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Obama's quandary: Wear a helmet, look dumb or be a role model?
LA Times ^

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; dukakis; helmets; obama
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hee, hee......but the writer forgot to notice that the Messiah had a flat rear tire..........
1 posted on 06/14/2008 12:53:43 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver
A flat rear tire is no laughing matter.

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.

2 posted on 06/14/2008 12:57:39 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (Vote For McCain But Trust In The Lord.)
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To: Sub-Driver

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.


3 posted on 06/14/2008 1:00:45 PM PDT by weegee (In 1988 Lenora Fulani was the 1st black woman to appear on presidential ballots in all 50 states)
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To: weegee
Amazing - is it really against the law in Kalifornica to ride a bicycle without a helmet?

I ride all the time here in Colorado helmet-less. Maybe I am some sort of law-breaking miscreant and don't even know it.

Oh well..
4 posted on 06/14/2008 1:05:43 PM PDT by Frobenius
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To: Sub-Driver
NO JOKE! It wasn't the helmet that was the butt of jokes and made the Black messiah dorky, but the steel tube sticking out of OsAMA’s butt. THAT WAS A sKERRY moment...OBTW did you know kerry served in Vietnam?
5 posted on 06/14/2008 1:06:56 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: Sub-Driver

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!


6 posted on 06/14/2008 1:10:36 PM PDT by Baladas (n)
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To: Sub-Driver
Bush has been photographed on his bicycle and wearing a helment countless times. Have we had this discussion in the past? (I honestly ask).

I suspect we are discussing "dorkiness" because Obama looked like a dork.

7 posted on 06/14/2008 1:11:09 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Baladas

“O” looks dumb no matter what his outfit. Where did he ever come from?


8 posted on 06/14/2008 1:20:18 PM PDT by mulligan (A)
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To: RoseofTexas
THAT WAS A sKERRY moment. . .


9 posted on 06/14/2008 1:21:20 PM PDT by henbane
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To: Sub-Driver
It's still one of my all-time favorite images...It derailed the Dukakis campain...

Photobucket
10 posted on 06/14/2008 1:24:16 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Sub-Driver

He still smokes...where’s his lefty role model conscience with that?! Liberal = hypocrite.


11 posted on 06/14/2008 1:25:35 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
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To: Frobenius

It is illegal for children under 16 to ride without a helmet in California. Adults can ride bicycles helmetless anytime.


12 posted on 06/14/2008 1:28:20 PM PDT by socal_parrot (You can't alway get what you want)
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To: Sub-Driver
But I wanted to make sure that the children who saw that picture knew that even the Democratic nominee for president wears a helmet when he goes biking," he said to applause.

Oh freaking get over yourself. Any kid with an IQ isn't thinking, looking, wondering about YOU. Stupid Elitist with the maturity of a teen. And next don't wear blue jeans while biking. What a farce!
13 posted on 06/14/2008 1:28:22 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
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To: Sub-Driver
I especially like the bulletproof vest with tie...

Photobucket
14 posted on 06/14/2008 1:29:19 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Sub-Driver

And now the classic of classic politician headgear photos, Calvin Coolidge becomes an honorary Sioux chief.

15 posted on 06/14/2008 1:34:20 PM PDT by BBell
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To: henbane

Kerry sure seems to be enjoying that colonic procedure.


16 posted on 06/14/2008 1:47:29 PM PDT by KingSnorky
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To: mulligan

An indonesian madrassa.


17 posted on 06/14/2008 1:49:47 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: 1rudeboy
Bush even came out of this incident looking comparatively graceful...
18 posted on 06/14/2008 1:50:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: RoseofTexas

Kerry in the sperm suit did him in.


19 posted on 06/14/2008 1:50:50 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: imahawk
I beg to differ...


20 posted on 06/14/2008 1:51:59 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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