Google News early Sunday morning, at its "Top Stories" front page, posted a suggestive Photoshopped picture of President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair next to a headline about the California Supreme Court's recent ruling on same-sex marriages.
In the picture, Bush and a shirtless Blair are cuddling underneath an American flag.
Accident? Something to do with Google's auto-generation software program?
Maybe. But consider as you examine the following screencap that the article the picture came from wasn't even one of the featured stories (link to larger more legible version here):
Let's add to the mystery, shall we?
The Washington Post article prominently featured was published around midnight Saturday, and is actually in Sunday's paper. Ditto the San Francisco Chronicle piece. And the San Jose Mercury article. And the LA Times, NY Times, and Boston Globe.
Yet, as you can see from the screencap, not only isn't there a link in the articles section for the website OverTheTop, but also the posting this picture comes from was published on Friday, May 16.
In addition, if you click on the "3,978 news articles" link sorted by relevance, the OverTheTop piece is seemingly irrelevant as it is buried pages into the search.
So, why would Google News so prominently place a picture from a two-day old article that it wasn't either featuring at its front page or displaying as relevant?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
an obvious attempt to play on the homophobic
May 18, 2008 - 11:26 ET by lunaticcringeradioit's just a jab by the radical gay movement spurred by their insecurities to stir up things with the homophobic and their insecurities. topically: isn't tony blair retired and gordon brown the prime minister, yes i think he is. an obvious pot stirring jab with this pic. lets see how many people will jump into the pile on this one.
but then those of us who don't care about what gay people do in private, just as much as we don't care what straight people do in private, will let such a pathetic attempt to instigate anger through it's obvious ignorance disappear like a fart in a hurricane.
lunaticcringeradio
well said
May 18, 2008 - 11:35 ET by buddycwell said
Google what?
May 18, 2008 - 11:36 ET by DelsaI don't use it anymore
They are really attempting to win me over.
Not a good job.
Better Get used to This Stuff!
May 18, 2008 - 11:51 ET by ChasvsThis is what our demofacist Leaders will be bring us daily!
You think Liberals are just slightly more sensitive Americans than us Conservatives? Think again! These are the most pathetic excuses for human beings in the world! They are now in power and we are all their slaves!
Wait until we have a Black Democrat for a president! You ain't seen nothing yet!
We are SO SCREWED!
I don't use it
May 18, 2008 - 12:06 ET by ammo johnOnce I heard about all of the crap Google does and does not do, I no longer use it.
For some reason I have a 'redirect' on my laptop that takes me to Google. Anyone know how I can get rid of this? All of my anti-this-and-that programs I have can't get rid of it. Thanks.
More and More
May 18, 2008 - 12:18 ET by BobAnthonyThe communist run media has it in for those who believe in traditional marriage!
No, just doesn't work
May 18, 2008 - 12:25 ET by badger.Looks like an American flag and a British flag standing together. Texas Bush and bull dog Blair just doesn't work. These two are just too stout / stalwart. Would be more fitting is if Obama and Edwards were juxtaposed together, now that would be more believable to me.
No, the Union Jack doesn't
May 18, 2008 - 13:02 ET by motherbeltNo, the Union Jack doesn't have stripes. It's one flag - American.
Google.....no class, all A$$
Hey MB
May 18, 2008 - 18:34 ET by badger.Hey MB, if addressing my post, I didn't mean literal flags, I meant symbolical. Bush standing strong representing the USA, Blair doing the same representing the strong British Empire. In the picture, I see two strong men representing two strong countries, nothing about being gay/weak.
The liberal left media is always claiming to stand up for the rights of all groups of people, (except for conservatives) and then come out with this trash. My take is that the left is inferring that Bush is the dominate partner and Blair the weaker partner in this relationship, further implying domination that of America being stronger over Britain in regards to foreign diplomacy, with the American flag wrapped around both of them. If I were British or gay this would probably be more upsetting to me than it is. What do I know, hardly anything shocks me anymore. Maybe I should have worded differently. Disregard, if you were not talking to me. I visit NB mostly on weekends, my chance to yak away.
Call it curiosity
May 18, 2008 - 14:18 ET by acumenWhen I used to see something like this from a demedia news outlet I had a natural reaction to look up and see what kind of sick bird slipped in and crapped all over my monitor.
Now I just recall the words of distraught dem strategists after the 2004 election trying to explain away yet another defeat by the Bush/Cheney/Rove team to equally delusional demedia talking heads; "We just didn't get our message out."
And this puerile, divisive, vitriolic display by the demedia all starts to make sense in some twisted sort of way.
I Quit Using
May 18, 2008 - 19:52 ET by KalihiwaiBeachGayygle years ago when I found out their pro-homo agenda
Now I see I have made the correct decision
Mark
Kauai
Post should be all over Google for illustration
May 18, 2008 - 22:19 ET by nkviking75If WaPo had any integrity, they'd be all over Google for trivializing their article with this tacky illustration. But then, it's a stretch to use "Washington Post" and "integrity" in the same sentence.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
If there's one thing I've
May 18, 2008 - 23:12 ET by FoolicanIf there's one thing I've learned after all these years, it's that arguing over something as picayune as this is futile and perhaps even damaging. Just laugh and let it pass.
So, why would Google News
May 19, 2008 - 00:42 ET by cleverpigSo, why would Google News so prominently place a picture from a two-day
old article that it wasn't either featuring at its front page or
displaying as relevant?
Because it's funny.
CP
May 19, 2008 - 00:58 ET by Noel SheppardCP,
So, are you suggesting Google is now in the comedy business? :-) ns