Let's be honest about the Newsweek cover

[Dreamer Tatum]

It's a (pretty good) hit job. It's meant to sell magazines, to demean Palin in front of her supporters, and it's meant to help goad her into running in 2012. It's meant to cast her as a fundamentally unserious and unqualified person, which she is. Newsweek is a private publication, and if they don't like her, they have every right to sharpen the claws. There are other ways to take that goofy airhead down, but this is pretty decisive on their part.

There is no other explanation for use of that particular photo. They could have used any of the thousands of pictures of her that exist, but they chose that one because with the right words next to it, they can make her look like someone who should be running on a treadmill, not running a country (and they'd be right). In purely abstract terms, it's a flattering picture; she's an attractive woman. But come on: this picture is a takedown. Does anyone remember Drudge running that goofy pic of Kerry in that industrial coverall? Same deal.

In that respect, I don't think it's sexist. It's purely political. It's meant to draw her and her supporters out, and to get her all frothed up about running in 2012, where she will be trounced. That's why she's all over the news...she's being given enough rope. And,accordingly, she's making an ass of herself all over again.

Anyone who says that Newsweek simply picked any old picture she happened to pose for: bullshit. There is no shame in calling Newsweek's magazine-selling strategy for what it is.

[tallahasseedem]

1. Whatever it takes...

I don't feel sorry for her one bit. She wants attention? She got it, GOOD!

[Toucano]

2. How do you suppose it demeans her?

I am not sure I agree, but I am interested in your opinion.

I suspect that her supporters would have been fine with the photo if she hadn't started complaining about it.

[Dreamer Tatum]

4. It demeans her because

Newsweek generally prints staid and relevant pics of politicians on the cover.

This cover presents Palin as a sportswoman, not a policy thinker, which is the opposite of what her lickspittles view her as.

[Canuckistanian]

5. I agree

Like her or loathe her, she should be defeated on her policies or lack of policies.

The Newsweek cover amounted to ridicule and provocation.

It's what we've always claimed we hated about RW publications, pure exploitation for political purposes.

[Jade Fox]

24. Palin is no longer a politician.

Palin resigned her last elective office, and is not officially running for any other office.

She is now, by her own choice, a celebrity. She could have retired to private life, but she did not, and she's still trying to control how the press treats her.

Boo hoo.

[Warpy]

9. However, it's the reality of the situation.

The woman is a lightweight.

The picture reflected just that.

Newsweek is not responsible for what her lickspittles think, or even if they think, which is dubious at best.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. All true, but part of being honest is to admit Newsweek's agenda

which is to portray her for what she is. A lightweight.

[Toucano]

16. Wouldn't it be part of Newsweeks agend to portray anyone for what they are?

A photo depicting Palin solving complex mathematical equations would be dishonest, no?

Cameras have a way of capturing the truth about a subject despite themselves. Perhaps that's why Runners World chose not to use this particular photo in their magazine because it failed to represent her even in the context of an athlete.

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. Newsweek is portraying her for what THEY see her as

The interesting thing is that the same picture can sometimes fit Newsweek's agenda AND her base's agenda.

It's pretty clear that Newsweek thinks she's full of shit.

[Toucano]

21. Then the photo tells a version of the truth.

Maybe it is Newsweeks version of the truth; Sarah is a lightweight who benefits in no small part from her physical appearance more than academic achievement, heroism, philosophy, or accomplishment.

I don't think that's automatically wrong to represent an editorial opinion of a subject that already existed.

Maybe the photo demeans Sarah in the sense that it tends to reduce her worth or character (to some people).

But I think it has to be Sarah's responsibility for that. She posed for the photo with a professional photographer, signed off on it, and was probably paid for it. The photo was expressly made for publication. It isn't like it was stolen from her iphone or something.

I don't recall any complaints from Palin regarding the other cover photo that also did not represent her in a serious light. I think she favored being represented that way.

I guess if one is going to manipulate their public image to the extent that Palin seems to do, you would have to be prepared for it to turn around and bite you in the ass once in awhile.

I just can't gather up much sympathy for her in this case.

[Dreamer Tatum]

42. We are overthinking this.

If Newsweek viewed her as a political force to be taken seriously, they would not put a silly picture of her on the cover. The rest is just details.

[Toucano]

13. They ran this photo of her at the height of the campaign.

I don't think that qualifies as staid and relevant. Maybe I'm wrong, but maybe Palin herself isn't staid and relevant?

