Bob Herbert: Why is everyone missing the phallic symbols in McCain’s Britney ad?

hotair.com ^ | August 4, 2008 | Allahpundit

[Free ThinkerNY]

Between this and last week’s Godwin-ing of the crowd scenes, I’m honestly curious to see where the left takes the critique next. One would think they’d either run out of cards to play or would quietly pocket the ones they have left lest they make themselves look more ridiculous, but each new day brings a fresh load of semiotic ore mined. It’s the “Ulysses” of campaign ads — the only limit on what it means is your own imagination. Still, Herbert’s reading warrants special mention, not only because it manages to be simultaneously exceedingly paranoid and pedestrian but because he mangles a fact here so basic that it discredits his entire claim to be a close reader. The tower seen behind Obama at the beginning of the ad is obviously the Victory Column in Berlin — where he recently spoke to 200,000 people, remember? — not the Leaning Tower of Pisa or Washington Monument. For Herbert to get that wrong despite the massive publicity surrounding the location of the speech, especially after it was moved from the Brandenburg Gate, is like having a chyron beneath him that reads, “I don’t know what I’m talking about.” But then, none of the MSNBC staff corrected him so I guess they don’t know what they’re talking about either. Click the image to watch.

Update: I mentioned the fact that Obama has compared himself to Paris Hilton in at least three different posts last week, but for some reason that news is just breaking big today so here’s a link to Newsbusters with the details.

[Fudd Fan]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[EggsAckley]

A bunch of desperate nonsense from desperate lefties.

[Enchante]

Bob Herbert, still giving Affirmative Action a bad name, I see........

[tips up]

Asshat...

[Tanniker Smith]

So Bob Herbert thinks that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is really the Leaning Tower of P***s?

I think he owes every Italian-American out there (and every Italian and the entire nation of Italy) an apology before all the guidos and cuisines start lining up at his doorstep.

[Just another Joe]

Phallic symbol?
Only one column is a phallic symbol?

[jimfree]

I have to say it: Bob Herbert is a weenie.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He’s a dickhead.

[MeanWestTexan]

[cookcounty]

Like the “b” in “Bob” Herbert? See that thingy sting up?

[derllak]

I really don’t get it either. Maybe our IQs aren’t low enough.

[Retired Greyhound]

Because you are a race obsessed bigot, Bob Herbert.

[Hacklehead]

Leftist morons go through these commercials frame by frame trying spot hidden messages. Remember the “RATS” controversy during the last election when on a frame or 2 of a Bush commercial the word “RATS” was displayed? Same here, the only way you notice that tower is in freeze frame. RAT paranoia is in full swing.

[muawiyah]

Phallic? I thought it was pretty clear ~ old fart (McCain) smiling all the while near nekkid nubile young tarts dance and parade through an adoring public.

Then, his younger opponent remains oblivious to all that, dancing and parading himself all the while dressed in the costume of a somber suited undertaker.

Yup, McCain knows what heterosexual sex is about even if Obama doesn't!

So Herbert comes close to comprehension but the heterosexual part of it continues to elude him. Odds are good he's one of the few dozen men in America who've never seen Hilton's movie or Spears panty(or lack thereof) shot!

So, what was it John thought about for those 5 years in North Vietnamese captivity ~ what stray images bounced around in his mind in between torture sessions ~ I really doubt he dwelt on life in a dark suit ~ maybe something more like laughing it up at a go-go bar!

[SE Mom]

This is hilarious- OBAMA compared HIMSELF to Paris Hilton.

Do they make buses the size of a Winnebago?

[dead]

Leaning tower of Pisa? What an idiot. Bob Herbert, like Chris Matthews, has got phallic on the brain when he thinks of Obama.

I'm reminded of the great quote from Dee Snider of Twisted Sister in the Senate, when Senator Al Gore told him that Tipper was offended by lyrics that she (mistakenly) assumed were about S&M:

"Ms. Gore was looking for sado-masochism and bondage and she found it."

[nobama08]

I saw him on Morning Joe this morning. No one else on there had any idea what he was talking about. The guy sounded nuts! (Oops, can I say that?)

[mkjessup]

Phallic symbol?
Only one column is a phallic symbol?

When you're Bob Herbert, and your column doesn't make it all the way to the ceiling anymore, EVERY column is a phallic symbol.

[ETL]

From the article: "The tower seen behind Obama at the beginning of the ad is obviously the Victory Column in Berlin — where he recently spoke to 200,000 people" [not the Leaning Tower of Pisa]

Berlin Victory Column

Leaning Tower of Pisa

[InvisibleChurch]

why is he the only one who sees it?

