Obama the Hero.jpg

I noticed, while capturing an image of Obama from the Official White House website, that the image was labeled hero_oval-bp_PS-0974.jpg. Doesn't this strike you as a bit narcissistic? I went back to the White House site and looked at the other images of the President. Sure enough, they are all labeled hero_. hero_ws.cloture, and hero_wheton.

Now it could be that the website is managed by an overly-worshipful employee, but surely someone in the Administration might have noticed this and suggested a less boastful name for the President's web images.

The more disturbing possibility is that this is an artifact of the current White House culture. If so, it explains a lot. The Obama Administration continues to think that He is not any ordinary president. He is the hero, the deliverer. If so, we are in big trouble.

American Presidents are better or worse as administrators and chiefs of state, but their majesty is entirely a result of the fact they are elected by the people. No one comes to the office with a majesty of his own.

Comments

[Stace Nelson]

"American Presidents are better or worse as administrators and chiefs of state, but their majesty is entirely a result of the fact they are elected by the people. No one comes to the office with a majesty of his own."

[Stace Nelson]

Very well said!

[Jeff]

This did not take much research to figure out..
http://www.google.com/search?q=white+house+hero
http://www.mediaite.com/online/white-house-website-titles-its-official-obama-images-with-hero-prefix/
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/obama_his_own_hero/
http://www.btphotography.com.au/photographic-terminology.htm

[skp]

Maybe it stands for something? H-E-R-O? Can you think of anything? I can't, unfortunately. If only he were a fraction of the man he thinks he is.

[Steve Hickey]

Obama is a zero, not a hero. This is a good catch Ken, I sent a link to Drudge... maybe they'll pick it up. America needs to see this as it's quite revealing.

[skp]

It does look like it's a common photographic term. I hope that's the explanation.

[Lynn]

A hero does not consider himself a hero and would never allow this label on a picture of him. However, a self-serving, self-loving, egomaniac would. It doesn't take much imagination to see how O and his entourage view him, as compared to the rest of us.

[Donald Pay]

Very, very funny, but probably not in the way you intended; instructive, too, in that you prove your hate and bias is rooted in your own ignorance. That you don't know common photographic and publishing jargon is forgivable, but being so cocksure that your ignorance reflects negatively on the President is really indicative of the dumbing down of the modern conservative movement. No William F. Buckley on this site.

[KB]

Dearest Donald: I do not hate the President. I criticize him. I claim no great virtues, but that is a small one.

The problem with labeling every picture of the President "hero" is that it approaches self-parody. Clearly there is a cult of personalty around the President. This kind of thing makes him and his look a bit silly, and its a bad sign that no one said: "maybe we should just label them POTUS or something." Moreover, there are lots of signs that the President does look at himself like some kind of superhero. That is not a good thing.

[Braden]

Yep, a "hero" image is a common photographic term, usually the best image in a set of photos.

It's always funny when the conservative attack machine gets shot down so easily.

[KB]

I admit that I did not know the meaning of the term "hero" in photography. Presumably this means that the image on the website is the best of a number of photographs.

It remains true that it was stupid to use it here, for the obvious reason that I mention.

[BillW]

As it is a well known that just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you ... just because 'hero' is a common photographic term doesn't change the fact that we are witnessing the most self-absorbed President in our history who has surrounded himself with a fawning, admiring court.

[Donald Pay]

Come on. The righties have gotten embarrassed repeatedly on this. I recall FOX News was thoroughly humiliated a year ago, I believe, for the same mistake. Or is it a mistake? I think the right purposely circulates this b.s. every three or four months just because they have such contempt for the people.

[Miranda]

The original post was a question. It *asked* if using the term "hero" for the president in every picture narcissistic. The next two parts were framed only as possibilities. I don't call that being "cocksure." Furthermore, some of the most contemptuous comments on this blog have come from you, Mr. Pay. The last exhibits your contempt quite plainly. Are you, then, really bothered by the idea of someone showing contempt or by the fact that someone might dare to question the hero (in the photographic sense!) of the left.