Reading The Pictures: Obama's Catering To The Right

This latest slide show from the White House -- tracking the President's marketing of the stimulus bill -- seeks to clearly demonstrate (and document) just how much Obama made efforts at bipartisanship.

If you can't make it out, the caption reads:

"Though the annual Alfalfa Club dinner on Jan. 31 was a social affair, the President took time out to talk with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell."

Though I think I understand photographer Pete Souza's caption -- that the event was more formal and didn't give people a chance to mix casually -- the language is interesting. It emphasizes how Obama broke with the proceedings (in other words, went out of his way) to connect with McConnell. The way it's written, however, the phrase (considering the "though") has another (somewhat more frustrated and harder political) sense too, expressing how Obama's "talk" with McConnell took place in spite of the evening's sociability.

Regarding the photo itself, it is interesting how it reveals a polarization with the two right-wingers, with McConnell and Roberts lined up and balancing off the left half of the photo while Obama and the waiter carry the other half. I'm hesitant to put too much weight on the racial split (although there was a joke going around during and right after the election -- among blacks, mostly, as far as I could tell -- that the black candidate was being brought in to clean up the white man's mess). Where there is a definitive parallel between Obama and the waiter, however, is in the way Obama -- in physically and socially extending himself to the Minority Leader -- finds himself in the catering mode.

For thoughts on another photo in the show, or more visual politics, visit BAGnewsNotes.com (and BAGnewsNotes @Twitter).

WH slideshow: The story of the economic recovery package

Comments

[darthmaul]

I think that Obama realizes that many of his overtures to bipartisan cooperation will go unanswered by the right, as evidenced by zero republicans in the house voting for the stimulus. What it does accomplish is that it makes him look like the reasonable rational politician in the eyes of the public, when they see pictures like this in the newspapers. In contrast, It also makes the politicians like John Boehner seem shrill and small.

Obama's overtures to bipartisanship just might offer enough "cover" to allow some of the more reasonable politicians, like the three senators to vote with the democrats on the senate. It seems very shrewd to me. Obama is a smart politician.

[Pearlswan]

The waiter, in the background, carries the historical context behind the political moment. As a photographer myself, I know the photographer could have taken a different angle and got the waiter out of the shot so as to focus on the key players. However, this angle is so much better because it communicates much more than just the idea of Obama "catering" to the right as he "leans" left. It looks so normal in that it catches a spontaneous moment but it is really a brilliant visual story in and of itself. Its why a picture is often worth a thousand words. This photographer is very good.

[apoyo]

What the picture says to me is that the Pres is cool and sociable while McConnell is uptight and frigid.

[dynagirl]

I don't always agree with your analyses of current events photos, but I find them fun and interesting to think about. Not at all pointless. Photos aren't just random, candid moments – those that are published are chosen by the photographer and editors from among dozens or hundreds of images of the same event. Looking at which ones they choose and thinking about their underlying message is very interesting, provided we don't get superstitious about it.

[Weirdwriter]

"Catering"?" That's not pandering, that's doing what he said he'd try to do: Changing the tone of nasty uber-partisan interaction in Washington. The president was a community organizer, after all. He learned how to try to draw disparate people together for a common good. Too bad the GOP gives only lip service to "bipartisanship" and sees the president's overtures as weakness.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

You've got to realize that the White House press machine is a propaganda organization - and their job is to sell the President's agenda.

To say Pres. Obama is "catering to the right" is so short-sighted. What he's doing is setting them up for a 2010 thumping. He's flashing chess pieces - that's when you convince your opponent that you are making an advance in one area, when it's really just a diversion for your real plan. Right now the cover move is - "Look, I'm trying to work w/ the Republicans, I've extended my hand across the aisle." Then while they glorify their obstructionist role he will unleash his campaign volunteers on them in the 2010 elections touting how they've been against rebuilding the middle class and America.

He's already going to GOP strongholds in swing states around the country. I must say, we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg of Pres. Obama's intellect and I'm enjoying the show.

Just be patient, some people have become so use to complaining over the last 8 years they don't know what else to do w/ themselves.

[skymuffin]

I guess you're the voice of reason. Another chess player, a person dear to me whose judgment I trust, says the same thing. I think our president plays chess, too.

I'm dismayed at his choices on the economy, human rights, spying on U.S. citizens, and the escalation of troops in Afghanistan, but he does represent a definite shift in the right direction.

[Carrington Ward]

Chess, or at least Poker.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

An overly radical move left would create a backlash, a more measured approach is necessary. You can't right every wrong in 4 weeks.

There are some things that I look at that I don't like too. For instance I don't think he or any other elected official has the right to "look forward" when it comes to Bush admin. war crimes when the majority of the people want a legal view.

As far as Afghanistan, I take solace in the fact that he didn't make a move until an "end game" was declared and agreed upon by all.

No defense for warrantless wire taps - but can we expect to win them all?

[laurenc]

Why did every person lucky enough to be able to post here support Obama with such idealistic (naiive? liberal guilt?) fervor??

Huffpo headlines today say it all....He is not the champion of civil liberties and progressive values that some imagined. How heartbreaking is that.

[jeanno]

nancythera­ginglibera­l - Take a breath. Do some yoga. And NO MORE CAFFEINE.

[jeanno]

Does Mr. Shaw really see this as the best use of his time?

[nancytheragingliberal]

I will give O. credit for extending a hand to the out of power repubs., but that will last for only so long. You can dance with the devil for a certain amount of time, before you realize you are wasting good energy on a lost cause. O. should cut the nasty repubs. loose and put his stamp on his policies in full. The country is fed up with repubs and 10 million more voted for the Obama-Biden ticket, as opposed to the Palin-McCain ticket. O. had better wake up and decide that he needs to cater to people like me who put him in power by multiple donations. I will NOT give him a dime ever again if he continues to kiss repub. A**.

[nomobull]

pointless article

[Clavis]

Agreed. If I wanted to read 500 words about absolutely nothing, I'd read the Wall St. Journal op/ed page. ZING!

[Pearlswan]

Unless you are in the business of making pictures that communicate meaning. Then its far from pointless. It points to much, in fact.

[mommadona]

More Maitre Di, I do believe.

McConnell always looks like he's a kid pondering raiding the cookie jar....