Privacy These Days

Again, it’s interesting how much particular images read now that the campaign is over. This would have perfect fodder three months ago in framing Obama as Mr. GQ. Overall though, beware the slow news period … and the health of privacy these days. Obama as paparazzi trophy seems pretty cheap. (The website that published it offers a credit reading: “EXCLUSIVE photos by CHRIS.”)

The prez-elect reportedly wasn’t thrilled when the media followed him to the golf course the other day, and maybe Obama needs to get his head around the fact that his life is largely public now. On the other hand, I consider this picture borderline stalking, and I’d just as soon accept — like we did over Thanksgiving — that the next president, when he wants to get off the grid and away from the public eye, actually could.