“Touch it, dude!” Mr. Obama said.

[bigtree]

Jacob spoke first.

“I want to know if my hair is just like yours,” he told Mr. Obama, so quietly that the president asked him to speak again.

Jacob did, and Mr. Obama replied, “Why don’t you touch it and see for yourself?” He brought his head level with Jacob, who hesitated.

“Touch it, dude!” Mr. Obama said.

As Jacob patted the presidential crown, Mr. Souza snapped.

“So, what do you think?” Mr. Obama asked.

“Yes, it does feel the same,” Jacob said.


from today’s NYT's wonderfully touching story about Pete Souza’ memorable photo: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/us/politics/indelible-image-of-a-boys-pat-on-obamas-head-hangs-in-white-house.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1337817623-bv62ULyjDLN2GudC84fz+Q&pagewanted=print

[malaise]

1. Do you have any idea what this means for that kid's

self esteem. Oman is a genuine role model for these kids.

[freshwest]

38. Yes, he is a role model... None of his competition for office comes close.

[Cracklin Charlie]

64. I think the President understand exactly what this means

He seems to gravitate to the little children, and they to him.

He seems to take his position as role model very seriously.

[Bake]

98. He loves children, and they love him.

Children don't have to be told--they KNOW a good man/woman when they meet him/her. Can you imagine Bush, McCain, or Rmoney doing that????

I love our President. Let's make sure he gets another term!

Bake

[MrMickeysMom]

79. + 1,000

Yes, I was seeing this little scene in my mind when I read this.... Exactly.

These are probably more important moments to recall, long term.

[trumad]

2. LOL

30 years from now that kid will have this picture on his living room wall.

[Ineeda]

6. Yes, or his office wall...the oval office.

Nice.

[chollybocker]

31. Yep. Can you imagine?

"The President called me Dude. So I rubbed his head."

Best childhood memory ever.

[CTyankee]

3. How cool is that? Can you imagine Romney doing something like that?

Oh, no, even I need brain bleach after that suggestion...

sorry, folks, really....aargh...

[elehhhhna]

5. you crazy? MITWITS blowdry costs more than your rent.

[Enrique]

20. touch it dude

[Control-Z]

22. lice check -eom

[From The Ashes]

37. looks like he's

closing the cover after changing his batteries!

[Marie Marie]

47. Good one Ashes

[Swagman]

60. so true...spot on

[Nay]

78. LOLOL!!

[hibbing]

93. ohmy!

Hey,
Heheheheheehe, funny funny stuff, thanks for the morning laugh!!

Peace

[rocktivity]

120. DUzy candidate!

rocktivity

[rocktivity]

131. DUZY ACCOMPLISHED!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002728829


rocktivity

[From The Ashes]

132. I saw that!

It's my first one. Hopefully not my last

[RockyMtnGuy]

51. Niptuck?

Maybe it's just the angle, but it looks like Mittens may have had a little waddle tuck!

[xxqqqzme]

100. I think you

are on to something.

[Suji to Seoul]

75. Wow. . .it feels just like real cloven hoof goat hair!

[tridim]

107. Is that an Osmond or a Romney?

[DevonRex]

114. Seriously, those are Osmond teeth.

Do they run in Mormons or what?

[amuse bouche]

110. OMG

I can't stop laughing at how bizarre they are

[NickB79]

119. First thing that came to mind:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=opening+data%27s+head&hl=en&client=ubuntu&hs=zQf&sa=X&channel=fs&biw=1278&bih=602&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=9SGs6QCWg6rb9M:&imgrefurl=http://subspacecommunique.com/node/962&docid=1BiXbgWWv1T4tM&imgurl=&w=618&h=409&ei=DZS-T8jjOIzk6QHmtbE7&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=965&vpy=62&dur=2051&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=151&ty=134&sig=114096473770170171774&page=1&tbnh=87&tbnw=132&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:101

[Control-Z]

21. lol

I just said those same words to my daughter after she read the OP.

Not only would Romney not ever do something so loving and human, what kid would want to touch him in the first place? "Yucky, Mommy." "Please don't make me touch the icky man." Kids are pretty darned smart about these kind of things.

