Sit Room Photo Analysis

[cbelt3]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/05/iconic....tml?hpt=C1

I like this analysis.

"If someone didn't know who Obama was, he or she probably couldn't tell that he was the president in the room, some scholars say.

"He's not in the tallest chair," says Brown, the sociology professor at Meredith College. "He's not the center of attention. He's not even in the middle of the room."

Yet Obama's willingness to be photographed without the typical Oval Office swagger gives birth to a new type of swagger, says Contee of Jack & Jill Politics.

She says that photo shows Obama's self-assurance and leadership style. He seeks out the opinions of his advisers. He believes in collaboration -- all while he's taking down the baddest terrorist on the planet.

He doesn't need to wear a "Top Gun" flight jacket to project strength, she says.

"You would almost expect the president to be standing in that position," she says. "That shows his leadership style. He doesn't need to thrust his leadership style forward.""

- - - -
Leadership through example and cohesive collaboration. And let the people who know what they are doing run the show.

[mrbigstuff]

"That photo is amazing," she says. "It's another step toward rehabilitation of the image of black men in American culture. It's going to forever impact how people see black men in America."

not sure that I agree. after all, he's the *only* black person visible. but, I do agree that the photo conveys his concern. I wasn't aware that photo was taken at the time that the raid was going down; that's interesting to know the story behind the photo, so to speak.

[haikuman]

cbelt3 wrote:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/05/iconic....tml?hpt=C1

I like this analysis.

"If someone didn't know who Obama was, he or she probably couldn't tell that he was the president in the room, some scholars say.

"He's not in the tallest chair," says Brown, the sociology professor at Meredith College. "He's not the center of attention. He's not even in the middle of the room."

Yet Obama's willingness to be photographed without the typical Oval Office swagger gives birth to a new type of swagger, says Contee of Jack & Jill Politics.

She says that photo shows Obama's self-assurance and leadership style. He seeks out the opinions of his advisers. He believes in collaboration -- all while he's taking down the baddest terrorist on the planet.

He doesn't need to wear a "Top Gun" flight jacket to project strength, she says.

"You would almost expect the president to be standing in that position," she says. "That shows his leadership style. He doesn't need to thrust his leadership style forward.""

- - - -
Leadership through example and cohesive collaboration. And let the people who know what they are doing run the show.

:agree: I like his style....

A little humility goes a long ways *(:>*

[Grace62]

An iconic, historic photo that will define his presidency, for sure.


I can't read quite as much into it as that essayist, it is after all just a moment in time. Other photos from earlier in the day have the President in the "big chair" looking like the most important guy in the room...But I do like the description of his leadership style, I think that fits. What a departure...

[Chakravartin]

'Looks to me like nobody thought to offer him a seat at the desk.

[$tevie]

Clinton's explanation of her pose is kind of funny.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she has "no idea" what she was looking at when a photographer snapped the now-iconic image of her, President Obama, and other top national security officials during a Situation Room briefing on the Osama bin Laden raid - but she suspects her expressive demeanor in the photograph may have had less to do with national security than one might think.

"I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs," she told reporters in Rome on Thursday. "So, it may have no great meaning whatsoever."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-2...03544.html

[(vikm)]

It's called "quiet confidence" and I can fully appreciate it.

[Mac1337]

Always guilt-ridden.

[Spock]

Dakota wrote:
Always guilt-ridden.

.... and so you should be.

[Mac1337]

No, the guilt-ridden types are those who can't even act who they are. I suppose in your vocabulary the word "presidnetial" doesn't exist anymore. The more a president looks like a janitor the more virtuous he is.