Posted on 06/14/2008 12:53:43 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Obama's quandary: Wear a helmet, look dumb or be a role model?
No image affected Michael Dukakis' 1988 campaign more than his infamous ride in the tank. This image is still funny.
Sure, there's world wars and toxic pollution and corruption and Social Security reform and a few other things like trillions of dollars in debt to worry about.
But before getting to those easy issues, politicians who want to be chief executives must first get elected. And to do that they must decide if they're going to wear funny hats.
It's the bane of most big-time campaigns. And why you don't see candidates so often visiting construction sites; hard-hat zones, where they must don those funny-looking helmets that sit so high on their head. They may save lives, but they scare image-conscious campaigns.
Remember in 1988 Gov. Mike Dukakis driving that tank? It's a lot of fun. Looked good on paper to associate him with defense issues, a traditional Democratic weak spot. But you gotta wear the XL helmet. So he did. He looked like a pretender. And the rest is doofus history.
Long before him, there was the classic headgear disaster, Calvin Coolidge in the Indian headdress. Scroll down for that baby.
So, even though he's a freshman senator and a rookie national campaigner, Sen. Barack Obama faced a quandary last weekend.
Should he wear one of those stupid-looking bicycle helmets that legislators say we must wear but only look good on Tour de France racers? And get mocked? Or should he go without the hapless headgear and get criticized for defying the law? Who does he think he is? Above the rules that apply to everyone else?
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
A person is not able to handle a bicycle properly with a flat tire and thus is a potential serious road hazard to both himself and others.
Next he can show us his new socks for soccer. Does he wear a cup?
How about the LA Times taking his to task for his supporters (in Houston and that judge) having CHE posters on their walls next to Obama materials???
COMMUNISM KILLS.
Awww...poor widdle baby. What courage it must have took for the twit to follow the letter of the law and put the helmet on and ride around with a flat tire!
If you weren’t an Obamabot before, bet this show of guts makes you think again!
I suspect we are discussing "dorkiness" because Obama looked like a dork.
“O” looks dumb no matter what his outfit. Where did he ever come from?
He still smokes...where’s his lefty role model conscience with that?! Liberal = hypocrite.
It is illegal for children under 16 to ride without a helmet in California. Adults can ride bicycles helmetless anytime.
And now the classic of classic politician headgear photos, Calvin Coolidge becomes an honorary Sioux chief.
Kerry sure seems to be enjoying that colonic procedure.
An indonesian madrassa.
Kerry in the sperm suit did him in.
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