Now I'll take some of that brain bleach, please?

[6000eliot]

25. Doesn't he just touch other peoples hair,

when he's holding them down and cutting it?

[freshwest]

36. Well... There is that.

[yellowcanine]

85. or the Donald.

[elehhhhna]

4. i can imagine fukhed the acorn destroyer making a video

with that quote used out of context in 5...4...3...

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Very cool.

[SmileyRose]

8. That's really touching.

Thanks so much for sharing.

[mac56]

53. I saw what you did there.

[SmileyRose]

77. hahaha

you seen it before I did. LOL

Was unintentional but it was good wasn't it! LOL

Thanks! You have no idea how bad I needed that.

[mac56]

83. Unintentional quips are the best.

They're comedy gold.

[Greybnk48]

9. This brought tears to my eyes.

He had to touch him to believe he was the same. What an amazing moment. An amazing moment in history actually.

[madokie]

10. How in the hell can anyone in their right mind not like this President

Hell love him, not just like him. I guess the operative word here in what I just typed is 'right'

[TahitiNut]

29. That's just what I keep thinking.

I doubt there'd EVER be a President (or Senator, Governor, etc.) with whom I was in complete agreement. But I just cannot comprehend how any even marginally sane person can't see the obvious character and integrity in Obama, and see the profoundly healthy family he has. I remember the Kennedys quite well and the Obamas are clearly more than their match in "Americanism" and just plain beauty. The White House is graced by their presence.

[colorado_ufo]

73. He is at his best when he is just being himself,

and he is finally realizing that!

[one_voice]

11. Wow! That's beautiful...

thanks for posting.

[NYC Liberal]

12. Obama BOWED to an 8-year-old? Where's the outrage?!

J/k, what a wonderful story!

[Arctic Dave]

46. LOL That's what i thought too.

Hannity is going to poop bricks.

Bwahahahahahaha

[NYC Liberal]

49. Sadly I wouldn't put it past him after the whole mustard thing.

Remember that?? Fox and right-wingers are impossible to satirize.

[deutsey]

81. LOL...my thought too

[yellowcanine]

86. Obviously pandering to the grade school voters.

[Lugnut]

13. That's priceless!

President Daddy.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. That picture has the potential to be truly iconic

There is so very much more in the picture than just the president being nice to the kid.

[loyalsister]

26. Definitely!

It's absolutely beautiful in so many ways!

[Volaris]

43. I agree...and to me, it says that while some of the haters will say...

" well, since we live in an era where an African-American can be elected President, there is no problem with race or poverty in America anymore, unless it comes from those uppity blacks trying to get stuff they don't need from the rest of us" (and YES, I actually HAVE had some of them say this to me, oblivious to the implications of what they are saying).

But here's the thing, as this kid's query proves: many people still can't believe it's true, or possible, or whatever,...they think that somehow, Obama is different than they are, and need proof to the contrary, and that says that we still have a ways to go. But it also tells me that the President is smart enough to KNOW this, and is willing to offer of himself whatever is needed to shorten that gap.

If Jesus of Nazareth had a sense of humor, as well as humility, I imagine that kid is kinda how Thomas felt.

I am so proud of this Man. And despite the fact that he is far from the Liberal God-Icon many of us believe he CAN BE, I want him re-elected. Now I'm going to work. Night, all. =)

[AC_Mem]

15. Outstanding

Our President.... our Representative. A World Leader

And a friend to our future leaders.


Shine on,
Annette

[TBF]

16. Compare and contrast:

[Tennessee Gal]

17. Ouch! That first picture is disturbing.

I may have nightmares.

[TBF]

18. Sorry - I maybe should have had a bleach warning there ... nt

[Orrex]

63. Yes indeed!

I love that the liberal media frequently referred to W (and to Repubs in general) as being "comfortable in their own skin."

But when you contrast their stiff, stick-up-the-ass tension and rigidity with Obama's truly relaxed manner, the comparison is stunning.

[Rhiannon12866]

74. +1000! Perfect!

[magical thyme]

90. oh. my. dog.

Kids say the darndest things. Even before they can talk!

Now, someone please pass the brain bleach...

