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No breaking away from Barack Obama's bicycle picture
LA Times ^ | 6/10/08 | staff

Posted on 06/10/2008 12:37:56 PM PDT by 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

(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption
KEYWORDS: larrysinclairslover; nerds; obama; whokilleddonaldyoung
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To: lakeman
"Why would you need a helmet to go bike riding when he’s out for a little spin around the block with his daughter in tow (was she wearing a helmet). Just another example of the sissyfication of America."

Obviously you've never rode a bike on a military installation. Not only are helmets mandatory but you must wear a reflective device (belt or vest) at night. Are they sissies too?

81 posted on 06/10/2008 1:22:38 PM PDT by blaquebyrd
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To: pissant
rear tire way low on air.
Seat is too low.
And who in the world wears JEANs to go biking, except folks who are
a-homeless
b-just stole the bike
c-use a bike for commuting to work?

staged photo scene...right down to the SS detail in the blue car running interference next to him.

82 posted on 06/10/2008 1:25:58 PM PDT by woollyone (100 rounds per week totals 5000 rounds in a year. Just thought you'd want to know.)
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To: John123
I doubt it. That is how the hitch is designed, with a knurled knob to detach it.

What I see is mostly something like this:


83 posted on 06/10/2008 1:27:41 PM PDT by NathanR (Obama: More 'African' than 'American'.)
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To: GOP_Proud

They look a little snug in the thighs, but that could just be because he’s pedaling.

From the lack of air in his back tire (which, IMO, is the most embarrassing thing in the picture) and having the kiddie attachment, he’s probably having to push hard.


84 posted on 06/10/2008 1:27:45 PM PDT by retrokitten (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/ for when FR is down!)
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To: retrokitten
Maybe, he is pedaling it to the nearest gas station to get the tire filled.
85 posted on 06/10/2008 1:29:33 PM PDT by NathanR (Obama: More 'African' than 'American'.)
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To: altura
... can he even dance??

Not really. He was on Ellen a while back and The Soup had a great time with his dancing. Or lack of.

He just radiates dorkiness and "I'm trying VERY HARD to be cool!" in this video. Obama Dancing on Ellen

86 posted on 06/10/2008 1:32:25 PM PDT by retrokitten (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/ for when FR is down!)
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To: gathersnomoss

“....will be a plus for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee because it “makes him look like a normal, nerdy American dad.”...

I’d say a big yes on the “nerdy”...


87 posted on 06/10/2008 1:34:16 PM PDT by nikos1121 (Thank you, Jimmy Carter for all you've done to make the world a safer place.)
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To: Nick Danger
at least he's not in that Spandex weenie-wear that John Kerry rode around in.

I'll never forget this picture of the dork.


88 posted on 06/10/2008 1:35:31 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Typical white person, bitter, religious, gun owner, who will "Just say No to BO in Nov.")
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To: pissant
The LA Times is a liberal rag. They are pretending to embarass Obama by publishing a perfectly acceptable photo of him riding a bike dressed like a white person and calling it embarassing.

This is calculated to improve his image.

Why don't they publish the pic of him puffing a fag?
This is designed to help Obama while pretending to be embarassing/critical.


89 posted on 06/10/2008 1:36:41 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: pissant; All
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."

I just noticed this line. Does anyone have a link to the Freepers Gone Wild thread this tool is talking about? I was here an embarrassingly large amount of time over the weekend and never saw it.

90 posted on 06/10/2008 1:39:44 PM PDT by retrokitten (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/ for when FR is down!)
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To: John123

My husband told me that making fun of Obama on a bike is racist and forbidden.


91 posted on 06/10/2008 1:43:55 PM PDT by altura (McCain for President - or, as I call it, NOBama.)
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To: A_perfect_lady

I used to ride to school in the 70’s (college days) and when you wore jeans you had to rubber band cuff or got caught in chain remember?


92 posted on 06/10/2008 1:45:12 PM PDT by LYSandra
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To: STONEWALLS

I agree. That could be me, except I don’t wear running shoes (they’d be hiking boots) and the socks would Smartwool.


93 posted on 06/10/2008 1:45:44 PM PDT by PjhCPA (catchy taglines are boring)
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To: GOP_Proud
I don’t get the “ill-fitting” jeans part. Aside from the fact that riding in jeans is not the regular fashion, those are far from “ill-fitting”.

I guess some salon owner is just bitching that they are $30-$40 jeans instead of $300 jeans.

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."

If I didn't know it was Obama, I would just say he's a normal guy out for a little bike ride. Since he's wearing jeans and a polo shirt I would assume that he's just going a couple of miles from one place to another. And bike helmets make anyone look like a dork, but you still should wear one because tipping a bike and having your head hit the pavement once is worse than looking like a dork a hundred times. I don't know if this was a photo op or a candid shot, but if it is the first they learned something from Kerry about how not to handle a bike ride.

94 posted on 06/10/2008 1:46:19 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (the Clinton dream of being a two impeachment family goes right down the drain. - Letterman)
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To: pissant

“I like seeing my politicians in goofy weekend attire.”

A monkey in a silk suit is still a monkey. I don’t care what costume they put on this guy, he’s still a black racist and a Marxist.


95 posted on 06/10/2008 1:47:42 PM PDT by Gator113 (Obama is a member of the Far Wright Conspiracy.......)
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To: altura
...can he even dance??

Don't know because don't want to know.

96 posted on 06/10/2008 1:48:56 PM PDT by Petronski (Scripture & Tradition must be accepted & honored w/equal sentiments of devotion & reverence. CCC 82)
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To: pissant
I find the snide remark about the "makes him look like a normal, nerdy American dad." most offensive.

Yet another denigrating crack at dads continues the anti-male undercurrent in reporting at LA Times and elsewhere... reference here and here.

97 posted on 06/10/2008 1:51:10 PM PDT by AQuietThinkingMan (Global warmng... it's not just science, it's political science.)
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To: STONEWALLS

Then you must belong to the “goofy weekend attire” club. So do I. ;>)

Are you also clinging to your guns and a bible????


98 posted on 06/10/2008 1:51:19 PM PDT by Gator113 (Obama is a member of the Far Wright Conspiracy.......)
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To: Bon mots
They are pretending to embarass Obama by publishing a perfectly acceptable photo of him riding a bike dressed like a white person

Crap - you mean I've been white my whole life & even I didn't know we had our own dress code?!?

99 posted on 06/10/2008 1:53:22 PM PDT by gdani (I'm a firm believer in DE-evolution -- just look around........)
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To: Bon mots

“Why don’t they publish the pic of him puffing a fag?”
He’s gay?


100 posted on 06/10/2008 1:53:52 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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