Sooner or Later, Candidates Will Surely Look Lost

Washington Post ^ | December 26, 2007 | Phillip Kennicott

[Kaslin]

They have become a useful, though very tricky, class of images in this roller-coaster ride of a presidential campaign. Call them the "hangdog" candidate photographs: They capture the politician with eyes downcast, looking tired, stressed. When the headline is about poll numbers dropping, fundraising tanking or verbal gaffes from soon-to-be-cashiered campaign advisers, the hangdog candidate image is sure to make its appearance.

No matter that the candidate is saying he or she isn't concerned about the bad news. No matter that they're still smiling, they still feel confident, they can still point to positive poll numbers in this state or that. The grim-faced photograph confirms the suggestion, in the story it illustrates, that the campaign is imploding.

Given how many ups and downs there have been in the race so far, most candidates have been subject, at one point or another, to seeing themselves look like losers. The popular Drudge Report Web site recently ran a particularly notorious picture of Hillary Clinton, showing her face riven with deep furrows and wrinkles. She looked so awful that even some conservative commentators noted the unfairness of using such a manifestly unflattering image.

[Doogle]

...Kucinich has had that look since his first haircut

[webheart]

She looked so awful that even some conservative commentators noted the unfairness of using such a manifestly unflattering image.

The key point is that conservatives are already aware of how the owners of the propaganda organs of the democrat party use photography, verbal imagery and emotional appeals to influnce public opinion. No surprise, conservatives are the thinkers, liberals like feelings. It is only noteworthy at this time because their candidate of choice is the one the tactic is detrimental to. They've been doing this to Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld since 2000.

It's interesting to note the position of the photographer relative to the subject when Pelosi, Clinton, Reid or Murtha is shown, always from slightly below, with the subject looking out overhead. But when it's Bush or Rice or Lott, the subject is seen from above, with an unpleasant facial expression. Right now, Giuliani and McCain get the "from below, looking out over" treatment, but after one of the gets nominated, watch the camera angle change.

[norwaypinesavage]

Seems to me to be an awful lot of words, just to justify a bad (realistic?) picture of Her Highness. I bet that if a similar picture of Romney were available it would be on the WAPO front page for a week.

[phillyfanatic]

Never trust the LEFT OR MSM to say or write anything positive or good about Republicans, Christians, or Conservatives. The Pub Platform is still far superior to the socialist pacifist Dems that voters who actually read and hear should be able to pick Pubs over Dems in almost every race. But, they will not!!