Video: Did Obama send cardboard cutout to UN?
posted at 3:35 pm on September 25, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Well, if this isn’t an analogy for an empty-suit presidency, nothing will suffice. It’s too good to be true and so almost certainly isn’t, but as this rapid-fire look at 130 photographs from the UN this week shows, it’s hard not to draw the conclusion that the POTUS has a COTUS. Watch the frozen image of Barack Obama’s face on your first pass, and then check the position of his hands on your second pass:
Barack Obama’s amazingly consistent smile from Eric Spiegelman on Vimeo.
The grin is almost Chesire Cat-like, staying in a fixed position in every shot while the angle of the camera moves. The hands stay in exact position in relation to the body. The angle of the head doesn’t change over 130 frames, either. Either that’s a cardboard cutout, or like most politicians, Obama has learned to pose brilliantly, which is how he got elected President, after all. And hey, as an analogy, either option works for me.
My mythbuster rating? I’d say: plausible. However, it would be pretty hard to pull this off without getting complaints from the others posing in the pictures, so I’m skeptical … but laughing pretty hard at it.
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LMFAO! That was awesome!
He never seemed to move,
upinak on September 25, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Nope…his left thumb moves. Watch it again.
toetotoetotoe on September 25, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Maybe there’s a mirror behind the photographer so Obama is always looking at his own image, which he loves….like Narcissus.
Wethal on September 25, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Well, its clearly not a cardboard cut-out, as the perspective shifts, but I can’t rule out a 3-D model.
Count to 10 on September 25, 2009 at 3:39 PM
It has to be him. Where are you going to find cardboard
that is worthy of his image?
elderberry on September 25, 2009 at 3:39 PM
It can’t be the real Obama, TOTUS is nowhere in site.
It’s an even more evil imposter, obviously.
NoDonkey on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
LOL…. He is a clown, complete with a plastic smile.
RalphyBoy on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Definitely some left hand movement there. Today is like ‘play online detective/ eat crow’ day.
BadgerHawk on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Obama’s smile is part of his routine and is to be emulated by his team. Van Jones’ forgot about this requirement and he paid for it.
GaltBlvnAtty on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
His left hand moves…slightly. Still, somebody better check his pulse.
Emily M. on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
It’s no wonder he has the cheesy pose down pat. He’s probably spent hundreds of hours practicing it in the mirror.
AZCoyote on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
The originals are from here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/sets/72157622444106644/show/with/3949319005/
pedestrian on September 25, 2009 at 3:40 PM
pathetic.
moonbatkiller on September 25, 2009 at 3:41 PM
BARF…. What a phony!
Norwegian on September 25, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The shading detail on that animated figure is amazing!
classicaliberal on September 25, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Always remember – there is no I in COTUS!!
exhelodrvr on September 25, 2009 at 3:41 PM
I’d say it’s a dummy…but…
JetBoy on September 25, 2009 at 3:41 PM
That dude is just creepy all around..
javamartini on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Whether it fake, a dummy, a 3-D cardboard. You have to admit it was funny. How DO people actually stay in the same spot like that?
upinak on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
OMG, I guess bho was SO in demand for a photo op he had to do this? This HAS got be proven if possible! Could be there is ‘another’ bho out there to do All the photo ops cause ‘our’ bho is so tired.
L
letget on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
That vid spooks the heck out of me.
theCork on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
…though the positions of his fingers do change slightly (but go back to the same position repeatedly).
I bet he could pull off some neat camera tricks.
Count to 10 on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
The original Obamabot.
moonsbreath on September 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM
He could be his own wax sculpture at Madame Tussauds
innominatus on September 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM
That could make for some interesting jokes, but I shall refrain.
That would get very annoying to pose for that many pictures, I would opt for the cardboard cutout.
WashJeff on September 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM
He’s, he’s, never seem so real to me before today…….
E9RET on September 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM
lol I suppose a narcissist would look at themselves in a mirror enough to pull that off. heh
aikidoka on September 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM
reminds me of all the Paris Hilton photo montages
Doctor Zhivago on September 25, 2009 at 3:43 PM
aikidoka on September 25, 2009 at 3:44 PM
The hands move as does the angle of his head. It’s still hilarious, though.
