[size=14pt]8 Photos You Didn't See From Obama's Trip to South Africa[/size]

Nina Ippolito | 13 hours ago | 69 Comments

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.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462705_1s3_jpg8d520c9c58826f0cafd55cd56dd80f63
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.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462706_1s32_jpgc2f74ff447fd09bf13c72a117bf92a00
Via Pete Souza

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

3.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462707_1s34_jpgcc7c96e18c793402d412d7bfc545aa26

Via: Pete Souza

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

4.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462708_1s35_jpg0d0f5cab0ae415cee45ec26b7bc58008
Via Pete Souza

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

5.

http://instagram.com/p/hvrQdBAmz5/

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

6.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462710_1s36_jpg55811d20852a6691b9d6b2d6f4cfd7f8
Via Pete Souza

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

7.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462711_1s37_jpg257eb41aa30a31fce4e6ed10a3f894ee

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

8.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1462712_1s39_jpg21ccb9d96fa59f6684ae05ee5b7f7cc5

... 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.

brainzdh: She's trying to prevent anoda Clinton and Lewinsky scandal.

Meanwhile, some naija babes be like....Nkechi, fear no dey catch you abi?
Na my bobo you snap picture with..ehhh

All around me in the stadium, South Africans were dancing, singing and laughing to honour their departed leader. It was more like a carnival atmosphere, not at all morbid. The ceremony had already gone on for two hours and would last another two. The atmosphere was totally relaxed – I didn’t see anything shocking in my viewfinder, president of the US or not. We are in Africa.

I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance.

I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural.

redsquare: That was very childish of Michelle to wear such a look in a public outing just because her hubby was flirting with another lady. By virtue of Obama's office as US president, it is expected he would chat with other world leaders in such gathering. There are other ways to call Obama to order without letting the whole world know she was jealous. I don't like people being over possessive. And she even swapped seats! She just disappointed me.

naptu2:

Lol. South Africans were dancing and singing at the stadium. The announcer had to tell them to tone down the singing so that people could hear the speeches. Remember that this is an african funeral for an old man. Funerals for old men and women in Africa are usually seen as a celebration of life and the relatives are often expected to dance at the funeral.

Anyway, this is the view of the photographer that took the "non-sad" picture.

sexymoma: Jesus Wept

drnairalov: michelle tho.dissappointed mewith d pictures ...se just cudnt hide her jealousy, waz bad in Obama taking a selfie wit another leader!!! it was even in public, of course he wasnt flirting wiv d white (wetin b her name)..

D pix irritates me..Michelle's expression is full of hate, like she wanna slap d woman or Obama, Whaz it with women and jealousy Dis is uncalled for, she shud even v tried to join d pix takin instead of boning and exchanging seats..some women tho dey cant bear a lil discomfort smh!!

Plus d burial was a celebration of a life time, not mourning!!! so i dnt see a reason why dey cant be free..it shows dey re humans mehn..take a chill pill michelle ur husby try self say e still kiss ur hand... if na me yu re on ur own babe!!

nouveaux: Is this real or photoshopped?
If its real, then all i can say is, on my God, Michelle is possesive!
I dnt believe it tho, its either unreal or it was acted.
Dnt mind me

Temptee101: When will God bless us with a President like Obama? See speech that day, very eloquent, straight-forwad, unbiased and intelligent. I swear US dey enjoy. I envy dem

deols:

I wanted to show you this picture at the time but was not able to post it.