Mediaite's Christopher Calls 'Bulls**t' on Newsweek Over Bachmann 'Outtakes' Excuse
Probably in response to a firestorm of criticism over their cover photo of Rep. Michele Bachmann, Newsweek today released a slideshow of "outtakes" that they say show that, in essence, the Minnesota Republican is unphotogenic and didn't give them much to work with in terms of a flattering photo.
For his part, left-leaning Mediaite.com reporter Tommy Christopher isn't buying it, calling "bulls**t" on the Tina Brown-edited publication (emphasis mine):
Apparently in response to the uproar over their “crazy” cover photo of GOP presidential hopeful Rep. Michele Bachmann, Newsweek magazine has cleverly published a slideshow of cover outtakes that seems to make the case that Bachmann is incapable of being photographed without sporting the gaze of a Cujo stunt double. Their “See, she always looks crazy” defense is probably appealing to most Bachmann detractors, but I call “bullshit.”
The slideshow consists of eight photos that the magazine labels “outtakes,” and they feature shots that convey varying degrees of what publisher Tina Brown calls “intensity.” There’s one in which Bachmann appears to use nothing but the power of her grin to extract an elderly man’s will to live, and another one that looks like she’s trying to levitate an object from across the room. Here’s a collage of thumbnails that we put together, but you can check out the full slideshow here.
The accompanying text outlines the controversy surrounding the cover, including the denunciation by NOW, and explains, “Many of the photographs taken for the feature showed Bachmann with similar intensity. Here are more images from the shoot, including some used inside the magazine, showing Bachmann in the nation’s capital and on the trail in Iowa.”
While they don’t actually say it, the implication is that these eight photos represent all of the shots they had to choose from, and they had no choice but to use the one they went with.
The problem is that news photographers (really, all photographers) use rapid-fire cameras that take several shots per second, which results in a large selection of each pose. For that one shot they did use, there are probably ten or so that are nearly identical, but with subtle differences which might have softened the effect of Bachmann’s gaze. None of those made it into the outtakes.
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Comments
I made this exact same argument
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 3:13pm.
at HotAir today. The photo used was obviously from a posed position. The ones in the "outtakes" are mostly live-action shots; save number 4 in the slideshow. And for a posed shot, there are probably dozens taken; in fact, it may have been video and not still-photo wherein one frame was captured. But in either case, the effect is the same. They likely had dozens if not hundreds of photos to choose from; they chose a photo that best illustrated the chosen headline.
Barack deserves a similar cover.
"Minnesota Republican is unphotogenic"
Submitted by Newsbubba on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 3:27pm.
Too bad she ain't as beautiful as that new standard of American beauty, Moochie da Clydesdale, yo.
And when is Moochie gonna give up dipping snuff?
And yet the media always
Submitted by Reaver on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:17pm.
And yet the media always seems to find a decent photo of our lady of the perpetual pantsuit, Hillary.
Mrs. Bachman
Submitted by Bob K on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:40pm.
just does not realize that until she quits using makeup, deodorant, a leg razor, and gets a Rachel Maddow hairdo, she just will not measure up to liberal standards of beauty and win them over..
You should have put a 'spew
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 3:45pm.
You should have put a 'spew alert' on that, NB....glad I wasn't sipping my coffee....
Yes, MO is the new standard of beauty and fashion. That's because no matter how she looks or what she wears, they declare it fantastic.
That aside, #4 in the Michele Bachmann (who, btw, spells her name the "correct" way, not the new "fancied up" way with 2 l's) set of outtakes, is actually an attractive photo of her, but I'm sure they would sully it with some kind of nasty comment about her praying.
Should have been posted as a reply to Newsbubba.
Ah yes....
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:56pm.
Her sartorial splendor....Boob Belt let out to the max, here.
What Newsweek did to Michele Bachmann is positively criminal. She's a very good looking woman, who is actually "stylish", unlike the faux icon....who really needs to get fitted for a bra.
Just UG.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Blonde, Newsweek already did a hitpiece cover on Mooch.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:02pm.
And like with Bachmann, they used the worst shot.
SoL---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:24pm.
Check out the face on the apple in front of the Mooch.
Looks like the "other" Marx brother.
Karl. (with antennae) :o)
MD
How many Photoshop hours and
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:28pm.
How many Photoshop hours and supercomputers were required for that photo?
Whenever I vote for President....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 3:49pm.
my thoughts always linger on "is this person REALLY photogenic?"
Facebook/Twitter World
Submitted by BuffNBone on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 4:35pm.
Unfortunately you are part of the shrinking minority who think for themselves. The rest are sheep.