I'm not sure if her lickspittles think of her as a policy thinker or as one of their own. I think her "folksy" appeal is why they follow her. Again, I could be wrong. It is hard to tell with that set.

I think she looks silly in the photo because she is in running gear and posing like a beauty queen, but I don't find that particularly demeaning. Just stupid. In that sense, it's a representative photo of Ms. Palin.

[Dreamer Tatum]

15. I think that's another example of what I mean.

Politically, it's demeaning, although I'm sure some people would see it as flattering somehow.

[me b zola]

28. Palin as a poser

Using the flag as a prop.

[HipChick]

3. Maybe its a pun...she pictured running...run,baby,run..n/t

[sandnsea]

6. She's a tough woman

That's the persona she will need to nurture if she has any chance at running for President. I don't get what's sexist about it. She's the one that made an issue of hunting and field dressing animals. This in no way compares to Drudge picking an unflattering shot of Kerry, who was in a clean suit during a visit to the Kennedy Space Center. No different than them making a fuss over Obama bowing. That's what they do. And now they're making a fuss over a supposed sexist picture of Palin, when there isn't anything unflattering, sexist or even negative to anyone except hunting opponents and they're not going to vote for her anyway.

[Gregorian]

7. I like the "enough rope" concept.

If she had a brain I might find her rather attractive. Well, aside from the nitwit "nails on a chalkboard" screeching voice. Egads! What an empty wreck.

[RoadRage]

8. Sarah Palin said, AND I QUOTE:

"I feel kind of bad that I can't support a woman, but I don't like Clinton's "whining."

And yet, a magazine puts up a picture of her that SHE POSED FOR, to be ON THE COVER OF A MAGAZINE.. and she not only WHINES, she screams, cries and bellows like a ferral cat.

Man up Palin.. you're not 1/10th the woman then Clinton is.. and she's the one you were oh so happy to diss one short year ago.

[OHdem10]

11. I agree it is political--first thought in my head.

[MadMaddie]

12. Palin wants to be out in the public eye just like Prejean

Did she think that photo's out there wouldn't be used?

Plain has put herself out in the media and used the media for every last minute of her 15 min+ of fame....with that 15 min of glory their is the downside of fame

Sarah is a one women hit piece on herself. I don't feel sorry for her because every day I turn on the radio or the tv she has her face plastered everywhere and she is doing this to herself. As long as no one asks her hard questions and she can spout off nonsense then she is happy. As soon as she is challenged she all of sudden becomes the victim.

[napi21]

14. Wasn't it NW that had her closeup pic on the cover that Sarah

was bitching about because it showed the pores of her skin?

[madinmaryland]

17. BULLSHIT! Palin has spent the last 14 months cultivating the image of a sportsman,

outdoors-person, and a very active individual. She has in NO WAY ever tried to portray herself as intellectually sound and has spent a good bit of time ridiculing the so-called "intelligentsia". She portrays herself as the "joe-everyone".

I call bullshit on anyone who says it is anything other than Sarah Palin trying to garner more attention"

It is NOT Newsweak's fault. Palin had all the control over what was shown.

[Dreamer Tatum]

19. So Newsweek let her pick the picture?

Did they also let her write the words next to the picture?

:rofl:

Newsweek doesn't like her. They're trying to ridicule her. Period.

[StarfarerBill]

20. It's to sell her...

...and I imagine that it'll succeed.

[Liquorice]

22. I agree it's a political hit, but I disagree that it isn't sexist. It certainly is. And it's

not the first time. They also used sexism on her last year with that ridiculous extreme close-up of her on the front cover. I'm offended that they would treat any woman that way.

[Toucano]

25. Excuse me, but was this extreme close-up also sexist?

The one you are referring to, I think, is this one.




How about this one?



This one:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_35igJnloijA/R4BN-AmB4wI/AAAAAAAAB3g/bWTn3NsLzGM/s400/obama+newsweek+cover+aa.JPG

This one:




Or this one:



Could it be that Newsweek likes these extreme close-up shots on the cover to get noticed at the newsstand?

[Liquorice]

29. All close-ups are not created equal. The context is completely different and the close-ups

are meant to evoke very different things in these covers. That should be overwhelmingly obvious just by quickly glancing at these different close-ups.

[Quantess]

32. Sorry, I'm not overwhelmed at the obviousness.

I'm not seeing the sexism in the close-ups.

