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Barack Caught Shirtless Again

Ooh-la-la, president-elect is quite fit

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 23, 2008 6:33 AM CST

(Newser) – New vacation photos of Barack Obama raise the next big question of his transition: How much skin is too much? Once again the president-elect has been photographed shirtless, reports Politico, prompting one Web poster to declare the well-toned Obama “smokin hot.” Observers say the pictures, snapped by a paparazzo on a public beach in Hawaii, will likely raise questions about the Obama family’s privacy.

The photos of Obama ultimately won’t hurt his image though, theorizes a public relations expert. “He is being authentically Barack Obama. I don’t see it as disrespectful of the office,” he said. “If he was wearing Speedos? Yeah. A thong? Maybe that wouldn’t be the best look.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as he gets out of the ocean in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, FILE)

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walks toward the water to body surf in Honolulu, Hawaii, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., body surfs at Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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No love handles to speak of on the sides. You see the definitions in his arms. He's a dude. Wow.
- Peter Moore, editor of Men's Health magazine

They let him take the picture. He walked along the beach with a camera and took the picture. I am just as gobsmacked as everyone else. I think it can only help his image.
- Frank Griffin, co-owner of Bauer Griffin, on the photographer who snapped the photos

It's Hawaii. If he were wearing a shirt that would be weird. If he were wearing a suit that would be abnormal.
- Kathleen Hall Jamieson, author of Presidents Creating the Presidency: Deeds Done in Words

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Barack Caught Shirtless Again