[hifiguy]

96. That picture of the Chimp is so revealing

of all the wrong things - the singularly cretinous expression of Little Boots, the crying baby...

Both of the Obamas seem drawn to and so completely at ease with kids and that little boy is cuter than hell.

[amuse bouche]

112. Yuk

Dumbya the nightmare

[closeupready]

117. ROFL, that's funny.

[auburngrad82]

19. I love this man nt

[ellenfl]

30. and this man loves kids. you can see it in every interaction he has with them. eom

[sarge43]

102. Malia and Sasha are very fortunate having him for a dad. n/t

[SidDithers]

23. K&R...nt

Sid

[Control-Z]

24. This kind of stuff really gets to me.

I'm practically crying at this point. Our president has stolen my heart. Fact.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Nice to have a really great guy as President (nt)

[Spazito]

28. Wow, powerful and beautiful photograph

and excellent article about it.

Thanks for posting this, it was a great read!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

32. I love this President

A class act through and through

[Robb]

33. The hair thing, is a thing.

I'm just overwhelmed by stuff like this. Of course he gets it, gets what the kid means about how his hair... So cool.

Thanks for the story.

[rocktivity]

59. The hair thing, and the nose thing, and the lips thing...

And at the age of FIVE? It took me seven years to learn that I should hate my hair...


rocktivity

[Robb]

103. Your rockin' dude just ramped up to afroawesome.

Nice.

[reACTIONary]

34. So now are we are going to have to hear more about "Obama bowing" on Fox News? (nt)

[Harry Monroe]

35. Rubbing his head for good luck!!

[MiddleFingerMom]

39. Agree with the above post about this being a monumental historical moment.

.
.
.
This man is just naturally and truly epic at times.
.
.
.

[goclark]

40. Well that just made my day!

Thanks

That's My President

[cilla4progress]

41. Should this country not re-elect this President,

for this quality, not to mention what he has done to bring our economy back and push for civil and economic justice, well...

it will be the end of the end. There will be no hope for us. Which is fine, in a karmic way. I'm sorry for our youth, however. And I'm sorry for being a downer, but I find the objection, the racism, the stupidity (of those on the right) truly disturbing and depressing. Trying to deal with it, but haven't found a way to, yet.

[hue]

42. President Obama's humanity comes through!! Perfect!!! n/t

[lonestarnot]

44. I love that man! I love that kid!

[bigwillq]

45. What a perv.

[dixiegrrrrl]

48. broken link.."page missing"

[AsahinaKimi]

50. It would be fun to CAPTION this photograph...

so cute though!! kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ne! ^^

[thesquanderer]

68. "I understand you're our first gay president, so Mitt Romney sent me...

...to cut your hair."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

52. Cute!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

54. K&R

Talk about being comfortable in your own skin. We have 5-plus months until Election Day, and don'tcha think there will be many more magic moments like this for Obama and continued gaffes and embarrassments for Romney?

[patrice]

55. That's the response of an authentic teacher. No, "because I say so", but an invitation into a

learning relationship.

[JBoy]

56. This is awesome as f**k.

[beac]

57. K&R with a bit of a lump in my throat. What a great story/pic! n/t

[politicasista]

58. Kick

[Generic Other]

61. Very sweet

Like a Norman Rockwell moment (in a good way).

[AtheistCrusader]

62. It's nice to have a compassionate human being in the white house again.

[Skittles]

65. OMG

that is just CUTE OVERLOAD

[Odin2005]

66. AWWWWW!!!

[Solly Mack]

67. Now that brings tears to my eyes.

Good tears.

[mzmolly]

69. .

[pennylane100]

70. I hope this link works and it will be a great reply to this post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002719404

[BlueMTexpat]

71. Your link worked. But

why would you think that it is a "great reply" to this post?

Or did you just forget the smilie?

[pennylane100]

121. I just wanted to to annoy the OP.

of the link. Let him know that we all love Obama.

[BlueMTexpat]

129. Thanks!

But sometimes we can be a bit "tetchy" so that smilie really comes in handy.

[BumRushDaShow]

76. Major FAIL

since you don't get the symbolism - thanks in part to the country represented by that avatar.

