done in jest. Clearly it's a non-news story.
C'mon. Bootygate? That's one of the many reasons I don't get my news via the TV anymore. With all that's going on in the world we get this??
Even if Barry did give a side eye to somebody's ass that doesn't warrant making the news. And Bush did smack that volley ball player's ass! Did the media make a big deal of that??
Double standard? This is a repressed society when it comes to sex. It goes way deeper than double standards.
Off-topic but relevant to the idea of media double-standards:
"Life with Elvis
Elvis and Priscilla met in 1959 at a party in Bad Nauheim, Germany during his stay in the army. She was 14 years old at the time ... They quickly began a romantic relationship ... Finstad writes that Priscilla and Elvis slept together on their second date, and that she wasn't a virgin when she met him..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Presley
Talk amongst yourselves.
@ Ciara
Okay, AB. Not to turn the tables on you but didn't you perpetuate the idea that Obama was looking at that girl's butt when you posted it last week?
No, I was actually doing a little experiment to see whether or not my readers had fallen for the okey doke, and if now, how pervasive such a photo can be without the necessary context. I think this sorta proved my point.
@ Hershey's
He definitely doesn't fit the "oversexed black male" stereotype.
@ Marbles
I heard this discussed on no fewer than 3-4 Sunday political shows, and all over Conservative radio. It's sickening.
@ Adinasi
Sarkozy does appear to have looked, but you're well aware that the attitudes toward sexuality are quite different overseas. I doubt this was a story in France. Could someone confirm/debunk this theory?
@ LadyM
Bush isn't about to "tap that ass" in the photo. I never saw video of this, but I think he was just joking around. Peep the other photos in the story link.
But yeah, the implication of that video is that Michelle O is fat, which is beyond laughable. Still, I hear/read this same sentiment throughout Conservative media anytime she's discussed, as well as her being referred to as Sasquatch and fat-ass. Strangely, the PC/gender police don't seem to notice this. Check some of the Google links above, and read the stories/comments.
@ Uppity
Picking on him for supposedly looking at booty is totally in jest until you read nonsense like some of what I saw last week. I'd dig up links, but I don't have time.
And btw, the girl at the center of this is Mayara Tavares. No one really seems to be talking about her. She was there to take part of the G8 as a teen representative and look what happened to her. It's not Obama who is really the victim in all of this media hoopla it's Mayara.
@ AB
HOLD UP, AB! Bush did make contact with the volleyball player. He didn't smack her ass but he did tap her back/spine in jest. See story in link below.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/11/georgebush.olympics2008
Hey, most of us(dudes) prolly woulda took a peek. That's why most of us aren't president.
@AB,
Where in the HELL did you find that Michelle Obama video. The song is great. I don't agree with their assessment.
WTF???
After reading cjames comments I watched the video. Who the hell produced this video? And how the hell did they define obesity??
Michelle looks healthy and normal.
I googled the definition for obesity (see below).
Hell yes, this country is fat...but don't use Michelle as an example. Somebody needs to GO. SIT. DOWN.
"A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and build.
Obesity has been more precisely defined by the National Institutes of Health (the NIH) as a BMI of 30 and above. (A BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.)
The BMI (body mass index), a key index for relating body weight to height, is a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by their height in meters (m)squared. Since the BMI describes the body weight relative to height, it correlates strongly (in adults) with the total body fat content. Some very muscular people may have a high BMI without undue health risks."
@ CJames/VLatte
Bush was "invited" to smack that a$$ (which is volleyball custom after a good play), but chose instead to tap her on the back. Again, no biggie, and certainly a non-issue, much like Obama's optical illusion of oggling a tween.
Re: that video, it's emblematic of much of the hate mongering I see in posts (mainly Conservative, but often liberal as well) about the 1st lady. Seriously, if you wanna get your blood boiling, just read the comments section below ANY story about her posted on the web. Some of it is very, very, very sickening, not just to black women, but to men (like myself) married to black women.
@ Monie:
A-freaking-men. And do the vultures care? No. I'd like to think they'd be somewhat more courteous if she were native and not Brazilian, but emphasis on "like" to think.
@ AB:
I'm sure whatever they say below news stories pales next to what I've seen on places like FreeRepublic.
And I used to think Hillary-hate ate through steel walls.
At VLatte,
Wii Fit tells me I am overweight.
It does matter your muscular content and body type but the BMI is generally pretty accurate. Michelle is probably not obese but may be slightly overweight. I am not sure once you calculate her height and age.
@cjames
I'm appalled she would get called out like that...'cause I've seen some seriously FAT folks (morbidly obese is the correct term) in this country and she's not one of them.
Overweight is one thing...obese is another.
The video showed her in the black and red dress compared to the runway model. What size is a runway model?? 0/2?? The average size of women in this country is 14.
I get sick and damned tired about comments on women's appearance in this country--not just related to Michelle. Folks made fun of Hilary for being ugly and shrill.
Janet Reno got called out for looking asexual--or a tad less feminine than men are used to.
Is it that women in power are intimidating so folks are just left to point out physical flaws??