[Toucano]

37. Here's another one.

It's overwhelmingly obvious that it's a hit job.



Is he making the "I want a blow-job" signal? :rofl:

[Toucano]

35. Well it isn't overwhelmingly obvious because I don't share your perspective.

Can you elaborate?

I see the Palin close-up as sort of capturing her "wink, wink" personality.

Can you explain why you find it degrading or sexist but the Obama extreme close-up is not sexist?

[Liquorice]

39. It doesn't come through on the internet, but when I saw that cover in person, I was

very offended by it. They were clearly doing a hit on her based on her looks.

[Toucano]

41. Okay. I accept that you felt that way about it when you saw it.

That makes sense that it provoked a response from you.

But can you entertain the idea that Newsweek has a long pattern of using the extreme close-up for covers to convey something or provoke a response?



If it's a hit on Palin based on her looks to use an extreme close-up for the cover, is it not a hit on Obama based on his looks to do the same for him?

If not, doesn't that represent a double standard?


Could it be that the response you had to the cover upon seeing it had something to do with how you felt about the subject of the photo more than the actual photo or its use?

[tonysam]

31. There was a Newsweek cover of Ronald Reagan back in 1976, I believe

that showed EVERY wrinkle on his already weather-beaten face; I mean he looked mummified.

I will never forget somebody wrote a letter to the editor about that cover: he or she said it was a "tribute to mortuary science."

[nini]

49. She chooses to use her 'sex appeal' to her advantage

Her cutesy little winks, lip licking, and all that crap makes her fair game with all this. If she carried herself as a strong competent women who uses smarts instead winks you'd have a point.

[Midwestern Democrat]

23. I think Newsweek sees her as a pop culture phenomenon rather than

a serious politician and is covering her accordingly - which, IMO, is the honest way to cover her. She doesn't deserve the kind of coverage a John Kerry gets - she's not contributing substantive offerings to the political discourse - she's a celebrity who does things like posing for cheesecake shots in magazines - like the one Newsweek used on its cover.

[G_j]

34. true nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

43. I'll buy that nt

[Lint Head]

26. We're talking about it now aren't we?

That's what all cynical media outlets want. The buzz makes money. Money and greed is the current backbone of our American society.
Hey. Let's talk about Palin's short skirt while 44,000 Americans die because they don't have health care.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

27. They could've had this picture on the cover

[Liquorice]

30. You are disgusting. nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

36. No. The picture may be disgusting.

But since you don't know me hold off on the personal attack. Such is against the board rules if you're not aware.

[Liquorice]

40. Is blatant sexism allowed? nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

44. Since that picture is fictional, I doubt they'd have considered it.

Really, is that necessary? Isn't it enough that she's stupid?

[DU GrovelBot]

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[eppur_se_muova]

53. Yay! DU mentioned on the cover of Newsweek! nt

[question everything]

38. For those of us who have not seen it

[EFerrari]

45. You betcha. The photo is a takedown.

It makes her look like a carhop not a president. I hope Jon Meacham does HELLA sales. lol

Okay, that's twice we've agreed this week and it's only Tuesday.

[Dreamer Tatum]

46. We'll agree a lot more...I'm not going to harass you about Venezuela-land anymore. nt

[EFerrari]

47. And I'm way tired of being tiresome about it.

It's something, anyway.

[Statistical]

48. Agreed except IMHO it demeans newsweek more than it does Palin.

Puts them more on the level of the star or the globe then a serious source of information.

Well maybe the star is an exaggeration but you get the point.

I know Palin is an airhead. Hell substantial number of Republicans and moderates know that.
I don't need Newsweek to "trick" me into buying a copy. I need them to provide news = information and it seems to be a task they are failing at.

[dusmcj]

50. I don't see why being a hottie and getting elected are mutually exclusive

so on that premise how is the photo damaging ? There are some fine-looking women in Congress who are also effective politicians. Thankfully Margaret Thatcher is not a role model for an excessive number of her sisters.

[Dreamer Tatum]

55. I'll ask you: is the article about running?

If not, the pic is meant to damage her. It's effective, too.

[la la]

51. that tanning bed

seems to be working quite well---either that, or she has tan hose on---which is what it really looks like!

[Rupert Notmurdoch]

52. I don't see the woman as sexy

I guess I'm missing something, but she just reminds me of a librarian.

[hfojvt]

54. huh?

since when are librarians not sexy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFv29iPACc