No breaking away from Barack Obama's bicycle picture

LA Times ^ | 6/10/08 | staff

[pissant]

The debate is on: The widely circulated photograph of Barack Obama on a bicycle this last weekend either did the presidential candidate no favors, or actually helped his cause.

In an article in today's New York Daily News, writer David Saltonstall shows no mercy, declaring: "It wasn't a pretty picture: ill-fitting jeans, a tucked-in golf shirt, black-and-white socks and a helmet that could make Michael Dukakis blush."

A weekend in Chicago spent by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama included a bicycle ride with his family Yet in comments to Saltonstall, some Big Apple fashionistas cut Obama major slack. Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York, says: "I like seeing my politicians in goofy weekend attire. It means they're thinking about more important stuff."

Newsweek's Andrew Romano notes today that when the shot of Obama on the bike as part of an excursion with his family in Chicago "hit the wires, the heavily trafficked right-wing message boards of Free Republic went wild."

Those postings, as you can imagine, weren't complimentary toward Obama (but several were creative).

Romano, though, argues that the "bike moment" will be a plus for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee because it "makes him look like a normal, nerdy American dad."Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts went wind surfing during his 2004 presidential campaign

[altura]

Seriously, it was a joke!

[The KG9 Kid]

Come to think of it, this picture actually makes him look good what with gas roaring up to $5 a gallon.

[A Texan]

I'll check out the link, thanks. I was always more of a fan of The Cure, but Depeche Mode is cool too. The Cure is releasing a new cd in a couple of months if you care. They are releasing a new single every month on the 13th until the album comes out.

The Flobots cd is good but they are a little political, and it doesn't line up with the most of FR posters beliefs. To me it is a mix of Cake, Rage Against the Machine, and the Beastie Boys.

[taxesareforever]

I guess I should have said “The rear tire looks half full and the bicyclist sounds half empty”.