Santorum Concession photo...

[cdb]

Is it just me, or is there something a little "off" about this pic?

[MADem]

1. Is it the CHILDREN OF THE CORN aspect? Perchance? NT

[Moloch]

36. hahahahhahahaha

That's just what I was thinking the whole time. Man on Dog has a really CREEPY family, glad I'm not the only person who thinks so.

[txindy]

45. This is either a terrible coincidence or a not-so-subtle message from the eldest.

Or one of the eldest, anyway.



:shrug: Yes, I've seen people hitch up their glasses that way, but his timing would be hideous if that is indeed what he was doing. Otherwise,.... Did he pick this up in cyber-school? :shrug:

At least Ricky made some attempt to comfort the daughter. The littlest boy, dressed like an Amish child, tried to be comforted and his father wouldn't even touch or look at him. :grr:

[MADem]

76. I think it was deliberate, myself!! An earnest cry for help!!!

How long before we are treated to HIS mugshot, poor kid?

But those children DO look a bit pasty, deconditioned and fat, as though they could use a good run in the sunshine.

And, unless that little girl is a mini-giant, she looks a bit too old to be carrying that dolly. Perhaps she's a bit slow, poor dear? The ones in my family who are that size all seem to emulate the older girls, and want to dress like the hoochie gals on MTV and are constantly being told to "Wipe that crap off your face and put on a shirt that covers your gut, child!!!"

[jayctravis]

66. The fact that a girl of that age would bring her

similarly clad dolly on camera is quite strange.

[Raine]

69. The kid had to get comfort somewhere

she sure wasn't getting it from her parents, at least she had the doll for affection.

[displacedtexan]

2. Nothing a few good Phys. Ed. classes wouldn't cure.

Those children are positively doughy.

[MADem]

18. They're homeschooled. Guess there's no swingset and jungle gym

in the backyard of that multimillion dollar mansion Ricky bought in McLean VA....

[AlCzervik]

3. blame the parents for putting their kids in that postion, shame on them.

[NNN0LHI]

4. They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky...

The Addams Family

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,
The Addams Family.

Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams Family.

(Neat)
(Sweet)
(Petite)

So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams Family.

[Critters2]

10. That came to my mind, too nt

[Justyce]

5. Sure looks like he's using his children for maximum

effect and sympathy... poor kids. I would not have put mine through that.

[dubykc]

7. Nor would I, it's a deplorable tactic!

[Olney Blue]

6. It's appalling that Santorum used his shell-shocked kid as props.

[LordLovesAWorkingMan]

55. Equally appalling is the glee many here take when a rivals' child feels pain.

THAT IS WRONG.

[WI_DEM]

8. I think the attacks on Santorum's kids and the glee some people

took that they were crying is really kind of shabby and should be beneath DU. I'm not saying the OP is using this photo to do this, but I'm just expressing my opinion based on other posts I've seen. I can't tell you how happy that Ricky is gone--but I actually think he gave a fairly classy concession speech and even asked his audience to applauder the winner--Bob Casey. We won and we should be pleased with that instead of making fun of somebody's kids.

[DaveJ]

14. It's a bad photo of them that's all

But it does make me wonder what long-term effect teaching intelligent design and that homosexuality is a sin will have on them.

[WI_DEM]

23. yes a bad picture

and I agree that, unfortunately, they are being taught to be bigots. But it isn't like Democrats have never had their families with them when they lose. I vividly remember in 1980, for instance, when President Carter conceded the election to Reagan that his family was on stage with him and Amy Carter was crying her eyes out. It was sad.

[Raine]

70. I didn't remember that but I bet that Carter or

Roselyn didn't let Amy stand there crying all by herself without giving her comfort, even just a pat on the arm.

[MADem]

16. I think he was wrong to put his kids in that position, frankly, at that late hour NT

[StraightDope]

22. No, we should make fun of his kids.

Remember El Rushbo's smear of Chelsea Clin-ton?

"The White House Dog..."

Besides, the one with the dollie dressed like her is such an easy target... Look-a how pudgy it is, a-her-de-hur!

:sarcasm:

[WI_DEM]

25. Yes, because Rush Limpballs attacks Chelsea Clinton

we should make fun of their kids. He is our guru.

[StraightDope]

26. Did you not see the sarcasm tag?

Sheesh, and I thought I was dense.

[katamaran]

51. I do feel sorry for the kids and hope they are okay

I have to admit, when I first read about Santorum's kids crying on stage, I laughed a little. But when I saw this picture, I felt ashamed of myself and some of the people who have been joking non-stop on the kids. They can't help that their dad has certain political and religious leanings that we don't agree with. These kids know one thing: their dad, who I'm sure they love and adore, has just lost his job. Millions of people think their dad is an ass, and they fired him for it. The older ones probably have a pretty good grasp of what's going on, but the younger ones probably have hard time comprehending the political machine.