[pennylane100]

122. Of course I get the symbolism.

I posted the link to annoy the poster of that thread who thinks we spend too much time admiring Obama. I wanted he/she to know that we realize how special Obama is.

[Robb]

82. Yeah, inspiring a black kid to love himself is gushing.

I was going to call your post "transparent," but I think it's got color to it.

[magical thyme]

91. I actually feel sorry for you

If you can't understand the difference between what this photo and thread are about versus 'gushing over how Obama looks in a suit,' you are really lacking....something.

[pennylane100]

123. I think my intention of posting that link has been misread.

I wanted to the poster of the link to know how much we all love and post about Obama so that it would annoy him/her even more.

[amuse bouche]

111. So many are ready to behead him for nothing

I enjoy a little gushing now and then. It makes me smile

Edit to add, there is nothing 'great' about that reply.In fact, just the opposite. Sourpusses need a time out

[pennylane100]

124. I love gushing about our president.

I wanted the poster of the thread I linked to know how much we admire our president. I cannot believe all the negative comments I have got, I will have to frame my posts more carefully. I just wanted to show him one of the many reasons why Obama is so loved on this site.

[Raine]

72. Aw gee *sniff* *sniff*

that's a tear jerker, so touching.

[PotatoChip]

80. What a great picture!

The little guy may not appreciate what a big deal the pic is right now, but someday he'll have a great story to tell about that moment.

I just love how down to earth and unpretentious our President is.

[yellowcanine]

84. That is very sweet. You can't fake that kind of sensitivity.

Obama rocks.

[yesphan]

87. Love it !

[CrispyQ]

88. He is so good with children!

I do love that about Prez O.

[rocktivity]

89. .

rocktivity

[L. Coyote]

92. Kids ask Donald Trump this question all the time

[Scurrilous]

94. K & R

[boston bean]

95. wow!

that is a really nice moment.

[Tarheel_Dem]

99. K&R

[librechik]

101. DO NOT read Freeper comments about this adorable and heartbreaking photo

Seriously.

Hint: They love the "Touch it, dude" bit, and not in a nice way.

(Free Republic comes up third in a Google search for the photo. Popular.)

[sarge43]

104. Yes, let them corrode in their own bile. n/t

[ecstatic]

106. Now I'm curious... nt

[PatSeg]

105. Wow

That was so touching.

[amuse bouche]

108. Words can not convey

how much I adore that moment in time

[obietiger]

109. Precious!

Great picture

[Tommy_Carcetti]

113. I love this. Just a great moment. Speaks volumes of how far we've come.

I'm not African-American, but I can say that for this young boy to realize the hair of the President of the United States feels the same as his, is just a testament of how far we've come.

I have to say when it comes to recent stories about race relations, I've been rather discouraged and depressed. From birtherism to the reaction regarding Trayvon Martin case, it just seems as though racism--although not nearly as institutionalized or open as it had been--is an albatross that we just can't beat.

This picture and the accompanying story shows that while we still have a long ways to go, we still have taken some significant steps towards Dr. King's dream.

Just to think 10-15 years ago we thought we'd never see a black president (Tupac even had a line in one of his songs to that effect). I had a political science professor in college who thought the only way we'd see a black president would be if he was a Republican because the conservative outrage would be too much. Now look where we've come.

[mainer]

115. When I look at African American kids, I now think quite sincerely: "That kid could be President."

That's the difference Obama has made.

[closeupready]

116. Aw, I love that.

How cute. K&R

[Tommy_Carcetti]

118. Who knows, this may not be the last time we see Jacob in the White House....

Only in America....

[sarge43]

125. Yes. Never know when the torch is passed.

Story from the 1930's. Young black child was watching an old bi-plane rattle over his house. He shouted up at it, "Fly that thing, white boy." He knew there was no chance in hell a black man would be flying it. Today he'd shout, "Fly that thing, dude!"

Things do get better.

[Recursion]

126. "Jacob, now 8, says he wants to be President. Or a test pilot."

Well done, Mr. President, and well done, Jacob.

[sarge43]

130. Jacob, test pilot. A lot less stressful.

kiddo.

[Scurrilous]

127. Kick

[Historic NY]

128. I love that picture...it says a lot about the man.