Does John McCain control anything in his campaign?

I'm not sure why McCain would want to highlight something that only brings the contrast between the candidates in terms of health and vitality into sharp focus. Sure, it's superficial on the "attractiveness" level, but on a rather important "physical ability to serve as President" level, it's just bad for McCain.

SEX ON A BEACH!

I know all red blooded patriotic queer Americans will join with me in urging John McCain to keep his on

PLEASE GOD

I actually think that Obama looks better in 2008 than he did in 2006. It looks like he has been working out.

Obama looks great!!!

I am watching to see if how ridiculous our media has become. No sensible journalist should report this except they are morons or political hack

What?!!! Obama took his shirt off at the beach?!

What the hell was he thinking?!!!! For god's sake, think about the children!!!

Have you seen some of the guys at the beach with their tops off? Ewww. At least Obama looks good doing it, and that makes your garden-variety doughy Young Republican jealous as hell.

Hard to know what's more bizarre: The fact that this is indeed the Reuters headline, or the fact that the McCain campaign is flogging it.

That last was just a rhetorical question. At this point, I think we all know why. It just never ceases to amaze me when it's this blatant.

it's clear obama doesn't have the manboobs to be president.

I think that this shows bravery on Obama's part -- what with all of the skin-cancer causing UV rays that leak through the hole in the ozone layer.

Headline: Barack Obama Stands Up To Global Warming

http://thepajamapundit.com/

Talk about a slow news day...

So I take it there were no sharks?

McCain's obviously got nipple envy. His have been pointing southward since the first Gulf War.

A man swimming without a shirt on as an issue, we really are a nation of prudes.

He's hot!!

Jealous much?

Here's the funny response from Tommy Vietor:

From: Tommy Vietor Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 11:03 AM To: Tommy Vietor Subject: RNC ATTACKS: No hamburger, moviegoer or ice cream cone will be spared!

Breaking News Alert – RNC attacks hamburgers, moviegoers and ice cream cones! Puppies and kittens feared to be next!

Below are just a few examples of the RNC’s recent attacks on Obama. Apparently the folks at the RNC don’t like eating cheeseburgers or ice cream with their families, and are not among the millions of Americans who enjoyed Batman.

(PS guys – the article you used to attack Obama for liking Batman also notes that Batman is McCain’s favorite superhero: “JOHN McCAIN: Batman: ''He does justice sometimes against insurmountable odds. And he doesn't make his good works known to a lot of people, so a lot of people think he's just a rich playboy.''

Recent RNC Oppo Hits

Island Snow Hawaii (130 Kailua Road, Kailua, HI): The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports Obama stopped at Island Snow Hawaii yesterday and “asked for a cone with ‘guava orange, Lanikai lime and choo-choo cherry.’ … A crowd of about 50 people gathered behind him, snapping pictures with digital cameras and cell phones and giving him a round of applause as he exited.”

Ward 16 Theatre (1200 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii): The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports Barack Obama ate popcorn and watched the 3:40 showing of the Dark Knight in theater 9 yesterday. Obama recently named Batman and Spider-man as his favorite superheroes, citing their “inner turmoil.”

Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop (1200 Ala Moana Blvd # 665, Honolulu, Hawaii): The Honolulu Advertiser reports “Obama ordered six half-pound cheeseburgers, eight third-pound cheeseburgers, 10 kids' burgers and 20 orders of fries” for a total of “just over $116” at Kua 'Aina yesterday.

another reason for jealosy. NYT print version has a photo of Obama eating with daughters and friends...

and showing a bit too much package.

Thos pix compare very favorably to the snapshots of Nixon taking a stroll near the waves in his wingtips. My only question: what's with the one arm body-surfing posture? Down the shore we always use two arms - the better to push our way through the New Yorkers. John McCain's just mad that without his shirt, he's a living endorsement for the "bro." Or is it the "mansierre"?

My, aren't we jealous?

It's all part of the subtle (or not so) play on fears of miscegenation that worked on Harold Ford. Hot chicks dig Obama, he's taking his shirt off, BEWARE HE'S GOING TO SLEEP WITH YOUR DAUGHTER!!!

Somehow is picture of Obama can only help. what and elritst to do to go shirtless at the beach and when you go body surfing. Its just as eltists as breathing

Obama actually has pretty good form. Having surfed for over 40 years and surfed in Hawaii many times I can say that he has some cred in the ocean. Was he at Sandy Beach? I've bodysurfed there in serious waves and it thumps pretty hard.

Score:
Obama: +5

Why am I getting visions of John McCain with Kramer standing behind him, as he fits him for a BRO (the bra for men)?

McCain's bathing suit is one of those nifty Victorian, 1900's style all-in-one, woolen, striped, shoulder to knee suits... complete with his "union suit" BVD underwear with the rear "trap door."

Cue the carnival music...

Someone has a man crush.
Someone has a man crush.

Clearly Obama doesn't get it that a real president wears a black-and-white striped one-piece bathing suit, with a straw hat on his head and an onion hanging from the belt. Elitist whippersnapper.

Obama really should know better than to show his nipples to the American public.

Here is a shot of John McCain hanging out on the beach with friends and family. Notice the appropriate and non-celebritous attire.

"other Hollywood stars..."

i just took my pants off

I know Karl Rove. And you, Steve Schmidt, are no Karl Rove.

The McCain campaign is just awful. Every attempt to employ the Rovian tactic of turning the opponent's strength against him backfires.

Let's compare McCain's "celebrity" attacks to the Swift Boating of John Kerry. Entering the 2004 election, Rove had a problem. John Kerry was a war hero and George Bush was a draft dodger, and this REALLY screwed up the narrative of George Bush being a "war president." So what did Rove do? He unleashed the Swift Boat attacks, which effectively smeared John Kerry as cheating liar who faked injuries for purple hearts, then capitalized on those purple hearts to become flip-flopping, effeminate wimp. It was brutal and sleazy and 100% negative. But it was pure Rove and it was effective.

Fast forward to 2008. Steve Schmidt looks at Barack Obama and sees a hugely popular, good looking opponent whose single biggest weaknesses is his strange, foreign roots. So what does he do? He engages in one of the silliest, LEAST negative "attack" campaigns in recent history. He doesn't undermine Obama's appeal by doing the tough, cruel, sleazy Rovian thing, which would involve accusing Obama of being a Hamas suicide bomber in disguise as a senator. Instead, Schmidt accuses of Obama of being "the biggest celebrity in the world."

WTF?

On what planet does it make sense to undermine your hugely popular, good looking opponent by emphasizing the fact that he is...hugely popular and good looking? Take Schmidt's brilliant attack at face value: Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world." Where exactly does that get you? Does it mean that Obama is bigger than JFK? Tiger Woods? Jesus Christ? It has no sting, no cruelty, no sleazy feel of disgusting Rovian effectiveness. It simply reinforces the notion that lots of people like Barack Obama.

More importantly, the "celebrity" theme totally undermines the far more effective and appropriately Rovian attack about Obama being a Hamas suicide bomber. Americans idolize, love and trust their celebrities. Celebrities are safe, known quantities. Celebrities are winners and superstars. They are NOT strange, foreign, exotic outsiders with mysterious connections to Islam.

So Obama is "the biggest celebrity in the world." You know, like Tiger Woods. That evil, foreign bastard, that everyone hates...Tiger Woods, what with his strange mixed heritage and uppity dominance over a lily white sport. Except for one small problem: everyone loves Tiger Woods.

Poor Karl. He put his protege' in charge of McCain's campaign and found out that Steve Schmidt has no balls, no nerve, and no evil in his soul.