One of my tasks as web editor here at TAP is to come up with the lead art for our homepage every day. And after nearly four months of primary coverage, I've noticed something about what I'm likely to find in the Associated Press photo database -- crazy looking photos of Hillary Clinton. It annoys me. Where are the photos of Barack with his mouth open looking like he's about to take a bite of of some small child? God knows we all have our off moments in front of the camera, how is it exactly that Hillary's always manage to end up front and center?
I'd even go so far as to say that I feel a sense of responsibility in my editorial image-choosing role: No crazy Hillary photos. Hasn't the woman been mocked and ridiculed enough for mannerisms and appearance? Illustrating her every move with nutty photographs shows that we can't take her seriously as a politician. And must we extend the treatment to Chelsea? Articles like this LA Times piece on Chelsea make me ask, really? That's the best photo you could come up with? The one where her eyes look like they are about to shoot lasers? Or TNR's homepage today -- I'd go so far as to argue that their choice of art does Michelle Cottle's excellent piece a disservice.
So can we stop with the crazy-eyed photos of Clinton women? Please?
UPDATE: Wow. Didn't realize that HRC photo is TNR's cover.
--Phoebe Connelly
