Petite Power! Obama Vertically-Challenges His Cabinet Picks (SLIDESHOW)

Fun fact: if elected, John McCain, at 5'7", would have been the shortest president to hold office in over one hundred years (President William McKinley stood at the same height in 1897). But we all know how that turned out.

And so the struggle for petite empowerment continues: at Monday morning's press conference, four of Barack Obama's six cabinet picks could barely clear the microphone. Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, Janet Napolitano, and Robert Gates certainly have their work cut out for them in office, but first they might want to fight for a step stool. Why should the 6'1" President-elect have all the visibility?

• • • • • Susan Rice, nominated for United Nations Ambassador

Comments

[STParker]

Am I the only one who thinks that Susan Rice is a babe? Because she totally is. A lot more attractive than Condaleeza Rice. Please don't think I'm chauvanistic. I'm 26 and I think I'm in love with an older woman.

[Brothaman2k]

This world is ours for the taking.... SHORT PEOPLE UNITE!!!!

lol

[VelvetElvis]

It's like that classic Andy Kaufman skit -- where Kaufman plays a talk-show host. He has his desk and chair sitting about 5 feet taller than his guests. He looks down on them and of course they must *look up* to him and all his importance. For he, the talk-show host, is better than they. ;-)

Here's a link in YouTube if anybody needs to see what I'm talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enf3zyziKQM

[mclarek]

LMAO: Andy Kaufman video! Thanks for the link!

[VelvetElvis]

hehe no problem ... as I was typing my post, I did a quick search over at YouTube to see if I could find a video and voila!

[onenation]

Maybe competance is not a physical trait. Seems too many tall people infer that being tall is the same as being better. (See Neuclear industry in 1970's) It is not how you "feel", it is what you THINK and support with facts.

[RogHol]

It doesn't have to be tall to be smart but it seems to help...

[mythster]

"it doesn't have to be tall to be smart" ???
What does "it" refer to? and "it seems to help" - What?

If any one has any substantive information confirming or contradicting the thesis that taller people are smarter than those of shorter stature, I would be interested in seeing the data.
However, it is my understanding that current data would indicate that there might be a negative correlation between height and intelligence. How about those dinosaurs?

[berrycooda]

Just means that P.E. Obama will have to duck more.....o­r the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
After he starts getting picked on after Jan. 20, he will probably stay out of the limelight anyway.

Anyway, why is this important.­....
Just let everybody sit down and not worry about who you can see.

Maybe they should stand according to their height....­and let the short ones talk first...
Then....ra­ise the bar for the tall people.

[cmarmonhalm]

I think that the double mic is obscene. I was truly offended watching the press conference. The way the microphones covered the faces of the vertically challenged. I won't be watching these press conferences in the future. There were children present. What's wrong with these people.

[Joshuarr]

"..There were children present.." !?

What's wrong with YOU? Come off your high horse - they're just microphones. Any innuendo is of your own making.

[jOke]

and finally.. Obama... the boss. i love it. (lol)

[indeevoter]

Whoever's in charge of the trivial details of televisuals like this is still learning the ropes. Did anyone else notice how 'diminished' Obama looked in that executive chair he was in during his first Saturday address? The back of the chair was several inches above the top of his head - and he definitely did not present the imposing image you might want for the upcoming "leader of the free world." The back of the chair he was in during the next week's address was significantly lower. My guess is, in the future, the shorties in his cabinet will be better served by Obama's press operations.

[jukesgrrl]

In the very first press conference he gave (prior to his cabinet appointments) the curtain he was in front of had a big tear in it. The Hilton Hotel name was on the lectern logo, so I fear some poor hotel minion paid the price for that.

[novagirl]

Susan Rice should be arrested for crimes against humanity for her failure to respond to the
Rwanda masssace, during which time she was Chief of the Africa desk at the State Dept.

President Clinton himself gy his own admission called it the biggest failure of his Administration. Now Obama is congratulating her and promoting her to be tour nations rep. to the UN. Go Obama go!

[JNagarya]

failure to respond to the Rwanda masssace, during which time she was Chief of the Africa desk at the State Dept.
_____

The problem with your theory is that she wasn't the Sec. of State, therefore could not act on her own initiative.

Any other irrelevant "reasons" for hating Obama -- I mean, aside from the fact he isn't sufficiently white for your tastes?

[smag]

Did she go public and protest the non action on the part of the administration? No! That may have endangered her job. Politicans and especially diplomats are not very good at accepting responsibility or risking anything. They leave that to the people in trouble or the military who will at some time have to risk their life for another lost cause.

[Titus Pullo]

You do what people with 3 numerals in their IQ and European governments do in order to accommodate multiple speakers of various heights: you use a reasonably medium-short podium and a microphone with a long flexible tube. Have you seen them? They're all the rage. FOR A DECADE NOW!

No wonder people preface 'American' with 'Stupid' - this sort of thing is a total embarrassment. Super power. Yeah.

[dmsdzinr]

I think Barack needs to have a riser for those in his cabinet who are not nearly as tall as he is.

[jukesgrrl]

Barbara Boxer carries her own around with her. People in Congress call it a Boxer box. I don't know about the rest of them, but I seriously doubt Hillary will let this happen to her again.

[bodo]

Only Robert Reich and George Stephanopoulos have not yet been taken over from the old Clinton midgets gallery.

[gwt301]

A subtle but good point. Notice how the secretaries don't measure up to the Presidential Seal. Only th man in charge soars above the eagle. Nothing is by accident. Clever. I like this guy more and more.

[BarackDaVote]

Petite Power.....­..Huffingt­on ya'll are a mess! LMAO