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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGuy Who Took Photo of Obama Selfie Tells Internet to Get a Life
Its a sign of our times that somehow this image seemed to get more attention than the event itself, Schmidt wrote on Agence France-Presses Correspondent blog Wednesday morning.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/guy-who-took-photo-of-obama-selfie-tells-internet-to-get-a-life/
I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance.
I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural. I see nothing to complain about, and probably would have done the same in their place. The AFP team worked hard to display the reaction that South African people had for the passing of someone they consider as a father. We moved about 500 pictures, trying to portray their true feelings, and this seemingly trivial image seems to have eclipsed much of this collective work.
http://blogs.afp.com/correspondent/?post/Selfie
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Makes me fucking sick.
It looks to me likes her attention is elsewhere. Nothing more than that.
Fucking assholes. Just crop the picture, Michelle wasn't part of the moment.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Sometimes I have to check the address bar to make sure I didn't stumble into a Freeper thread.
cilla4progress
(24,590 posts)photos can be very misleading that way; a moment - just a flash - in time.
RiDONKulous!
Mike Daniels
(5,842 posts)All of sudden, the cable news goes off that so and so was sleeping during the funeral/speach what-have-you of person xyz.
calimary
(80,706 posts)attended where the speeches are all about "celebrating the life of..." Key word here - "celebrating." Has there been any pearl-clutching about the crowds of South Africans behind the dais with the VIPs - who were obviously celebrating and dancing and singing?
Forcryingoutloud! Tempest meet teapot.
Triana
(22,666 posts)...while Barack has a little fun. No "pissed" about it. The woman is just sitting there.
Damn. They're (media and the GOP) always ready to negatively define this woman.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)gtar100
(4,192 posts)I saw faces in all variety. Some people had stern looks like Michelle Obama does in this picture. Yet moments later the look was gone. They were talking with their kids, using their phones, talking with others, etc. My point being that their expressions changed. One moment's expression is not typically the complete picture of what's going on. I'm sure I have expressions that might scare away strangers sometimes, as does everyone. And everyone who's jumping on Michelle for this picture I'm certain of it because to be that judgmental can only mean there is a bitterness inside that is impossible to hide all the time.
Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)But you know if the photographer had cropped her out, someone would have found out and blew that all out of proportion and possibly creating a fake scandal. LOL.
Number23
(24,544 posts)David Cameron's face as all three take the selfie and some folks here were STILL playing the "oooooh, I bet the ride on Air Force One was sooooo quiet on the way home!"
Even with that photo, it was still "Michelle is JEALOUS." This woman could have licked David Cameron across the back of the neck and none of those folks would have questioned if HIS wife was "jealous" or if her husband was (if the Danish PM is married, that is).
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Those motherfuckers NEVER said a word about either Bush wife or Nancy Reagan.
Fuck.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,164 posts)which came up in the different way it was reported in Britain. There has been a little of "is that appropriate at a memorial?", but not much - MPs can laugh about it:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/cameron-laughs-off-criticism-over-memorial-selfie.22933402
And Denmark is notably more relaxed about it too (the Liberal Alliance is an opposition party):
In a video they posted on Facebook, Thorning-Schmidt approaches and asks if the two would like to take a selfie, before posing with Olsen in front of the camera.
Can we take a wet selfie? Olsen asks before giving the PM a quick kiss on the cheek.
The video was uploaded onto YouTube by their party with the tagline: Say what you like, but Thorning has a sense of humour and style!
http://cphpost.dk/news/thorning-schmidt-selfie-shows-leaders-are-normal-people.8080.html
Matariki
(18,775 posts)like she's listening to something.
Trying to figure how someone gets 'pissed' out of that.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Let's say Bush was taking a similar photo with a couple of world leaders and Laura looked the way Michelle does.
Wouldn't there be some jokes here about that?
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Certain rags gave Nancy Reagan a bad time, not mainstream, IIRC.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)But I was asking about DU in particular.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)No doubt about it.
My post above was really an indictment of what seems to be the ease with which MSM jumps on Michelle where they seemed far more respectful with Laura Bush and Barbara Bush.
They were more often unkind to Hillary, and worse, it seems, with Michelle.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Agree with everything you wrote here.
otohara
(24,135 posts)after all?
Didn't think so but there sure were a whole lot to judgmental comments about her yesterday.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)and he is correct.
It IS A GREAT PHOTO.
the issue are the fools who focus on the First Lady.
