ABC can't be so naive as to believe it wasn't a carefully calculated publicity stunt. Surely the good folks at Good Morning America know it was anything but an invasion of privacy--that the Clintons wanted the world to see the image of a blissfully happy married couple tripping the sand fantastic. And yet . . .
GMA devoted a segment this morning to a collective tongue clicking in concern that the Obamas' privacy is being invaded by photographs taken during their current vacation in Hawaii. To lend historicial perspective, other instances of photograhic invasions of presidential privacy were aired, including the image displayed here. According to ABC's Yungi de Nies, who narrated the segment, the photographic invasion of vacation time was "something the Clintons had to get used to. They were spotted dancing in the sand on one vacation." "Spotted"? I suppose. In the same sense streakers are "spotted" running across football fields.
View video here.
Let's let Kate O'Beirne, in a 2005 column in the National Review, tell the real story behind the Clintons' careful mise-en-scène:
A single memorable photograph from Hillary's years in the public spotlight illustrates the intimidating determination that marks her political ambitions. It was early January of 1998, and her husband was preparing for his deposition in Paula Jones's sexual-harassment suit. During their New Year's vacation in the Virgin Islands, the presidential couple were "caught" dancing together on the beach. In Bill's arms, Hillary gazed lovingly at her affectionate husband, her 50-year-old body revealed in all its bathing-suited glory. Most middle-aged women dread leaving a dressing room in a bathing suit, yet Hillary readily posed for a photo bound to grace front pages around the world. It was a perfect façade of normal matrimony, and succeeded brilliantly in distracting attention from the Jones suit. I remember thinking, "Wow, it's true that she will do absolutely anything for the sake of political survival." In the months ahead, after Monica Lewinsky had been exposed as Bill's latest paramour, Hillary would endure even greater public indignities. But she stuck with her husband—and, in the end, she had her reward: a seat in the Senate.
At the time, people well knew what the photo was all about. But that doesn't prevent ABC, almost 11 years later, from rewriting history for purposes of portraying the image of a loving Clinton couple whose privacy the press violated. Please.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.




















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December 23, 2008 - 08:19 ET by TexndocI thought I remembered that this picture (dancing on the beach to no music) came out almost immediately before Monica Lewinsky broke wide open. After it did, Hillary wouldn't hold hands in public with Bubba. Now way was this act post-Lewinsky. I guess re-reading the National Review article confirms this, post-Paula pre-Monica. Oh. That. Bubba.
Ugh!
December 23, 2008 - 08:59 ET by P. AaronThe Clintons, with their basement tans, look like they just washed up on that beach.
If comunism is such a great idea, why didn't they put up a picture window instead of an Iron Curtain?
Hey, Slick really IS a
December 23, 2008 - 09:03 ET by SickofLibsHey, Slick really IS a redneck!
A little more recent.
December 23, 2008 - 09:07 ET by Doc_NavyI seem to remember Hillary giving Bill the "Hand" at the DNC convention when he tried to give her a peck.
Doc
First of all, clearly the
December 23, 2008 - 09:16 ET by BKeyserFirst of all, clearly the Clinton photo is a fake- I'm not even so sure that's Bill, but Hilldog would be in a pants suit if that was really her.
And secondly- Barry needs to see a plastic surgeon- Gynecomastia can be corrected and he shouldn't be forced to wear a "Bro" (or "Manssiere"), he will be President after all! Hell, it's embarrassing!
It is wrong. Dead wrongs I tells ya!
December 23, 2008 - 09:22 ET by JWFObama needs his privacy!
Now Bush on the other hand. Let's catch him spitting, making goofy faces while joking during a speech, ducking shoes from Iranian hearty-hearters, trying to open a locked door, giving the rocknroller devil symbol with his fingers (not a symbolic horns from his alma mater), tripping slightly on a wire, looking for a cue off camera while awaiting an interview, banging his head on the white house helicopter, dropping barney, calling a reporter an buttmunch on a hot mike, ect.
Or lets dig deep and find pictures of him with a smoke in his hand, or jokingly giving the finger during a warmup for an interview.
Or we could make every instance of him losing his place in a speech and recovering with a joke as the biggest gaffe yet on top of a million other gaffes.
But it is ok, he, uh, uh, is, you know, uh, uh, and, he is, look, he is, uh, uh, uh, on his way out, and, and, now wait, look, uh, uh, uh, and there is a new, a new, now wait, uh, uh, uh, uh, new president and, and, uh, uh, uh, uh, an articulate one, uh, uh uh, coming, you know, in.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Can you imagine how many
December 23, 2008 - 09:43 ET by fitzfongCan you imagine how many takes and how much film was left on the cutting room floor to produce this scene? I sure hope they gave the lighting stand-ins a lot of overtime pay...no question they earned it.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
Uh...yeah. That photo
December 23, 2008 - 09:50 ET by motherbeltUh...yeah.
That photo was just as "candid" as the one of Bill walking the beach at Normandy and just happening to look down and find a group of stones, and forming them into a cross in the sand.....
Riiiight, mb.
December 23, 2008 - 10:37 ET by BlondeHad that pic been candid...HRC would have been in a BLACK bathing suit (as anyone over 40 knows)...perhaps even a burkha (well, at least a pareau) to cover those thunder thighs.
Good morning
December 23, 2008 - 10:47 ET by cocodrieCan't a "loving couple" have a little pricacy on a public beach? They brought the photographers to shield them from the public's prying eyes. How could they know that photographs would be taken?
I like the thighs remark. Nothing like a woman to reveal these things to us men.
Good morning, cocodrie
December 23, 2008 - 11:28 ET by BlondeThen my work here is progressing.
