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Perils of the photo op

Posted at 2:01 PM on September 17, 2009 by Bob Collins (8 Comments)
Filed under: Media

"Photo opportunities" are always risky business for a president. The demands of office put you in some pretty weird situations, especially with the media constantly looking for the "money shot."

This was the "money shot" in most newspapers today.

President Obama was promoting Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics during an event on the White House lawn. Somehow, someone happened to have a light saber handy.

Depending on your political views, you either thought "Hey, cool! The president is a regular old Stars Wars fan," or "The president is diminishing the decorum of the office."

Lots of opponents of George Bush circulated this video under the latter category...

... and few of them know that what President Bush was promoting that day was Malaria Awareness Day.

Yeah, well, whatever. I'm in it for the laughs. So are the newspaper photo editors, which is why this picture wasn't on the front page:

That's Joel Pool, Louis Schaab, center, and Nate Murray, right, all with the National Rehab Hospital sled hockey team, a sport which I've never heard of before.

Sled Hockey -- I've since learned thanks to this picture -- "is played on a standard size ice rink with standard size nets and pucks. There are six players on the ice for each team -- three forwards, two defense men and a goalie. Subs may be made when stopped or on the fly. Most of the same rules for hockey played in the United States apply to Sled Hockey." (See Web site)

You can learn a few things from a good photo op.

(AP Photos/Charles Dharapak)

Comments (8)

You can almost hear Michele saying "Honey, put that dang thing down and get back here..."

The guy has a high pressure job. If he wants to have a little fun once in awhile, that's okay with me.

Posted by Bob Moffitt | September 17, 2009 2:24 PM

kottke.org did the photoshop http://kottke.org/09/09/barack-obama-jedi-knight

Posted by Joanna | September 17, 2009 2:25 PM

Watch yourself, Axis of Evil. For the first time in history, the USA's commander-in-chief is a frikkin' JEDI!

Posted by Tyler | September 17, 2009 2:41 PM

When I just saw the 'Perils of the photo op' I thought for sure that it would be this picture...

Posted by Bobbydole | September 17, 2009 3:04 PM

No, Bob, this was the money shot. Check out Red 5 in the background of the uncropped shot going in for some serious nose mining.

(Bob: Yes, we've been having the "a pick or a scratch" discussion here. I say "pick")

Posted by Silas | September 17, 2009 3:05 PM

What? Just because they're the President, they can't have any fun? I think it's cool that Bush can do silly dances, and that Obama can play with silly Jedi toys.

Posted by Kim V | September 17, 2009 4:17 PM

//Watch yourself, Axis of Evil. For the first time in history, the USA's commander-in-chief is a frikkin' JEDI!

Good thing it wasn't red! Darth Obama?

Posted by Bobbydole | September 17, 2009 4:45 PM

Just a quick survey. How many actually read the story and know the reason for the fencing theme?

And how many saw the picture, thought "HA! That looks funny", and posted.

Posted by kennedy | September 18, 2009 10:09 AM