Michelle Obama vs. Sarah Palin: Whose Shorts Are More Scandalous? (PHOTOS, POLL)

Sarah Palin is on the cover of Newsweek, but she's not happy about it. In an image taken from a Runner's World photo shoot, the former governor wears running shorts and sneakers. Palin blasted the selection in a Facebook note, writing "The Runner's World magazine one-page profile for which this photo was taken was all about health and fitness - a subject to which I am devoted and which is critically important to this nation. The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now."

The last time shorts made news like this was when first lady Michelle Obama sported them on-board Air Force One in August.

So whose shorts are more controversial? Michelle Obama's because she wore them on Air Force One or Sarah Palin's because the Newsweek editors put them on the cover? See the photos and weigh in below.

Quick Poll

Whose shorts are more scandalous?

Sarah Palin's shorts on the cover of Newsweek

Michelle Obama's shorts on Air Force One

Neither. Who cares?

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Comments

[J-Ville]

09:54 AM on 11/26/2009

There's isn't a problem with either. The First Lady was on vacation doing the tourist thing and Sarah Palin was modeling active wear for a running magazine both outfits are appropiate­.

[Plutodog]

04:09 PM on 11/23/2009

The Palin People (shudder) have photoshopp­ed Michelle's picture nastily:
http://www­.facebook.­com/photo.­php?pid=57­482&id=100­0003084681­31&ref=mf

[smileystar78]

08:59 PM on 11/22/2009

Who cares? I can't believe this is even being brought up.

[blrpalms]

07:03 PM on 11/21/2009

Neither are scandalous­...what tripe to even imply

I wish Mrs. Obama had worn capris or a gauzy sundress rather than Bermuda shorts since they don't look good on anyone over the age of 18.

If Mrs. Obama had been in running shorts and running...­great

Posing, NO NO NO

Miss Wasilla was clearly posing

My favorite photo of SP is in a flag bikini carrying a rifle sorta tells the whole story

There is no comparison of Mrs. Obama's intelligen­ce, education and accomplish­ments and SP's babble

[lemondade]

01:16 PM on 11/21/2009

First Lady michelle obama is a 'real' wife/mothe­r/daughter­/and she is a LAWYER!!!!­!!!!

[snapshot1940]

05:15 PM on 11/20/2009

Neither of them are wearing Bootie shorts, so who cares?

[Kathleen Shimp]

08:46 PM on 11/21/2009

Exactly! It is normal 21st century active woman attire!

[rain33]

04:17 PM on 11/20/2009

MIchelle beats whalin palin at anything including brains!

[ontariogirl]

03:54 PM on 11/20/2009

Two women in shorts....­.whats all the fuss about.....­......thei­r shorts big deal. Stop being obsessed with who looks better, who is taller, who is fatter....­..bla bla bla.

[1088]

01:02 PM on 11/20/2009

Why the comparison­? One is a tramp and the other a true mother of two.

[KIVPossum]

04:34 AM on 11/20/2009

It's not a fair comparison­. One has had their 'curves' and knees photoshopp­ed. One is a natural person.

[luvangelHussein330]

12:00 PM on 11/19/2009

whom ever puts these articles together should take a flying leap. Why is there even a comparison­? You have flailins airbrushed magazine cover to the first lady's regular photo?

[Muggersmom]

12:27 AM on 11/19/2009

Palins legs are air brushed just as her face is. She should never be compared to our first lady, she is not a lady.

[caveman1313]

06:50 PM on 11/18/2009

can't compare the two.

MO would be wouldn't be caught anywhere near an american flag.

[pcplz]

07:59 PM on 11/18/2009

That was a very sad comment. Michelle Obama happens to be the First Lady of the United States of America...­.and you are......?­??????????

[oscartucker]

08:42 PM on 11/19/2009

caveman, the right name!

[PRINCECHARMED]

05:18 PM on 11/18/2009

None is scandalous­! none is chic!

[Pie7]

12:59 PM on 11/19/2009

I concur!

[Kathleen Shimp]

08:50 PM on 11/21/2009

I second that. It is active wear, nothing more, nothing less.

[Papa Swamp]

04:56 PM on 11/18/2009

OMG!!! Women wearing comfortabl­e attire!!! Quick throw a long dress on them and drag them back into the kitchen!!!­!

Is Huffpo serious about this article or was someone having a hard time finding something to write about?

And why are we comparing FLOTUS to Palin? One is in the the White House and the other....w­ell isn't.

[Kathleen Shimp]

09:01 PM on 11/21/2009

Hee hee. I'm about to become your fan.
Why stop at a long dress? How about a burqa?

I think someone here- most of the style writers from what I can surmise- does indeed have a hard time deciding what to write about. But they clearly do like, um, lively commentary­...
What else would explain the frequency with which out of context Karl Lagerfeld quotes become lead stories in this section? Yes, Style should have a little fluff, but sometimes I swear there's more here than at TMZ. HuffPo ought to have a "thinking person's" Style section, but they don't.

Oh, and as for the last question: You know, Michelle and Sarah are comparable because they both have XX chromosome­s. Didn't you know that? Women are all exactly the same, because women are not men.