President Obama's Photo Scandal Perhaps Not so Scandalous

The internet has been set afire with people seeking out the photograph of President Obama allegedly checking out a woman at the G-8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy. But a video of the same scene seems to tell a different story.

The picture that has the world talking appears to depict President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy checking out a young woman's backside at the summit. According to the Los Angeles Times, the young woman has been identified as 16-year-old Mayora Tavares, a junior diplomat from Brazil.

Yet according to a video provided by ABC News, President Obama may be in the clear. The video tells a completely different story, suggesting that the president was actually watching his step and helping another woman down the stairs. According to Good Morning America News commentator Chris Cuomo, who presents the video earlier today, "looks can be deceiving."

"Obama may be watching his footing, may be looking at the steps, may be letting her pass, as opposed to a check out," Cuomo said. Whatever the case, the video makes it seem evident that the president was focused more on the steps than the young woman climbing them.

This is not the first time President Obama has been paced in the middle of a pictorial pickle. During the Presidential Election of 2008, photos of then Senator Obama emerged depicting him wearing what some called "Muslim clothing." As it turned out, Obama was wearing traditional Somali clothing during a visit to Kenya in 2006. Both Obama and then-candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign camps claimed the pictures were meant to stir divisiveness among voters.

Another minor controversy came after First Lady Michelle Obama touched and hugged Queen Elizabeth, which is typically considered a diplomatic no-no. The controversy was squashed after it was pointed out that the Queen also touched First Lady Obama, and a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told the Associated Press that the touch was "a mutual and spontaneous display of affection."

Earlier this year, some controversy flew over an image of President Obama apparently bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia. When pressed by a CNN reporter for an explanation, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs both denied the claim that the president bowed and suggested that Americans are probably worried about more important things, like the economy.

While this seems to be a case of coming at a picture from, literally, the wrong angle, it does serve as a reminder that, when you're the head of a nation, every move-and look-you make is under the microscope!

Sources

ABC News/GMA, "Video Clears Up Obama Photo", ABCNews.com
Anya Strzemien, "Michelle Obama Hugs Queen Elizabeth, Stirs Controversy", The Huffington Post
Sam Stein, "Obama 'Bows' To Saudis: CNN Reporter Asks White House to Clarify", The Huffington Post