Nobody refused to shake anybody's hand

[featherman]

First of all I can't believe I'm even wading into this. What you see in the picture is Mrs. Clinton greeting Mr. Kennedy. Standard stuff. Mr. Obama has his back turned to the encounter. What you do not see (cleverly cropped) is who Mr. Obama was engaged in conversation with at that time.

Then you have the caption. One sourced. By the AP photographer who wants a Pulitzer Prize for this one. With dramatic license he states that this was the moment AFTER Mr. Obama had turned away. Luckily for this photographer there is no confirming second source, no video confirming his or his editor's caption. So his caption is taken as gospel. Because:

Juicy, juicy story. MSM is so excited to have such a dramatic event on such a dramatic day. Mini media firestorm.

Personally I find the concept of a purposeful snub in that context absurd and unlikely. Mrs. Clinton never offered her hand and Mr. Obama never snubbed it.

But the media loves this personal stuff and will run with it. Making Mr. Obama appear rude is juicy stuff. Unfortunate for my guy but so it goes sometimes.

(Ready and willing to accept the inevitable DU incoming. Just calling it as I see it. I could be wrong)

[scheming daemons]

1. Exactly...

How can you snub a hand that was never offered?

[neutron]

16. He just decided to suddenly applaud facing the wrong direction

so as not to make George Bush look too dumb.

[The Magistrate]

2. Indeed, Sir

These people are both professionals, and would have engaged in Senate formalities if actually face to face without a blink.

[LiberalHeart]

3. Great call. Nobody else had thought to trash the photographer --

Swell tactic, that.

[featherman]

5. No snub in the photo...what can I say

[LiberalHeart]

12. But you did see in that photo what was going thru the photographer's mind?

Pretty tricky.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Sounds like the rest of the "scandals"

It's nearly all trivial crap.

There has been just about no discussion of substantive issues so far -- just a lot of screaming.

The MSM is trying to drive this contest as close to 50/50 as it can. And they'll do the same thing in the general election.

And if there's so much as a pipe bomb explosion at a mall before November, we get President McCain. But for now, it's the handshake scandal.

--p!

[CitizenLeft]

6. we don't know what, if anything, preceded that moment

For all we know, they nodded curtly at each other, which is all the moment required, something the camera could never have recorded. Had he run up to her to shake her hand, it would've been unseemly, and it would've been reported that he was gloating. He can't win, and she can't win, in this fishbowl. I just don't know why they couldn't just leave the gracious moment between Clinton and Kennedy alone and that's that. Geezohman.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. Actually you're wrong.

I'm about to go to bed but I was online when this first aired and the snub took off like a rocket before pictures were linked.

[featherman]

9. From where... no video... people were there and emailed you?

Just asking... not being rude

[Catherine Vincent]

11. They were watching the SOTU address while online.

That is how I found out about it. When more people chimed in and said it was true, then I called Obama an asshole. I still want to see the video for myself, though.

[featherman]

13. If true then the video will surface... then we will know

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. Except there is a photo by the same guy seconds before with TK and Obama watching Clinton approach

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. Always there to stir the pot. Why don't you back off from your crusade and learn some manners?

[TeamJordan23]

10. Corrected AP confirms that. Says Obama HAD turned his back already. nm

[MADem]

15. A link would be helpful to put this whole issue to rest. NT

[DURHAM D]

14. I think Hillary should apologize to Obama for making him look bad. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

18. Funny. :)

[Jed Dilligan]

17. And of course this issue will decide the nomination

I mean, go outside... meet the electorate... Their main concern is OBVIOUSLY good manners at all times!

[featherman]

20. Actually I agree it could... perception is everything

This "insight" into Mr. Obama's "rudeness" could very well resonate.

Or it could be a tempest in a teapot and not reach the broader voting public. Who knows?

I am reminded of the report of President Clinton smoking a cigar and moving around his suite in Africa (as seen through a drawn shade from a distance) which was widely interpreted as his "doing a victory dance" after hearing about a favorable court decision in the Paula Jones suit. Likely misinterpreted or fictionalized but was super juicy as an "insight" into a private moment.

[johnnydrama]

21. this is like

this is like when my mom calls me after not talking to me for a few weeks, and says how come you didn't call me.

So I say, how come you didn't call me...

It works both ways.