There are certain things that shouldn't be paraded around in public (like my 80 year old neighbor, all 5' 4" of him, in a speedo and cowboy boots). And HRC in a bathing suit, Bill too, certainly fall in that category.
Privacy on a public beach....that's good, mon ami.
Blonde
December 23, 2008 - 11:47 ET by cocodrieI'm careful what I wear outside the house. Imagine Santa in blue jeans and a plaid shirt, that's me. Beard and all.
The beach photo
December 23, 2008 - 11:56 ET by sherylsimsNot only staged, probably also doctored to get rid of any cellulite on the thighs. I think it was taken back when the press was still in love with the Clintons, so it only figures that they wouldn't want to show any cottage cheese on those lily white legs.
LOL sheryl.... that "lily
December 23, 2008 - 12:08 ET by motherbeltLOL sheryl....
that "lily white legs" comment reminded me of back when Bill Clinton first got into office, and used to jog around DC in shorts, David Letterman used to have a running gag going on "pasty white thighs"....
MB
December 23, 2008 - 12:12 ET by sherylsimsMy first comment (which I deleted before posting) had something to do with him being awfully white for being our first black president. Wasn't sure if anyone would remember that he was dubbed that way back when.
I hate to respond to my own post....but
December 23, 2008 - 14:02 ET by BlondeMichelle O apparently read it...black bathing suit, with thunder butt suitably covered by a pareau.
Oh...and she is sucking on a lemon, LOL.
...yet somehow she appears
December 23, 2008 - 14:06 ET by fitzfong...yet somehow she appears slightly less bitter than usual.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
blonde
December 23, 2008 - 14:14 ET by choselife3xROFL
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?!!!
You should go buy a lottery ticket today.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Good thought, cl3x
December 23, 2008 - 14:29 ET by BlondeThat hadn't occured to me...but I shall!
I think the correct term
December 23, 2008 - 14:46 ET by motherbeltI think the correct term is "Bubblebutt"......isn't that what they used to call it on "In Living Color"?
And there's the more recent "Junk in the trunk".....
Well, mb...
December 23, 2008 - 15:12 ET by BlondeI also considered larda**.
Which of course, reminded me of my old college boyfriend, who loved Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls"....LOL.
I LOVE "Fat Bottomed
December 23, 2008 - 16:56 ET by motherbeltI LOVE "Fat Bottomed Girls"!!!!!
Besides the obvious staging
December 23, 2008 - 11:21 ET by fitzfongBesides the obvious staging aspect of that picture...dark suit and wing tips on the ocean? I haven't seen that fashion statement since the press ridiculed Nixon's walks in San Clemente.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
have fun in Hawaii
December 23, 2008 - 10:33 ET by candanceWhile you browbeat CEOs and business owners to take a pay cut, work on your plan to bankrupt coal mines, and then have the nerve to accuse your opponents of being out of touch, I hope you have fun on those beaches in Hawaii.
Oh, and speaking of "out of touch" opponents, word is that Sarah Palin refused to pay raise in AK. She doesn't need material things to be proud of her citizens.
Somewhere Marie Antoinette is jealous of these people.
I'm a typical white person.
NEVER EVER EVER
December 23, 2008 - 11:06 ET by timzankHas there been a "candid" photo of the Clintons. They choreograph EVERYTHING.
They choreograph
December 23, 2008 - 11:37 ET by Dan The Man 2They choreograph EVERYTHING
Even murders.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Marxist Photoshop 101
December 23, 2008 - 12:38 ET by j17ghsRemember Mao Tse Tung standing in the water -- a photo that the ChiComs said proved he was healthy? Now we have beanpole Obama and bowling pin Hillary in similar poses. A coincidence? I say not. Both probably left Mao's little red book tucked safely in their shoes on shore.
Where is the photo's of My
December 23, 2008 - 13:14 ET by UtherpendWhere is the photo's of My Belle Michelle in her bathing suit?? Seems BHO is alone a lot. Sort of like how Bill was always by himself, at least till Monika showed up.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you."
I'm no expert -- but
December 23, 2008 - 14:10 ET by Jack BauerI'm no expert -- but despite the flat stomach, doesn't Obama's chestal area look somewhat creepily man boobish?
I mean, he's got more going on up there than Calista Flockhart. To name but one.
Maybe....
December 23, 2008 - 14:44 ET by motherbeltA "Bro"?????
Relevant portion starts at 2:20
ha ha -- the MANZIERE I
December 23, 2008 - 14:48 ET by Jack Bauerha ha -- the MANZIERE I remember that episode.
The more I look at Obama, the more I think he looks like he could start lactating at any moment!
Yuk -- even I'm thinking that image may be too gross!
You know...
December 23, 2008 - 16:18 ET by Heather RadishThose could be pectoral implants. So his chest doesn't look concave.
I'm no expert -- but
December 23, 2008 - 17:12 ET by bigtimerI'm no expert -- but despite the flat stomach, doesn't Obama's chestal area look somewhat creepily man boobish?
Jack...
YES!
It was one of the first things I noticed last night when this first came out, besides his scrawny legs.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
→ Moobish Bambi
December 23, 2008 - 17:15 ET by Cool ArrowHe certainly rivals Michelle in that department.
But Mixalot wouldn't be fooled.
Get The Bucket
December 23, 2008 - 16:45 ET by SquonkamaticOh my god and I just ate ... I feel woozy ...
I remember thinking after
December 23, 2008 - 22:05 ET by RR GOPI remember thinking after it became Obama was winning on election night that the one good thing out of this whole mess is that the Clintons were finally out of the picture.
Uh-uh.
I really need to re-read Dante's Inferno and see what special place is reserved for such people, so I can alter my sins accordingly and hopefully end up many, many rings away from them.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.