I personally don't agree with Santorum bringing his kids up on stage. Whether he brought them up there as a human shield, as a lot of people have suggested, or he brought them up for a less sinister reason like simply loving his family and wanting them to be a part of everything, we should not fault the kids for their father. That little girl was probably standing there thinking "Don't cry, don't cry!" Unfortunately, when you do that, it makes it ten times easier to start crying.

I don't have kids and may never have any. But my maternal instinct is to reach through the computer screen and hug the poor girl. I hope she, and the rest of her siblings, grow up to be good people. Maybe even Democrats.

/just my humble thoughts.

[LordLovesAWorkingMan]

57. It seems to be an obsession here

I mean, what is this, the tenth thread about his children?

[fujiyama]

68. There have been several condemning

these threads making fun of the kids crying.

But a few people have some strange obsession with it. I feel bad for the kids. Their dad is their dad. Even though the rest of us know him for the lunatic he is. Hell, we can only imagine what a freak of dad he must be like.

I have no problem with gleeful threads on Allen, Santorum, Burns, Talent, or whomever other idiot retiring, but I don't see the need to comment on their family members. It's uncalled for and in really poor taste.

I'd like to hope we can be classier winners than that.

[MGD]

72. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster." Nietzsche

I agree with you 100%. I mean, what is the fucking point of this? I guess they heard some Republicans doing it and want to reciprocate. As for me, I'll focus on their ideas and policies, not their children.

[treestar]

63. But here nobody did - this thread is about the picture being weird

[spoony]

65. Hear hear, and this is like the tenth thread :(

[UTUSN]

9. They're Amish? n/t

[gratuitous]

11. Jeez Rick, take your loss like a man

Hiding behind the kids; appalling. Enjoy a long and frustrating post-political life back home in Virginia or DC or wherever the hell you decide to live out your days. Just stay east of the Mississippi, is all I ask.

[lonestarnot]

12. Human shields.

[malaise]

13. Sorry but I'm ROTFL

Maybe next week I'll feel sorry for that overfed kid - probably NOT. Maybe those who sympathize need to see photos of the widows and kids at their dads' funerals. Her dad sanctioned and supported the slaughter of innocents. Adios Santorum - a sanitorium awaits you.

[Kerrytravelers]

15. This picture was posted on Election Night, and was eventually locked.

[peekaloo]

17. Poor girl. She looks like him.

Is that doll a mommy replica?

[no_hypocrisy]

28. What's an approximately eight year old, homeschooled girl

doing with a manicure complete with fingernail polish? That doesn't look like the Tinkerbell Products I used when I was a young'un . . .

[knitter4democracy]

59. It's an American Girl doll.

I forget the name of that one, but I recognize her from the catalog. I feel so sorry for those kids. It's hard when your dad loses an election (my dad lost three), but it's got to be horribly awful to be put in front of cameras when they find out.

[Poiuyt]

19. The little girl and her doll remind me of Chuck and Bob from "Soap"

Remember how they always dressed alike?

[txindy]

39. I was thinking the doll looked like Chucky in disguise.

He'd fit right in with Ricky.

[trumad]

75. I did this a couple of days ago...

[CottonBear]

40. It's an American Girl doll which comes with matching dresses for the girl.

They are very popular. I feel sorry for the children. Shame on the parents.

[kskiska]

47. Weren't the FReeps boycotting American Girl?

[CottonBear]

48. I don't know. It wouldn't surprise me though.

The dolls are fairly expensive but I really like the idea. And, they're heirloom quality unlike msot of the crap sold at toy stores these days.

[knitter4democracy]

61. Yup.

The company gave money to a girl power group that supposedly was pro-choice and possibly pro-lesbian. *sigh* They were really weird about it, and I think most moms totally ignored it.

[Occulus]

46. An aside:

I know all about the pic in your sig line, but WTF IS THAT WEIRD BROWNISH-ORANGE THING?

:D

[Poiuyt]

52. A hand

It's from the cover of an old Mad Magazine. Alfred E. Newman was balancing the poiuyt on his finger.

[Catshrink]

20. Makes me think of the kids in Colorado City...

the children of polygamist parents. The girls dress similarly to that and daddy is creepy enough to lean that way. But then, he doesn't admit to sex -- except for the 4 times that spawned the kids. Make that 5 -- I almost forgot about the child that died -- the one they brought home dead so the family could bond before saying goodbye.

Good bye, ya creep.

