The 2008 Presidential Race Has Begun In Earnest! Oliver Willis reports:

[IndyOp]

This picture from Friday (12/27) could be the first baby kissed in the 2008 campaign.



:rofl:

On edit: LINK! http://www.oliverwillis.com/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The baby is smiling

unlike the kid in the photo with Bush--babies know instinctively about good and evil, I think.

[IndyOp]

2. Babies do not know instinctively about good and evil - ALL politicians kiss babies

and all politicians are sometimes handed a smiling baby, sometimes a crying baby. It means nothing.

[Catchawave]

5. This is a better contrast:

[IndyOp]

6. It is a better contrast. I would prefer to contrast the candidates on issues

that matter - not photo ops or surface characteristics (like "who would you rather have a beer with?") - that is why I posted Bush with the happy baby.

I would just as soon Edwards NOT kiss any babies -- as soon as we stoop to that level -- then even Hitler looks as good as Edwards:

[benny05]

9. That's a little far fetched

I get your point, but to compare Edwards to Hitler in photographs...especially since their idologies are totally different, is going too far. Edwards believes in democracy ground up, and Hitler suppressed voices in Germany.

If you felt strongly about comparing candidates, this should have been posted on the GD-P thread.

This looks like a Swift B post or something one would see on the Kool-Aid drinkers' sites.

[IndyOp]

14. I didn't start it...

I posted the pic because I thought it was a cute picture and I thought the responses on DU would be more to the effect of "Geez. Baby kissing, c'mon! Let's not get distracted from the important issues at hand."

I am dismayed at "surface politics" or politics that panders to the deep psychological needs of citizens rather than to our reason. The baby-kissing seems to satisfy the individual citizen's need to see the candidate as a "good parent." When a candidate kisses a baby - especially a baby who we identify with because it matches our socioeconomic or racial group - we feel loved. We feel safe with "daddy" or "mommy." The Bush campaign made use of a similar psychological-need when they advertised that Bush was the kind of a guy who you could have a beer with -- a bud, a dude.

Good politicians use baby-kissing and bad politicians use baby-kissing. Of course Edwards is not Hitler, but the political ploy is just the same and we should see it for what it is and remember that the other side is scoring points from the same symbolic actions.

And as for mentioning the fact that Edwards lost his son Wade, I have not and will not forget that. I believe that strong character is often forged from suffering. I lost all of my grandparents and my parents before I turned 30.

I like what Edwards is saying so far - really like it - and I am anxious to hear and see more from all of the candidates.

[Catchawave]

12. So your OP was meant as "snark" ?

What kind of replies did you expect? It was a lovely photo...how did we get to Hitler.

Edwards lost a child, so maybe this backfired on you? Also Edwards is for the working class, which I assume includes affordable child care?

It was a very appropriate photo. The Hitler one was evil.

[IndyOp]

13. I didn't post the thread to bash Edwards.

I posted the pic because I thought it was a cute picture and I thought the responses would be more to the effect of "Geez. Baby kissing, c'mon! Let's not get distracted."

I am dismayed at "surface politics" or politics that panders to the deep psychological needs of citizens rather than to our reason. The baby-kissing seems to satisfy the individual citizen's need to see the candidate as a "good parent." When a candidate kisses a baby - especially a baby who we identify with because it matches our socioeconomic or racial group - we feel loved. We feel safe with "daddy" or "mommy." The Bush campaign made use of a similar psychological-need when they advertised that Bush was the kind of a guy who you could have a beer with -- a bud, a dude.

Good politicians use baby-kissing and bad politicians use baby-kissing. Of course Edwards is not Hitler, but the political ploy is just the same and we should see it for what it is and remember that the other side is scoring points from the same symbolic actions.

And as for mentioning the fact that Edwards lost his son Wade, I have not and will not forget that. I believe that strong character is often forged from suffering. I lost all of my grandparents and my parents before I turned 30.

I like what Edwards is saying so far - really like it - and I am anxious to hear and see more from all of the candidates.

[benny05]

3. But Babies Sense if Adults are Comfortable Holding them

Edwards has a lot of experience holding babies. He's had 4 children, and the youngest ones are 6 and 8, whereas Bush had only 2 children and that was some time ago.

I love that pic of Edwards. It was taken in Reno on Friday night.

[machka]

7. Good parents generally produce good children. :)

[dk2]

4. What a great shot.

Beautiful baby! John Edwards magnet and charmer with number 1 baby fan..

[mdmc]

8. welcome to DU

peace and low stress

[Catchawave]

10. "peace and low stress"

I love it :toast: to you too !!!

We're starting to pick up more new and returning Edwards supporters, as I'm sure we will for other candidates as they announce.

These are exciting times on DU :beer:

[mdmc]

15. did you see my OP?

:kick:

[Clarkie1]

11. LOL.

:rofl:

That is a very cute baby, honestly.