Here's why photo of Obama hugging is most Tweeted ever
This soul-stirring photo of Pres. Obama and his wife Michelle taken at a campaign rally in August is the most Tweeted photo ever.
Here's why photo of Obama hugging is most Tweeted ever
Jenice Armstrong, Daily News Columnist
This soul-stirring photo of Pres. Obama and his wife Michelle taken at a campaign rally in August is the most Tweeted photo ever.
It went viral on election night after Obama campaign staffers released it with the words, “Four more years.” But it’s not just Democrats who are gushing. A lot of Republicans are smitten with it as well. One commenter on CNN.com, wrote, “I didn't vote for Obama, regardless, this image is truly endearing.”
Politics aside, I love the subliminal messages it sends about modern male-female relationships and how the Obamas' union is a marriage of equals. Notice how he doesn’t tower over his wife the way presidents normally do their first ladies. In the photo, they’re neck and neck. Barack has his arms around the first lady’s compact (from all that working out) waist and her much-ballyhooed arms are wrapped around his neck. Michelle meets him head on physically, intellectually and otherwise. She, too, is a Harvard-trained attorney and I'm reminded of how she was once his boss at the law firm where they both worked. Working women love a man who's not initimidated by their success.
But back to the photo. This isn’t some corny, staged photo op. There’s intensity in that hug. How often do you see that with politicians? A lot of times they just look awkward. Also, you can’t see Michelle’s face in this photo but you can see Barack’s. His expression radiates love but also gratitude. It's priceless.
I agree that this is a nice photo but some of your observations seem a little incongruous.
1 - Instead of “modern male-female relationships”...why not just modern relationships.
2 - “Notice how he doesn’t tower over his wife”...this is because she is tall, end of story. Why point this out? She would be no less intelligent, dignified, and inspirational if you were of average height.
Love it.. If anyone has something negative to say, please have the guts to include your full name instead of another anonymous tough guy.— Drewmcc- Ahh, so cute. Maybe Iran and Putin will now back down. How could they not? Please e-mail it to them, Jannie.— CD75
- You opened the door by mentioning Harvard and politics so...I guess this is the second time in her life that she is proud of her country. And neither of them has been an attorney for 20 years. Harvard law turned community activists. LMAO. Ever read her Princeton thesis? She's shocked that black folk give up the thug life after they improve their lot in life. Why do Democrats hate black people?— mephisto
- Give me a break - it's a picture of a hug they knew would be taken and sent around, so in that sense it clearly was staged - talk about overbaked overanalysis, not to mention nauseatingly gushy - if this is "The Best of [Daily News] Blogs," I'd hate to see how much of a waste of time the worst would be.— whiteyh
- it a whole lot better than that shot of Algore smothering his wife the night he got the nomination!!— Elderlee
Read more from Jenice Armstrong at Earth to Philly, the Daily News blog on anything and everything "Green."
Reach Jenice at armstrj@phillynews.com.
