8 Photos You Didn’t See From Obama’s Trip to South Africa

Policy Mic – by Nina Ippolito 

On Tuesday, conservative news outlets in the United States decided that the best way to commemorate the life of Nelson Mandela, and to report on the memorial services in his honor, was to manufacture a controversy about an AFP photo of President Barack Obama shooting a selfie with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. According to Fox News, the “international incident” was so bad that, “The tsk-tisk-ing could be heard across continents.”  

Liberal news outlets countered with a photograph from former President George W. Bush’s Instagram feed, taken at the same memorial, in which he’s seen posing with pop star Bono.

Two things were lost amid the nonsensical partisan wrangling. First, the furor shamefully overshadowed the memorial service itself, and the heartfelt messages that were delivered by Mandela’s family and colleagues. Second, such outcries overlook the close quarters in which our Democratic and Republican politicians actually live and work.

Candid images from White House photographer Pete Souza tell another story.

1.

Via: Pete Souza

Looking at the individual AFP and Instagram shots, you would have no idea that Obama and Bush traveled to South Africa together on Air Force One.

2.

Via: Pete Souza

You would miss the fact that they and their wives dined together on the plane …

3.

Via: Pete Souza

… or that Bush dazzled Michelle Obama and a smiling Hillary Clinton with photos of his recent paintings.

4.

Via: Pete Souza

You wouldn’t see that Obama managed to sneak in his own photo op with Bono …

5.

… or that the Bushes and Clintons spent the day together at FNB Stadium.

6.

Via: Pete Souza

It’s almost as if photographers go out of their way to present isolated images of political figures …

7.

Via: Pete Souza

… when in reality, politicians spend their days surrounded by people …

8.

Via: Pete Souza

… and by political adversaries and allies alike.

Perhaps, instead of giving in to the frantic us-or-them discourse proffered by the media (Funeral selfies! Handshakes! Ted Cruz!), it’s time that we acknowledge that conservative and liberal politicians spend more time together, and have more in common with one another, than we’d like to believe.

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Nina Ippolito

Nina Ippolito is a freelance writer and editor. Now that she’s finally learned to drive, she’s trying to master the other skills she missed out on by growing up in New York City: swimming, shooting, and horseback riding.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/76375/8-photos-you-didn-t-see-from-obama-s-trip-to-south-africa

8 thoughts on “8 Photos You Didn’t See From Obama’s Trip to South Africa”

  1. Barry Mandella,

    The global icon who came from the burrows of Kenya. A man who nobody even knew until 6 years ago. The man the Jews picked to ruin our country.

    Get a rope!

    Reply

    1. All this for a man our government labeled a terrorist. Amazing here we kill them over there we honor them. Why did so many presidents go to this funeral? Well you see they made a big mistake with that label and had to do something to make it right and cover up the dirty deed. The corporate media failed to mention that boo boo. It sure was an embarrassment for us for sure.

      Reply

      1. …hypocritical….filthy…..traitorous…..treasonous…scum… who must be charged with treason and convicted as one big group..and then hung together at the newest American Monument…..The National Gallows for American Values…constructed at Ground Zero…911 and built from thermite tainted steel from the traitorously imploded WTC…choke the convicted bastards to death slowly..and then allow crowds of “We The People” up on the Gallows with oil-laced petrol..and burn their traitorous asses all the way to hell….

        Regards,

        RJ O’Guillory
        Author-
        Webster Groves – The Life of an Insane Family

        Reply

  2. Wow! Bush, Hillary, Obama and Holder all in one room and all on one plane. If we only knew.

    Amazing how all four criminals hate each other and are supposed to be on opposing sides, yet they are having dinner together on the plane.

    It’s amazing how George Bush Jr. is to be arrested the moment he tries leaving the country, yet he is on the plane and is in South Africa.

    It’s amazing how Bono is able to get so close to the president so quickly.

    It’s amazing how a former president from an opposing party is sitting with the supposed current president in the same room and on the same plane together.

    But hey, don’t worry, just vote for the other party. There’s NO WAY they are affiliated with the opposing party. Just vote ONE MORE TIME for the other party candidate!!! JUST DO IT!!! No election fraud at all. The other party is COMPLETELY different from the existing party. It’ll all be better once we get the opposing party candidate in office.

    WTF IS WRONG WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY!!!!!??? IT’S IN YOUR FACE!!!! RIGHT HERE!!!!

    But that’s ok, let’s vote for Hillary Clinton. She is no longer affiliated with Barry and was forced to resign and knows better now. Don’t mind the fact that she is sitting with Barry and Bush and Holder in the SAME ROOM ON THE SAME PLANE WITH THEM JUST A DAY OR TWO AGO!!!! I MEAN COME ON, PEOPLE!!! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU????!!!!

    And Holder being on the plane? WTF is he doing on the plane? What business is it for the Attorney General, especially one who is in Contempt of Congress to leave the country with Barry? And if you are in Contempt of Congress or Court, do you think YOU can leave the country as an American National? HELLL NOO!!!!!

    CORRUPTION CORRUPTION CORRUPTION GALORE!!! Wake the hell up!! We have a foreign government in occupation that has taken over our country people!!!! It’s time to take it back and by force if necessary!! Hang the bastards. All of them for Sedition and High Treason!!!

    Reply

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