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Obama Shirtless on Washingtonian | 04/21/2009 8:00 am

President Barack Obama Shirtless on Washingtonian Cover (Image)

Cover line reads: #2 Reason We Love Living Here: Our Neighbor Is Hot
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
May Issue of Washingtonian

The May issue of Washingtonian recycled the infamous paparazzi photograph of a shirtless President Barack Obama to illustrate one reason why people "love living here: Our new neighbor is hot." 

The picture was snapped as Obama vacationed in Hawaii with this family in December, days before the first family officially moved to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Garrett Graff, editor-at-large at Washingtonian, a monthly entertainment and lifestyle magazine read by more than 400,000 people, told ABC News the idea for the cover came during a staff discussion about the Obamas arrival and the "celebrity aspect that has brought energy to the city and the attention of the paparazzi."

"The Obamas are the center of attention here and the whole world is looking to Washington now in a way we haven’t seen in years," Graff said.

In February 2007, a different beach photograph of the then-Senator of Illinois stirred a media frenzy. In response to the publicity, Barack Obama voiced his dismay that the public wasn’t curious about his policies but rather his pectorals.

"The problem is that that’s not what you guys have been reporting on," he said. "You’ve been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit."

Tell us: What do you think of the May issue of Washingtonian? Is it innocent? Fun? Disrespectful? Degrading?

washingtonian.jpg

68 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

caj p
He is one cool looking President.
By caj p on 04/21/2009 8:10 am
Mary Quite-Contrary
I don’t like many of his policies…but I find this to be highly disrespectful.  He IS the President…this is like People on the Potomac.  Someone should have thought better of this…
By Mary Quite-Contrary on 04/21/2009 8:12 am
Libra Lady
Mary….bet the leaders of the other countries are putting up this poster boy’s picture in all their offices….wanna bet!!!
By Libra Lady on 04/21/2009 8:21 am
Mary Quite-Contrary
Somewhere, in France, Sarkhozy throwing an ashtray…
By Mary Quite-Contrary on 04/21/2009 8:31 am
Libra Lady
Mary….right!!!  I see they brushed stroked the cigarette out….probably a good thing!!!
By Libra Lady on 04/21/2009 8:35 am
C Hardy
I would say if this was the first time we had seen this picture, maybe uncalled for, but since its an old picture, who really cares who uses it and for what.  Some people are moving or trying to move to DC to be close to this President…great for them.  But I thought during his whole campaign we werent to compare him with a celebrity status b/c he was running for POTUS, now its ok b/c he won? 
By C Hardy on 04/21/2009 8:15 am
Mary Quite-Contrary

Do the publishers of this mag actually think adults are uprooting their lives; and moving to DC to be in the ‘aura’ of the President?  N Synch didn’t get that kind of fanatacism from its teeny bopper fans.  Really a weird, teenage girl crush like article. 

 Must be an uber slow news day…

By Mary Quite-Contrary on 04/21/2009 8:33 am
C Hardy
Mary Im not saying its right but I have heard people say they want to move to DC to be closer to the President and have visited there almost every weekend since he moved in…I only live about an hour 1/2 away…
By C Hardy on 04/21/2009 8:38 am
Mary Quite-Contrary
Wow…and I don’t mean our hosting webpage here.  I wouldn’t have seen that coming. 
By Mary Quite-Contrary on 04/21/2009 8:42 am
C Hardy
Guess that celebrity status has gotten to some…???? 
By C Hardy on 04/21/2009 8:57 am
HA BIBI
LOL, you got it………Uber slooooooooooooooooow day!
By HA BIBI on 04/23/2009 9:26 am
deber B

You are right, C Hardy, as I live in the DC area….home sales are up and home values have increased 3 to 5% in a down market!    Only problem is in 3 l/2 years we will be in such dire straits they won’t be able to sell their property when he steps down!

Obama clearly has "rock star status" in DC.  

By deber B on 04/21/2009 8:55 am
Amanda C

you are so good at predicting the future… you should work for ms. cleo, or go buy yourself a crystal ball!

By Amanda C on 04/21/2009 5:07 pm
deber B
I’m a realist first.   Republican second.
By deber B on 04/21/2009 6:44 pm
Amanda C

realism does not equal projecting your bias into the future.

By Amanda C on 04/22/2009 3:35 pm