Paparazzi, Celeb Mags Power Obama

Tabloids can do wonder for celebrity in chief

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 1, 2009 9:50 AM CST

(Newser) – He’s a fixture in People and Us magazine. Paparazzi snap photos of him shirtless on the beach, titillating the masses. And oh, right, Barack Obama is about to be leader of the free world. But being Celebrity in Chief has its perks, Politico reports. “The number of eyeballs that read People magazine are enormous,” says one strategist. The supermarket-checkout press could help Obama communicate without mainstream media filtering.

“Does this trivialize the presidency? At times yes,” another Democratic strategist said. “On the other hand does this often humanize a leader? Sure it does.” Just weeks ago, John McCain tried to liken Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, but the man who crafted that ad says things have changed. “He IS the new president of the United States,” he said. “Guess I think he’s earned some degree of celebrity.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this Aug. 14, 2008, file photo people on the beach call out to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as he heads back into the water while body-surfing in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

President-elect Barack Obama is shown on the cover of People magazine on a New York newsstand Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

President-elect Barack Obama greets onlookers after his morning workout at the Semper Fit Center on Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua, Hawaii Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Local news coverage of the president-elect's Hawaii vacation. (speakmymind01)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

I suspect this is a phenomenon that will continue and is going to drive the mainstream media and Republicans batty. - Mark McKinnon, former communications strategist for John McCain and
George W. Bush

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Brad, Angelina Score Oval Office Huddle

Couple was in town for film premiere

(NEWSER) - Just another day in the life of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: The super-couple was spotted yesterday in the Oval Office, having a little chat with President Obama. They were in town for a screening of Jolie's directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, at the Holocaust museum, the AP notes. A White House deputy press secretary tells the New York Post that they spoke about "[Angelina's] work to raise the profile of preventing mass atrocities and combating sexual violence against women." More»

Obama's Newest Education Adviser: Shakira

Colombian singer joins education advisory board

(NEWSER) - The newest member of the Obama administration is ... Shakira. Yes, the hip-shaking singer will be appointed to a position on the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics because of her education reform activism, the Huffington Post reports. Shakira started a foundation in 1995 to fund schools in Haiti, South Africa, and her native Colombia; she is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador. More»

Peter Fonda to Obama: You're a Traitor

Environmentalist not happy with president's handling of oil spill

(NEWSER) - Another Cannes ruckus: Peter Fonda called President Obama a “f***ing traitor” at the launch of a documentary about the BP oil spill, the AFP reports. At yesterday’s premiere of The Big Fix, Fonda recalled his reaction to the feeling that Washington was trying to silence reporting on the Deepwater Horizon disaster. "I sent an email to President Obama saying, 'You are a f***ing traitor,' using those words ... 'You're a traitor, you allowed foreign boots on our soil telling our military—in this case the Coast Guard—what they can and could not do, and telling us, the citizens of the United States, what we could or could not do.'" Click for another buzzy incident from Cannes . More»

Winfrey, McCartney Among Kennedy Center Honorees

Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman, Bill T. Jones also feted

(NEWSER) - Oprah Winfrey and Paul McCartney were among the latest group of celebs to receive Kennedy Center Honors in a star-filled night that included tributes from Julia Roberts and John Travolta, among others. Merle Haggard, Broadway composer Jerry Herman, and dancer Bill T. Jones were also honored, as they sat with the president, first lady, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. CBS will broadcast the ceremony Dec. 28, the AP reports. More»

Obama's Secret 2012 Weapon: Jay-Z

Rapper will campaign for the president, insiders say

(NEWSER) - With President Obama struggling to maintain his hold over young voters, whatever can he do to ramp up his 2012 campaign? Team up with Jay-Z, of course. The rapper and huge Obama fan will stump for the prez, and strategists think he’ll lend new spark to the “hope” movement, an insider tells the New York Post . “I can't believe you've finally heard the chatter about him replacing Larry Summers,” a deputy White House press secretary jokes, adding that "I don't think it'd surprise anyone that he would be involved again. But it's a little premature." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Paparazzi, Celeb Mags Power Obama