The mother of all photo ops

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/07/the_mother_of_all_photo_ops.html#more

The mother of all photo ops
Posted July 19, 2008 7:00 AM
The Swamp

by Paul West


To hear some of the talk, Barack Obama's overseas campaign swing is risky political business.

The idea that there's a lot at stake in his trip to Europe and the Middle East is likely to get amped over the next few days. The threat, however small, that he'll commit a horrendous gaffe is one way to hype interest in the story. It also helps justify the remarkable decision by the TV networks to send their top news anchors along for the ride.

Experienced campaign strategists hoot at all the negative chatter. They see Obama's venture as relatively low-risk endeavor--and a public relations windfall for the Democratic candidate, thanks to juiced-up television exposure.

"Nothing works more effectively in reinforcing the notion that somebody's an international leader than international travel," says Bill Carrick, a Democratic consultant in Los Angeles who is not working in the campaign. He dismisses dire predictions about the trip as "cocktail party nonsense."

snip//

"If he gets a rousingly positive reception, it's going to make Americans feel that perhaps he can help mend fences with our allies, which is what they want to see happen," says Andrew Kohut of the independent Pew Research Center.

"It could come across as a real celebration of Obama," he adds, magnified by media coverage more typical of the first overseas trip by a new president than a candidate who has yet to be nominated formally.

Will that change the shape of the presidential race? Unlikely. An ordinary swing voter in Ohio doesn't take cues from folks in Germany, England or France.

But in politics, Kohut points out, "good publicity is good publicity."

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Hey, don't forget to take my picture. I'm The Decider." - Commander AWOL

"You corporate media knee benders will want to be sure to get some action shots of me me me me me as I DECISIVELY kick back for a month or so of taxpayer-funded, luxury vacation time at the Imperial Pig Farm Upon Crawford. Smirk. Don't miss this glorious photo op with me me me me me. Smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[Cha]

7. Who never met a Photo Op he could tear himself

away from..like The Pet Goat and mccain's birthday cake when New Orleans was drowning.

[Youphemism]

2. Unfortunately, now that some have whined about three major news anchors going with him...

...you can bet they'll be digging for some kind of negative tidbit, whether it's real, unreal, or microscopic, just to say they're being "fair and impartial."

[babylonsister]

3. I expect that anyway, and also expect that's why they're going in the

first place. But pictures are worth a thousand words, as they say. I'm looking forward to this, and will bet money Obama doesn't make faux pas like McCain is so practiced at doing.

[Youphemism]

4. Yes... And he may get some help from surprising places...

The Commander-in-Chief is a singleminded twerp. Some in the military who have had to follow his orders for years might have some very good suggestions and information for Obama, and the motivation to give it to him.

Even Patreus, if he doesn't feel that way, has now been put in charge of Afghanistan as well as Iraq. In the past, looking good for him was all about Iraq. Now that he's responsible for both fronts, his interests and strategy suggestions might not be as favorable to the Bush agenda as some might guess.

[AspenRose]

5. Obama overseas can't possibly do any worse

than our current CIC has been doing for the past 8 years.

[Muttocracy]

6. seriously. nt