Reading The Pictures: Looking Into McCain's And Obama's Soles

Isabel Wilkinson's entry at Huffington Post back on July 30th had all the built-in footwork to reveal McCain, with his pricey Ferragamos, as the real elitist in the presidential race.  Still, many readers questioned whether concentrating on $520 loafers was sinking too far below the belt.

Coming from the candidate who called for a high-minded campaign, then almost immediately kicked off a shallow and continuous string of character attacks, however, McCain has specifically determined that privilege and elitism would become central themes in this election fight.

Given that context, this private jet provides the best background I could think of for McCain's elite footwear.  Taken in April '07, this image from the primary season highlights a point -- about a month after McCain stopped using Cindy's Cessna Citation virtually free of charge -- when the media started giving him some heat for it.

Just like Cheney wearing those beat up loafers on a diplomatic trip to the Middle East, the focus here is not fashion, however -- it's character.  And with that in mind, the immediate and best comparison to McCain is not Adlai Stevenson, but his projective target, Barack Obama.

This shot of Obama might be speaking to frugality or inordinate attachment or simply priorities placed elsewhere, but unlike his well-heeled opponent, celebrity style and ostentatious wealth is not what immediately comes to mind.

(h/t: Sara)

(image 1:  Stephan Savoia/AP.  White Plains, N.Y.  April 23, 2007.  image 2: Callie Shell/TIME.  March 1, 2008.  Providence, Rhode Island via micheleroohani.com)

Comments

[mooph]

Gotta love the unevenly ripped edge, slight crumples and fold lines on the Obama pic.

And, BTW, nice WMP icon in the second -- since they stopped supporting it at version 9, you should probably dump it and get Flip4Mac or VLC.

[ssb752]

The most basic of all Rovian Rules: accuse your opponent of what you are yourself. The "elitist" spin is a classic! Gawd, they are so evil. The future of concentrated wealth is on the line. Convincing (read duping) a majority of voters to shot themselves in the foot ain't easy.

[jfor]

Ferragamo shoes are made in America right?

[who38]

Just like everything else.

[punkingale]

Italy.

[yhgtup]

Wow. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I bet we won't see this on the evening national news. Except if he shoes were on the other feet.

[Yola]

Who is the elite again?

[MikeDu]

Just what I was about to say. Out-of-touch elitist, born in a foreign country (so constitutionally he shouldn't even be eligible!), and on his second marriage to an aging Paris Hilton type. The McCain populist 'persona' cultivated in the press is nothing but a mirage.

[MajorKong]

I don't particularly care about either candidate's shoes, but imagine what the GOP message machine would do with this if it were Obama wearing the $500 loafers? It would be the $300 haircut all over (and over and over) again.

[who38]

Hear, hear. Wonder how much Cindy's haircuts cost?

[navalvet]

Indeed it did remind me of the photo of Adlai Stevenson. It is not a matter of fashion but there are a few possible messages:

>He is a man of the people.

>He is too busy with the campaign to attend to personal needs.

>He is divorced from concerns about his appearance, to the extent that he does not have the good sense to attend to his clothing, perhaps too much of an egghead.

Nobody labels Sen. McCain's shoes as $500 loafers, so his extravagance is not apparent, while the photograph of Sen. Obama's soles needs no caption.

[oscartucker]

That Senator Obama is some man!!!! He's got to get to the cobbler shop.

[allonfla]

This is who Obama is- his focus is eleswhere. I once heard him say that his mother-in-law used to tease him about his hair because he wouldn't get it cut often enough. He's just like most men.

[bayside]

My first impression of Obama shoes reminded me of something Abraham Lincoln would do...

[UFogle]

Michelle Obama has teased her husband on national television about his *thrift* when it comes to clothes. He admitted that he hates shopping, but they have the means to dress in style and surely she could either do it for him or he could buy things online if he felt the need. This obviously dictates that his priorities lay elsewhere so he accepts what he has and carries on.

[DaOne]

Put out a flier showing Mc and O's shoes with a caption "Who will pound the pavement for every America and who will really just be a loafer on the job?"

[Puzzles]

DaOne, nice idea I made one in pdf and sent to friends.

[Puzzles]

Here is is in .jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s161/CalypsoSV/Obama/flyer.jpg

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

That's really clever! I love it!

[PATina]

That's great !!!!! I like that idea.

[who38]

So do I.

[libmatters]

I'm not sure Obama should be showing the worn out soles on his shoes. The last Illinois senator running for president who did that was Adlai Stevenson, and we know how well his candidacy worked out.

[allonfla]

Oh come on - enough with the ridiculous comparisons!!!!! What if we found out Obama uses the same shampoo as Bush - does that mean he will be like Bush? Enough Already!

[jfor]

Bush uses shampoo?

[fairwitness]

Wow, Obama really LIKES those shoes.

[FiLoLi]

My husband is very much the same way with his shoes and wardrobe. It's not that these type of men like their shoes, it's that their ratty shoes, worn pants, or 15 year old belt do not warrant importance in their mind. There are only so many things these types can focus on because they give those things 110% of their focus. Some see this characteristic as a positive thing, but it is not. The "thing" can be a pair of shoes, but it can also be a car, a house, a relationship, a child. This ability to completely ignore something so obvious is due to their massive ego. It is only important when I say it is, until then ignore it.

But, I could be wrong, Obama could just be a slob.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Maybe he is a just a little short of time these days.

[cobobs]

In defense of those kinds of men, since I am one, my almost worn out shoes are the most comfortable. Ego? That might be a stretch on your part, but lets assume it is true. I would rather have someone whose massive ego is centered that way than one whose massive ego manifests in blowing other people and countries away or piling up a ton of stuff that they do not need while thousands or millions do without. There is always an ego.

[Puzzles]

Huh? The shoes are still good, they're not worn all the way through. I guess you do want him to be like Paris or Brit and be a slave to image and fashion.
I don't know your husband and neither do I really know Obama, but phew ..., are you making a jump. Worn shoes are a sign of a myopic ego? Jeeze, I'll leave it up to someone else to analyze your emotions on this one.

I have a pair of worn shoes I bought overseas several years ago. I have odd feet, and over the past year I have been trying but unable to find anything that feels as comfortable. Same for several pants and a few shirts and my well worn bicycle seat. It's not my ego, it's my A** and feet causing the problem.

[RButler]

What's the problem? Obama's supporters make all types of wild interpretations about everything mostly to put him in a good light. If he pooped in his pants they would also declare that he has higher priorities, yada, yada, yada. Their excuses, rationalizations and justifications are all over this site. Actually, his shoes are 'nuanced'. Right?

[Pupadup4oBama]

LOVE IT!
Gives new meaning to "pounding the pavement"