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)THANK YOU!!! I love the looks on their faces! Holy crap, our world leaders and sub-leaders can be freakin' human. It makes me feel safer to know they can hang out like the rest of us. They look like old friends.
calimary
(80,706 posts)One would HOPE that these world leaders who've shared many a dinner table and conference dais together WOULD be old friends. For all our sakes!
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)...to see them actually enjoying each other's company goes above and beyond politics. I've had coworkers that I've been forced to work with for longer than they have and I wouldn't be caught dead having a good time with them.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,164 posts)He just saw it as a little cameo of one moment.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)find those moments and to capitalize on them. It's kind of the whole point. Not publishing or shares on social media don't pay the rent.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Dash87
(3,220 posts)Come on - this is funny! It's just 3 human beings having fun. Has our society gotten so hardened and cynical that everything must be criticized?
Response to Dash87 (Reply #7)
DLnyc This message was self-deleted by its author.
calimary
(80,706 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Yes.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Its the photographer himself who's whining about subsequent events.
Dash87
(3,220 posts)and Michelle Obama's face.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Repukes are up in arms, they like their POTUS to be a dull lifeless lump like Dubya.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)were African people. He was a little kooky. It was one of his only saving graces as far as I could tell.
Rex
(65,616 posts)or baseball seat or didn't know which way to open a door...he could be somewhat startled like a deer in the headlights.
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh....
meti57b
(3,584 posts)Dash87
(3,220 posts)Whoever locked that door, we love you!
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,355 posts)Out of Bush's impromptu massage of the German Chancellor? THAT was creepy IMHO!
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)- I'm throwing a party for my final scene of Act III. No crying, and no tears allowed except for the people who have to clean up after.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Thanks from one of the greatest.
Aviation Pro
(12,053 posts)....if you don't have Shooter McHeartAttacks stern visage and "gravitas" at all times you aren't serious. Here's the walking wad of diseased phlegm at one of the few events that he fucking deigned himself to be at during his illegal tenure as the nation's fucking asswipe:
Next time, when you have to attend a memorial service at Auschwitz, you fucking wad of used shit paper, wear something more dignified than a USAF cold weather parka.
Here's to hoping his next heart attack leaves him in excruciating pain.
Oh, did I mention that all ball gargling tea fuck Republicants should go fuck themselves.
Go fuck yourselves.
mahannah
(893 posts)barbtries
(28,703 posts)so weak.
SansACause
(520 posts)...of Benghazi!!!
Politicub
(12,163 posts)Are two traits that people making an issue out of this have.
Lots of People take selfies - especially young people who are probably scratching their collective heads about why this is a big deal for some people.
It's grist for the fox mill since it's audience is, well, old and out of touch.
sweetloukillbot
(10,822 posts)About the behavior of people who do respect him at an event honoring him. They really don't care one way or the other, they're just looking to bitch about someone they don't like.
It reminds me of an argument my dad had with my grandfather when Pope JP II visited Phoenix about 25 years ago. My grandfather was raging about how the Catholic Church was wasting all this money for the event when they could be donating to the poor. My dad finally got sick of listening and said "Why do you care? You're not Catholic so it's not your money, and it's not like you give to the poor either."
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Benghazi was a nothing for them. Obamacare will be a success. Unemployment is dropping. Stock market is strong.
The GOP is down to handshakes and capturing expressions at random moments.
They are fucking done people. DONE.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)i saw it on du.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)That helps.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)we own it.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)He's probably back at the CC right now laughing at you. Mission accomplished.
Meanwhile CNN is inviting right wingers on as we speak to snark about shaking bloody hands with dictators. I'm sorry if you can snuggle up with the right. I can't.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)first lady.
your point?
Response to seabeyond (Reply #45)
ProudToBeBlueInRhody This message was self-deleted by its author.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)The article states the internet is acting like assholes, not Joey the head with under 1000 posts on DU.
I attack the RW and you feel the need to correct me.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)i will leave the subthread. it is all pretty clear our respective positions.
Our Strong Black First Lady is a mean ol' thing isn't she? Just look at that GLARE!
UGH.
Response to seabeyond (Reply #41)
Hissyspit This message was self-deleted by its author.
Maven
(10,533 posts)spanone
(135,644 posts)it is a sign of our times......
Cha
(295,943 posts)I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance."
snip//
Photographer: Obama Selfie Not What It Seems
"I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony-faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural. I see nothing to complain about, and probably would have done the same in their place."
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2013/12/photographer_obama_selfie_not_what_it_seems.html
JI7
(89,187 posts)especially in public . as if they are things rather than human beings.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)Shows more of the story
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/12/11/conservatives-write-sexist-fanfiction-for-obama/197227
Full link