Obama's Shoes: A Historical Comparison

DailyKos has an image up, pulled from a collection of photos by Callie Shell, of Barack Obama reclining at a table, wearing shoes with holes in the soles. Naturally, the left-leaning blog makes a broad comparison to the RNC-funded fashion show that Sarah Palin has been putting on as she travels the campaign trail. Of course, the first comparison that springs to my mind is probably one that the Obama campaign would liken to the old theatrical superstition of saying the name "Macbeth" in a theatre - fellow Illinois political figure Adlai Stevenson.

Stevenson was the subject of a photograph taken by Bill Gallagher of the Flint Journal, in which the presidential contender was captured with similar holes in his shoes. That photograph earned Gallager a Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and Stevenson got himself a statue with the iconic shoe-holes at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington. But it didn't translate into an electoral win for Stevenson, a historical note that I'm guessing Obama would prefer not to repeat.

Comments

[motley2]

If you haven't Googled Adlai Stevenson's quotes, you should. He was one funny dude. T-shirt worthy material spewed out of the guy on a daily basis.

[childofdalight]

Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job.
Adlai E. Stevenson

obama/biden08

this is a good one.......­..print it up.

[pkafin]

My favorite Stevenson quote (which I can only paraphrase here) came from a rally. A supporter in the audience yelled "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson replied:

"That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

[noir]

Should be in the Smithsonian collection­...

This exemplifies how hard that brotha has been grinding on the trail...

[Sammy00400]

If its some kind of superstitious thing, at least he doesnt wear the same socks everyday. Or... considering the holes maybe he does and its burn through? Nah thats just silly.

[nerakami]

whilst I get the point, I do hope there will be a budget for our President to wear nice (not so tattered) shoes, afterall he is the Prez.. and we do want him to look fabulous! : )

[jerryfromcalifornia]

He's jell'in

[MsBeale]

This man seems too busy thinking, listening carefully, formulating policy, speaking to tens of thousands of people every week, and writing his own speeches to notice his shoes.

This, if anything, is a good sign IMHO.

[thepianodiva]

That's right. Listen again to his first encounter with "Joe the Plumber". Olbermann played it again tonight. McCain has been using it to say Obama was disrespectful to the guy. But listen to it-it is a perfect model for how to communicate with a person-even where there may be some disagreement. Obama is clear, concise, warm, engaging, courteous, respectful. It is an amazing example. He has tremendous negotiating skills.

[PhDiva]

I totally agree. I was very impressed, and so were the other people around who clapped at his answer.

[ganmerlad]

Old tatty shoes are sometimes the most comfortable, and having to do as much walking as that man does, it may be by pure choice...t­ennis shoes would make him look even younger. ;-) I bet that he uses nice springy inserts too.

Either that or those shoes got that way JUST from this election!

[JLee]

Those must be some socialist elite holes!

[psychmaj323]

LOL...

[BadTymin]

Now thats someone who represents the everyday middle class and the so called Joe Six Pack of the world.

[SColbert]

Dont forget Joe the plumber!!!

[RFBorjal]

Of course, the Republicans will say those are "elitist holes" on the soles.

[psychmaj323]

LOL...

[barackobama4prez]

how un-elitist of him.

[yvonne61]

This a man know what it like to be poor.
This man know that having thing not important.
This man live the middle-class.
This man know we you don't have enough to eat.

This man is the hope for american future.
This is the man with dream for his family.


OBAMA IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZE FOR THE PEOPLE

[gintheb]

Damn!! Michelle, take your man to Shoe Fair!

[KarlaElisa]

That photo of those shoes is fantastic. I love him even more.

[blurredtruth]

This is news?

[kkuchenb]

No, it's the style section.

[gypsysoul111]

this post was beside the one on sarah palin saying she is an avid reader....­i knew i could get more honesty from looking at the bottom of obama's shoes!