[KharmaTrain]

21. Could We Be More Scripted Next Time?

When people say that a politician's family, especially their children, shouldn't be fair game, I generally agree, but here's a case where it's blatant Rectorum was staging this to try to get some pity because the voters in Pennsyvlania just kicked him out on his ass.

It's not his daughter. I'm sure her tears are genuine and this campaign had to have been an ordeal on the entire family, but this picture shows how out front she was put to distract from her sad excuse for a father and use one more tactic to manipulate emotions and the media. She's podium center...and mom sure looks like she wants her to stay there. A truly caring parent would either keep the child off the stage or behind the podium (like the others).

Hopefully this is the last time we see this slimeball on the national stage and his family is spared as being used as props.

[TlalocW]

24. I'm not picking on the kids but on their parents with these comments

Who dresses their daughters like that? I'm not even sure how to classify the one with the doll.
The back daughter's outfit with the wide gold'ish lapels looks like she should be a back-up singer for Prince, circa 1985.
And the boy - does Professor Dumbledore know that he left the Hogwart campus in the middle of the term to be at this event?

These kids are going to grow up pretty screwy unfortunately.

TlalocW

[tenshi816]

29. My heart aches for the Santorum kids because,

as you say, they're going to grow up screwy. I can't help but think of the Rick & the Mrs. taking their dead fetus home for the remaining children to hold and play with (and that is a true story, if anyone wants the link to the WaPo article).

The poor things look like stage props, and for all their parents' posturing about being good parents, it is Mr. & Mrs. Rick who put the kids up there front and center even though the kids are clearly uncomfortable about it.

It's very sad. There are plenty of well-adjusted, happy, socialized homeschooled children. Unfortunately, the Santorum children don't look like they fall into that category.

[StraightDope]

27. The son on the right looks like...

That fat bastard from the Mac v. PC commercials. He is P.C. junior. His surname is also synonymous with a frothy blend of lube and fecal matter that is a byproduct of anal sex.

[TlalocW]

33. That "fat bastard" is John Hodgman

Who's a correspondent for the Daily Show. He's actually pretty funny and has a gread deadpan delivery. He's normally brought on as a technology expert to talk with Jon Stewart. Once when they were talking about the internet (after Ted Steven's "Tubes" speech), Stewart steered the conversation into getting Hodgman to tell him what kind of computer he would be.

TlalocW

[TheBaldyMan]

71. The Hodge is the coolest

well along with Lewis Black, John Oliver, Sam Bee ... etc

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

30. C'mon people....the REAL comedy is in the AUDIO!!!

When Santorum says he just called "Senator-elect Casey" and the freep nutjob woman in the crowd wails "OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" like the Hindenburg was crashing........classic! It should be played more than the Dean scream!

[mondo joe]

31. That version is missing something - here's the corrected version.

[NoSheep]

44. Where? I can't see it

[Richard Steele]

56. Oh, NICELY DONE joe!

:applause:

[mondo joe]

64. I can't take credit - spotted it on Kenneth in the 212 blog.

[Richard Steele]

67. OK, I'll change that to "Nice find, mondo joe!", then!

It really is a nice piece.

[scarface2004]

32. o m g!!

that doll is bride of chucky!!!!

[VeggieTart]

34. That boy on the right looks downright freaked out

Either that, or he's trying the evangelical version of a Vulcan mindmeld.

[Gato Moteado]

35. what a dope, putting his family through that

jesus, let those kids be kids, don't drag them through this crap, ricky.

[WilliamPitt]

37. The boy on the right looks mad enough to stab a puppy.

[Beelzebud]

43. Or mad enough to vivisect a cat!

:D

[carlydenise]

38. that is a creepy picture

I thought it was a joke when I first saw it.
Carly

[NoSheep]

41. Is that child wearing modest dress? Home schooled?

[CottonBear]

49. See post #40. n/t

[Beelzebud]

42. See! You rotten Democrats made this little girl CRY!!!!

LOL

Santorum is an asshole for making his daughter go up there.

[2bfree]

50. Maybe the kids just googles Dad's name.

Just a thought. :)

[EnviroBat]

53. Is that little girl Bush's secrt love child?

Hmmmmmm?

[EnviroBat]

54. Hey there little girl... Get USED TO IT!

[walldude]

58. Wow.. The Stepford Family.... n/t

[Zynx]

60. "Oh crap, Daddy said he'd beat us if he lost."

[treestar]

62. The doll is not quite right

The girl looks older than that. So one wonders if she was given it as a prop.

[MGD]

73. What exactly is the point of making fun of this child?

[Norrin Radd]

74. She's praying. n/t

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

77. Good lord, I was having a Parlock-ian flashback for a moment there.

On edit: This seems like a very promising Photoshop opportunity.

[survivor999]

78. The good news is that they all look well fed.