04:32 pm
Dept. of Not Paying Attention, “The 300″ Edition
Here’s what The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire had to say about Obama’s trip today:
Sen. Barack Obama doesn’t exactly travel light. Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown writes that, as the candidate moves through the Middle East and Europe, “the Obama campaign machine appears as sprawling and seamless as it is on its home turf. As the presumptive Democratic nominee tours five countries in five days, he brings an entourage that would make a pop star envious.”
The group includes a dozen foreign policy advisers, “either traveling with Obama or doing ground work ahead of his arrival in each country” as well as traveling campaign aides, advance staff and “layers of Secret Service agents,” with the entire group filling 20 vehicles in a motorcade.
Don’t get me wrong — if it’s true, it’s a valid story. Of course, I would bet good money that McCain’s entourage in Mexico and Colombia wasn’t much smaller.
But here’s the kicker. Look at the photo they used to demonstrate the accuracy of the story:
Here’s the caption that accompanied the photo: “A small fraction of Barack Obama’s entourage tours the citadel in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday with conservation architect May Shaer, center.”
So let’s take a quick look at that “entourage” (L to R): Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed; either Reggie Love, Obama’s body man, or a secret service agent; Obama; some guy in khakis who is obscured but is probably a local; Shaer; another secret service agent; and Coldplay lead singer Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel.
Wow. No wonder The Wall Street Journal and The Politico think this a story. WHAT WAS OBAMA THINKING???? It’s like a foreign policy Woodstock or something!!!
Wait.
Um.
Well.
Two Senators, two secret service guys, and two locals.
Maybe not.
Wait! I know!!!
Maybe it’s like one of those Verizon commercials, where a thousand techies and the “Can You Hear Me Now” guy follow their customers around like some sort of cross between ravers and stalkers. Maybe The 300 are just off camera, crackberries and iPhone 3Gs at the ready, poised to draft position papers for their supposedly overmatched candidate!
Or maybe, just maybe, the folks at The Wall Street Journal need to do a better job of making sure their photos match their stories.
Sheesh.
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