Photo of Obama and Spain's First Children Causes a Stir

Washington Whispers ^ | 9/25/09 | Alex Kingsbury

[machogirl]

Photo of Obama and Spain's First Children Causes a Stir September 25, 2009 04:53 PM ET | Paul Bedard, Alex Kingsbury | Permanent Link | Print

By Alex Kingsbury, Washington Whispers

Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was in for a rude shock if he thought the same privacy conventions that shield the children of public figures in his home country would extend to the United States. Zapatero brought his wife and two daughters along on his trip to New York for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly, and on Wednesday he and his family posed for a photograph with President Obama at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The photo caused a huge stir in Spain because the public had never before seen an image of its leader's children, ages 13 and 16, who appeared in the photograph sporting slightly gothic attire.

The photo, credited in the Spanish press to White House photog Lawrence Jackson, was posted on the State Department Flickr site, according to sources. Conservative news outlets in Spain prominently featured the photograph of the Socialist leader's family—with the faces slightly pixilated to comply with the country's aforementioned privacy laws concerning minors—in their papers and on their websites. The conservative El Mundo newspaper put the photograph on Page A1. The liberal El Pais, meanwhile, ran a detailed explainer about why it was not publishing the offending image.

After a request by the Spanish government, the White House removed the photograph from the State Department website. But it was too late. Many Spanish in-boxes today were flooded with a series of E-mails with the photograph—obviously altered—depicting the two teens as members of the Addams Family, the band KISS , and J. R. R. Tolkien's troll-like Orcs.

[rlmorel]

What's wrong with that?

[AnAmericanMother]

I was going to ask you if this is normal in political families in Spain, to let your kids dress like this at an official function.

The only way I'd let my kids out dressed like that is if they were going to a Hallowe'en party . . . . and I thought Spaniards were fairly formal, at least in polite circles.

[Political Junkie Too]

Can we add this to the list of how Obama was going to restore America's image abroad after 8 years of Bush?

• Returns the bust of Churchill to England.
• Give cheap gifts from the White House Gift Shop to Britain Prime Minister's children.
• Give cheap DVDs in the wrong format to the British PM in return for thoughtful gift made from historic slave ship.
• Give iPod to British Queen loaded with Obama speeches.
• Give mis-spelled novelty item to Russia.
• Bow to Saudi King.
• Refuse to dine with the Prime Minister of France.
• Does not demand that Queen of England attend Normandy invasion commemoration, knowing that she was in the war.
• Supports ousted former leader of Honduras over legitimate Constitutional government.
• Refuses to comment on riots in Iran after stolen election.
• Renegs on missile defense treaty with Polaand.
• Renegs on "Just War" in Afghanistan.
• Caught checking out the young women in Italy.
• Embarrasses Spain by showing Goth children of Prime Minister.

I'm sure I missed a few countries in this list.

-PJ

[Blogger]

She's trying to emulate Michelle.

[Nathan Zachary]

[Boogieman]

Probably in relation to these winners:

[Sparko]

[mojitojoe]

It is Frangipani scented. You’ll like it but it’s better to get it from Benefit. Sometimes at Sephora it smells old. If you get it there, get it at the store where you can smell it, not online.

[Frantzie]

LOL! Obama and Jose Zapatoes are married to trannies.

WTF is with those kids? They look like Satan worshipers.

[kromike]

Don't feel bad on any accidental omissions. At the rate this clown is committing gaffes, the Speed Of Light is easier to measure.

On 01/21/2010, the List will fill several DVDs. By 2013 (if we all live that long), the List will need to be stored on Jupiter.

[FastCoyote]

OMG, are leftists all from Fashion Planet Zorch?

[kromike]

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Dude! You're killing me!

[Boogieman]

Right, back then it wasn’t goth but more like “angsty rebellious teenager who probably just discovered existentialism”.

[Frantzie]

LOL! God that is funny. The “wives” are scarier than the freepin kids.

[Boogieman]

Lol, maybe it was “Dress as your favorite Harry Potter character” day at the UN!

[mojitojoe]

I know, I thought the same thing. But I took into account the fact that they're super liberals like Obongo, so I determined they were fair game.

[BlessingsofLiberty]

Is this for real??? Okay...I’ll bite...

First of all, if they didn’t want pictures of the daughters taken, why did they pose for pictures?

Secondly, the mother doesn’t look any better than the daughters. She is wearing the same clothes.

Is this really for real???

[machogirl]

I was watching some videos from the 70’s on youtube last night. (music) forgot about those sideburns. haha

[kromike]

LOL!

Dude! You are brutal. Keep it up!

[Flavius]