Reading The Pictures: Newsweek -- Swallowing GOP Attack -- Positions Obama As Leftist

First of all, I take issue with the idea America is a center-right country when Bush initially sold himself as a centrist, failed to earn a clear mandate when he was re-elected (basically through the exploitation of fear), and then lost the last mid-term election to the Democrats.

More concerning the visual politics here, however....

I'm troubled by the way Newsweek places Obama between us and the flag, and how a national news mag has Obama's back to us again (1 , 2) reinforcing the right-wing meme that we don't and can't really know him.

Most specifically, though, I take issue with the fact a politically centrist Obama is framed looking leftward -- at the same time, in the closing days of the election, his inordinately rightward-looking competition is openly branding him a socialist.

For more politics with the sound off, visit BAGnewsNotes.com (and BAGnewsNotes @Twitter).

Comments

[larry278]

Obama-a leftist? No way. Check out what WSWS, a leftist sites, says of Obama. Obama is not a leftist or a socialist.

[apoyo]

I don't like that cover. For many reasons.

[jobecky20]

Don't forget...Newsweek is the mag that didn't touch up Sarah Palin's face, much to the dismay of the Palin lovers. I think Newsweek is just trying to piss off both sides equally. They have a pretty crappy magazine anyway.

[Paddy999]

I guess Newsweek only wants Republican Subscribers!!
That won't be hard!

[raechel]

Oh, for crying out loud. Newsweek? Forty years ago my public high-school buds and I read Time & Newsweek, and we always called it "Weak News." It may have gone downhill recently, but it's never been that great. Why does anyone care? None of those undecided voters reads Newsweek.

[vegas9999]

Politically centrist Obama? Wow. That reminds me of Andrea Mitchell looking O'Reilly in the eye and saying "you really believe Chris Mathews is a liberal?"

[kothian1]

...and you missed the subtle suggestion that he's looking through bars? Damn! It was the first thing that struck me.

[RobinSeattle]

McCain was also for higher taxes for the wealthy, too:

"When you reach a high level of comfort paying a little more isn't a bad thing."
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/22/45231/402/272/638398

By the way, Adam Smith, in the Wealth of Nations, expresses the same sentiment. Too bad, then, that McCain flip flopped like an olympic gymnast on this in order to appeal to the very base GOP base.

[TrooAmerican]

Wouldnt their front page viewpoint indicate that its THEIR position?

Look man, c'mon! we all know the MSM wants money more than honesty and integrity.
The top media personalities routinely earn millions. You think they dont butter their bread with whomever's policies will help them make the most money and Fu** the poor and middle classes that they all have disdain for anyway as being ignorant sheep that they can influence their way with standard GOP manipulation tactics?

get real
The MSM is totally conservative at the top where they get their marching orders from.

[BuzzEGreen]

I cancelled my subscription to Newsweek last Spring because editor Jon Meacham had finally crossed the line (for me). I had seen Newsweek becoming increasingly focused on entertainment instead of news reporting over the years, but during the 2008 primary season Newsweek under Meacham's leadership seemed to take a Fox News-like plunge away from any semblance of objectivity.

Just one example was the contrast between the cover photos granted to Hillary Clinton (full color, a flattering posed shot) and John Edwards (black & white, with his tie undone and collar open, exhausted and unsmiling in an unguarded moment). Meacham didn't even pretend to give fair treatment to the different candidates then. I am not surprised that he is continuing his biased slant now.

[davidly]

It may not be a center-right country, but with the Republicans spending their energy marginalizing all things left, and the Democrats running from them, it's easy for some to come to that conclusion. Liberals refuse the liberal label, and the Dem campaign recently referred to the socialist comment as "a smear campaign". It's at least pretty clear what kind of country they think they seek to lead.

[Marlyn]

What you don't understand is that the Democrats are not all of one mind. Some of us are Liberals, but others are BLUE DOGS, Republican lite.

[davidly]

Yes, but how many can you name in either house who tout the Liberal label?

[expat78]

Center-right as in compared to (most of) the rest of the world. The Democrats would be considered center-right in Europe, the rest of the English-speaking world, Latin America, large parts of Asia...

but I agree with the visual analysis.

[Jellinek]

I can appreciate a critique. My experience has taught me that it is always possible to read a lot into something when there's nothing there to begin with. In fact, the less content there is the more one can read into it. After years of studying fine art and art history, I have learned that well resolved art speaks for itself. Critics often artfully "retouch" the work of an artist to prove their point of view.

So if Newsweek is trying to tell us that we don't know Obama and that he stands between us and the flag and that he's left leaning - so be it. So what? So buttons on your underwear. Rubbish.

It's a crummy photo. To me, the photo is impersonal which is a direct contradiction regarding Obama. Perhaps viewing it from that perspective we could assert that Newsweek is simply telling us that Obama"s campaign and possible victory in 2 weeks is in itself a contradiction to conventional political wisdom and contradicts many, many decades of white rule in this country.

You see " anyone can make up stuff. Maybe it is just a picture of Barack heading off to the white house after successfully kicking McCain"s "you know what." HA!

[Strywever]

Editorial staff spend a great deal of time discussing just the kind of points that this article makes -- whether it's a news journal, a style magazine, or any other kind of publication. They typically have hundreds of photos to choose from, and during the selection process, they scrutinize the most arcane details and potential interpretations from all directions, ad nauseum.

This is never more true than with the selection of a cover photo.

[Jellinek]

The point is? So they can have something to say because they're on a news cycle. Content? We can just make it up as we go along if it isn't there. Hundreds of photos - film is cheap.
I'd go out and shoot 4 or 5 rolls in an hour and out of that maybe one shot gets printed. Then off to the critque. Amazing how many people would tell me what I was thinking as if they actually knew. But it all sounds so good and intelligent - makes sense no? In the end, resolved work speaks for itself and junk needs to be spoken for.

[BottomLine2008]

America isn't a center-right country, it's a center country. And that center is leaning to the left.

[tompoe]

It's the corporate media, stupid. Why are you giving them a platform?