[N. Theknow]

Only a prick would make this complaint.

[N. Theknow]

Um...so which one did Bob the Brain refer to as the Washington Monument?

[FrankR]

If they remade Amos ‘n’ Andy, Herbert would be Calhoun, the lawyer.

[jongaltsr]

Ya see what you wana see and you hear what ya wana hear.

[lormand]

"He’s a dickhead."

Richard Cranium

[nesnah]

Man, this dude is completely deluded.

[Mamzelle]

Haw haw!! Bob “Phallus” Herbert.

[Mamzelle]

re: The guy sounded nuts! )))

Don't tell Jesse Jackson!

[atomic conspiracy]

“Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.”
-Euripides

[Cyber Liberty]

Because we’re not pervs, like Herbert?

[purpleraine]

I would add the church and bapistry are leaning as well.

[norcal joe]

Um...so which one did Bob the Brain refer to as the Washington Monument?

The next shot is of the crowd for Obama (and the rock concert) gathered along a avenue or park with the Victory Column in the background, somewhat reminiscent of the Washington Monument at the end of the mall, but obviously it's once again the Victory Column in Berlin. What an idiot.

[N. Theknow]

Haw haw!! Bob “Phallus” Herbert.

Wonder where Bob's partner Neal is?

[taraytarah]

why is he the only one who sees it?

I still say he needs intensive therapy.

[Republican Wildcat]

And these people say that we, the conservatives, are ignorant, uneducated hicks.

The stupidity of the “intellectuals” is breathtaking.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

What a dildo!

[RightResponse]

Bob Herbert seeing all these phallic images coming at him? He must be talking out of his a$$.....

[ari-freedom]

Stop seeing things where there's nothing there.

[ETL]

If you notice, only one of Herbert's "phallic symbols" is black. The other is white. (Herbert did seem to imply it should be obvious to anyone that they were indeed "phallic symbols"). Perhaps the question then should be: Why did Barack Obama choose to give his famous Citizen of the World speech beside a giant black "phallic symbol"? Was there some larger meaning behind it??? Could it have been meant to intimidate (or impress) Larry Sinclair???? We may never know the whole story on this one. (joking!)

Berlin Victory Column

Washington Monument

[ETL]

Herbert referred to the Victory Column in Berlin as the “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. He got the Washington Monument correct. That quote I posted was from the Newsbuster article. It was correcting Herbert’s mistake.

[jonrick46]

Bob Herbert must be hitting his meds too hard! He is starting to hallucinate! Next thing he will see the words “RATs” flashing in the video between the frames. Next thing, he will see the Mother ship behind that comet. He will be seen walking zombie-like down the Santa Monica Pier.

David Gergin started this line of thinking. Lefties always fall in line with the latest talking points, like lemmings.

For Bob life must be a bore. He can't even come up with an original thought. Poor Bob. When the meds are no longer giving him that kick, he must be begging for something to jazz up his mundane lefty life. I bet He is one of those who secretly wishes he could be taken up in some kind of alien abduction. In his fantasies, life will be so much better when they sew a chicken's head on him.

A characteristic of the Left is Chicken Little thinking. Bob Herbert gets this week's Chicken Little Award.

[jerod]

White chicks and phallic symbols... I’ll bet this fool could hardly believe that it was the Muslims who took down the world trade center, that man landed on the moon, or that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Get out your tinfoil hats.

[norcal joe]

He got the Washington Monument correct.

No, I think he got that one wrong too. See my post #33. It's also the Victory Column right after the so-called "Leaning Tower of Pizza" shot. Unless I missed the Washington Monument elsewhere.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Hmmm, I wonder, if Bob Herbert is related to this Bob:

Curiously, both Bobs have Phallus on their minds.

[Polybius]

Bob Herbert: Why is everyone missing the phallic symbols in McCain’s Britney ad?

For exactly the same reason that everyone "misses" the "phallic symbol" in photos of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

We, unlike Mr. Herbert, are not race-baiting idiots.

Racist, white supremacist event deliberately staged to juxtapose a black man and a giant phallic symbol in order to spread fear of black men in white America. < / mega-sarcasm>

[Grunthor]

“Bob Herbert: Why is everyone missing the phallic symbols in McCain’s Britney ad?”

Because ya little fruit, not everyone sees penises(penii?) everywhere.

[airborne]

So this creep sees penises everywhere.

He’s a Democrat. He’s surrounded by d!@ks.

[JasonC]

Two columns are a breast symbol...

These buffoons are beyond parody.

[montag813]

I am so sick of race.