@ V Latte:
On that note, that's the only, ONLY reason I'm glad Sarah Palin is so popular (at least among a certain crowd). In all the kerfuffle of us scratching our heads and knashing our teeth over her popularity, did any of us stop and realize that out of nowhere, a significant number of men not only say they'd vote for a woman, but HOPE she'll run?
I mean...whoa. How'd that happen?
Yes, I realize that's probably largely because unlike Reno, Hillary and Michelle, Palin doesn't clash with the traditional image of femininity. But still! Wow!
(Michelle doesn't clash, really---they've just convinced themselves she does.
They've convinced themselves of a LOT o' things....)
Holy crap! I was totally zoning out and typed "Michelle" in the name space!
Go ahead. Call it a Freudian slip if ya must. That won't make it one. XD
@ Michelle
"did any of us stop and realize that out of nowhere, a significant number of men not only say they'd vote for a woman, but HOPE she'll run?"
That's a good point...but I would venture a guess that a lot of her initial popularity was due to the "beauty queen" smile and wink. The first time I saw the term MILF was related to Sarah Palin. The things I read that were written BY the GOP pundits/talking heads were directly related to Palin's looks. I was stunned.
If, in fact, Palin did help pave the way to make it easier for women to be taken seriously as national candidates...more power to her. Unfortunately for the GOP she had to eventually open her mouth. And the rest is history.
P.S. I don't hate on Sarah because she's attractive. There are many more reasons related to her ideology as to why I loathe her as a politician.
@ AB:
WHAT a coincidence.
If you're still reading this, Olbermann just put the spotlight on, where else, none other than FreeRepublic, whose "moderators" took three days to take down a particular bunch of comments about the Obamas (sparked by a pic of Malia in a peace-sign tee shirt).
The comments highlit in the brief report were, shall we say, breathtaking. But I have the sneaking suspicion that they would not surprise you in the least.
@ V Latte:
Great. Ya gonna start calling me "Michelle" now? XD
@ Marbles
LOLOLOLOL
You are "young Jedi" to me.
Michelle was the poster before you. I was actually replying to her.
I could call you Michelle but ONLY when you're in drag. Please post all photos...wear something lacey and sexy, please. :-0
**insert Rick James' "Super Freak" here**
Lol@Marbles thinking Vlatte called him Michelle!
@Marbles: Free Republic is to the crazy-ass right as Democratic Underground is to the looney left.
No surprise Olbermann highlighted them though. It's like shooting fish in a barrel over there.
Thing is that I've seen photos of a lot of politicians seemingly staring at a woman's booty and now that I've seen the video of Obama I'm wondering if those other politicians did indeed check out the bootie.
€ spool:
No argument there. I joined then in '05 I think, but lost interest after a couple of days because they were just too similar to the Freepers for my taste.
Still, their nastiness comes from a somewhat more tolerable mental place.
But not tolerable enough.
It's comical, though, how neither crowd can see how similar they are, and hold the other up as the nadir of humanity. XD
@ V Latte & Monie:
ROTFL! I WAS Michelle! Go back.
@Marbles
Okay then, who is Michelle? I mean if you're typing her name like that she must be someone to you. Lol
@ Marbles/"Michelle"
Uh, does that mean you've logged on as "Michelle" before?? Hmmmmm.
Wow, there are some things best left unsaid!! LOLOLOL
That's alright, Marbles. I'll call you whatever you'd like!! BTW...I didn't realize that was you until I read your last post!!!
Crazy stuff...you freak!!!! :-)
Aw, fer...!!!
Quote:
Monday, July 13, 2009 7:12:00 PM
"Holy crap! I was totally zoning out and typed "Michelle" in the name space!
Go ahead. Call it a Freudian slip if ya must. That won't make it one. XD"
End quote. :p
@ Marbles
Tee hee! You are officially trapped in an alternate reality. Enjoy! LOL!!
@ Marbles
I got ya now, young Jedi. I didn't realize you had actually keyed in your response as Michelle.
I thought you meant you had caught yourself keying in the name but fixed it before it posted.
Wrong assumption on my part.
Made for good posting.
I should have known it was you because who else would use the term "kerfuffle"?? LOLOLOL
That screams MARBLES!!!!
Now go pour me a martini...I need a cocktail after this!!! :-)
Fellas, c'mon now, let's be honest. Barry took a little side glance at that. Who among us wouldn't? The young lady is fine! He was extremely smoove about it. The follow-through to the woman to whom he was offering his hand was impeccable and gives him the perfect plausible deniability. All of us who are husbands have (or should have) learned this move. Compare to Sarkozy, who was gawking like a dirty old man.
Leave Marbles alone, folks. Honest mistake.
@AB
If we didn't like Marbles we wouldn't tease him!!! He's like our little brother...fun to torture and beat up on.
It's all good, Marbles!!! You know the "older sisters" are just busting your chops!!!
@ VL and Marbles
I have to agree! Marbles, you are definitely the little brother. As a real-life older sister, I guess my "teasing disorder" kicked in. Though frankly, I exercised amazing restraint as I watched this unfold! :)
I was wondering how long it would take before you became even remotely aggravated by all of the crossed wires, LOL. You are a noble man indeed!
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