Go, ahead, Newsweek, push
Submitted by jessieH on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 4:23pm.
Go, ahead, Newsweek, push that propaganda. We see right through your treasonous tactics.
UNPHOTOGENIC?
Submitted by Herbster on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 4:58pm.
Unphotogenic? Liar, Liar! Michele Bachmann is a beautiful woman so the "Outtakes" excuse doesn't hold water. I guess Snoozeweeks idea of "Photogenic" is Pelosi, Feinstein, Mikulski, Boxer, etc. Don't forget our world-traveling-at-our-expense Mrs. Obambi. The way she dresses (Casually) is an insult to the local Salvation Army store. Save us from another four years of these grifters.
We need to change "Hail to the Chief" to the theme song from The Jefferson's, "Movin' on up."
Put this on the front cover
Submitted by okie-pastor on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:40pm.
http://totallylookslike.icanhascheezburger.com/2009/02/15/hillary-clinto...
You mean like this?
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:58pm.
"Movin' on Up!"
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
"Sorry, it's all we had to
Submitted by okie-pastor on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:02pm.
"Sorry, it's all we had to work with" lol
I'd like to see THAT on the Cover
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:19pm.
Along with the words "Tribal, Barefoot, and FAT".
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
They upped the ante
Submitted by freecitizen on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:12pm.
So now instead of just showing one unflattering photo, they show ten. And they pretend this is them defending themselves. Right . . .
It is extremely easy to find
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:31pm.
It is extremely easy to find non-flattering images of anybody, just pause your DVR or DVD at many points you will find many unflattering images of anybody. So Newsweeks assersion is indeed 'bull**t'!
NewsWEAK, The Poor Man's Toilet Paper
Submitted by Motormouth KOS on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:49pm.
It has been 15 years since this rag mattered. If it was more absorbent, I might use it to wipe my tush.
Tina Brown is a wrinkly cow with bad teeth from a bygone shithole.
And News WEAK still sucks as t-paper.
The Obamination... A crisis leading to a catastrophe..(please donate to MRC)
Disgusting Liars
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:10pm.
Newsweek are transparent juvenile liars. I looked on Google images and saw numerous pleasing photos of Bachmann. If their own photographers were unable to shoot even one complimentary photograph then they are either incompetent boobs, Leni Riefenstahl propaganda wannabee's, ordered to make bad photos, or Newsweek is withholding dozens if not hundreds of images shot that more than likely contained complimentary photographs.
Of course there could have been incompetence or accident that deleted hundreds of images of Bachmann. Doubtful, but possible. Why wouldn't Newsweek just ask for a re-shoot then? Or obtain photos from any number of independent photographers covering Bachmann? It's not like there is only one photographer covering her these past several years. I'm sure the photographers would love to sell Newsweek one of their photos.
Newsweek lies like a thief caught red-handed and deserves all the scorn and ridicule mustered.
One for Tommy
Submitted by Boil It Down on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:32pm.
Credit where credit is due. Good work Tommy. -bidn-
Their photographer must be unionized!
Submitted by Denny Crane on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 7:32pm.
I mean, really? Is their any other reason that a "professional" for a national magazine couldn't get a single good picture?
Heck, just a google search comes up with many good pictures, (and of course some stupid ones too.)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2009/03/26/image4895111x.jpg
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/assets_c/2009/11/michele-Bachmann-new-4-cro...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TZ4zYEBSw1I/TNh3UnMYFjI/AAAAAAAAN4A/lTyqOGC2Xn...
We Are The 53%
Here's a TIP I truly wish
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 7:27am.
Here's a TIP I truly wish public figure conservatives would have imprinted on them...
In still photography or video -- NEVER EVER, EVER allow the camera operator to SHOOT YOU from below your EYE LINE...
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is BASIC STUFF... as is telling any magazine that you have FINAL CUT on the photo or NO INTERVIEW.
They can offer an array, but YOU Sarah, Michelle, Mitt, et all choose the one.
Having said that, this all too familiar egregious behavior from the DEMOCRAT-DYSENTERY-MEDIA COMPLEX, helps Mrs Bachmann, of course
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
What about ideas?
Submitted by telecaster on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 12:03pm.
We're really in a fluff over a unflattering cover photograph by a partisan magazine? Like this is a surprise right? Are we really talking about looks...about physical presentation...about being photogenic? And why are conservative women almost exclusively the subject of this mindless, trivial, American Idol drivel? Women should just be pissed! Does her ideas make sense and resonate with people? Can she do the job or not? Who cares what a sold out, liberal rag like Newsweek thinks.