JackOfClubs on September 25, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Someone in NY needs to quickly go over to Madame Tussauds to see if the BO dummy is missing.
pain train on September 25, 2009 at 3:45 PM
effing creepy!
WordsMatter on September 25, 2009 at 3:46 PM
His eyes seem to move some…
oh my gosh. I think it’s real.
Diane on September 25, 2009 at 3:46 PM
From the creator’s comments:
Terry_Dyne on September 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
someone make a ytmnd of this
“POTUS doesnt change facial expressions” with the dance remix of “call on me” playing.
HAHAHA OH WOW on September 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Maybe if he’d practice the “Don’t just do something–Stand There!” approach a little more often, then we wouldn’t be in this big old mess.
ted c on September 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
His fingers move. So it’s him.
But this just goes to show how fake that ‘man’ is.
amkun on September 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
That was the best laugh of the day.
yogi41 on September 25, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I saw his ears growing.
CBP on September 25, 2009 at 3:49 PM
The fair judgment for that smile is that it can not be trusted.
genso on September 25, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Wax Dummy?
meci on September 25, 2009 at 3:51 PM
From the flikr.com link you can see that Michele is real consistent with her pose also. The other pols in the pictures seem to be rookies in comparison as a lot of them have there eye closed or stupid expressions on there faces.
RobD on September 25, 2009 at 3:51 PM
They took a survey with different pics of Obama, and that smile/face came out as the one most people responded to positively, so his handlers informed him to ONLY smile like that from now on.
Bureaucracy in action folks, bureaucracy in action.
Orange Doorhinge on September 25, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Here are all the photos he used…. compare them to the video and you will find it is true…. he is a robot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/sets/72157622444106644/
PhilipJames on September 25, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Maybe he went with Pelosi & Plugs for a day at the spa.
MDWNJ on September 25, 2009 at 3:52 PM
If you watch the left of the screen, Michelle Obama’s arm grows so quickly I’d swear she was David Banner turning into the Incredible Hulk.
portlandon on September 25, 2009 at 3:53 PM
People with fake smiles can easily maintain it for a long time
SouthernGent on September 25, 2009 at 3:53 PM
They could recycle Barackopolis.
James on September 25, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Stepford POTUS
catmman on September 25, 2009 at 3:55 PM
His right hand moves in front and behind the various leaders suggesting that they are real pictures. That’s spooky.
Sultry Beauty on September 25, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I disagree Ed. I really think that is him which says volumes. There is varying shadows with each different person. I think he has mastered this shot in front of a camera for days.
shick on September 25, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Michelle was just as bad. And why why Michelle’s legs look so greasy? Ew!!!
mizflame98 on September 25, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Are you sure it wasn’t his nose you saw growing?
fbcmusicman on September 25, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Hilarious, but if it’s real, then POTUS doesn’t cast a shadow. Hell, probably doesn’t show up in mirrors either…
bofh on September 25, 2009 at 3:59 PM
That or Manchurian POTUS.
shick on September 25, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Man…see Michelle’s gun show!
Caper29 on September 25, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Hologram?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on September 25, 2009 at 4:00 PM
oddly enough I’ve seen more than a few stores with Obama cardboard cutouts. I wonder if this is just a Cali trend… I’ve seen them in L.A. and San Fran.
Just more proof that Obama followers are creepy.
Ampersand on September 25, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Check out his right eye.
joshlbetts on September 25, 2009 at 4:02 PM
I find this very unsettling for some reason.
jhffmn on September 25, 2009 at 4:02 PM
What a collage of ugly people
Schadenfreude on September 25, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Real or cardboard cutout, what’s the difference?
Oldnuke on September 25, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Yes, I thought the nose might have grown also, but it’s a little hard to tell with profile shots.
CBP on September 25, 2009 at 4:04 PM
That’s some crazy hair.
mizflame98 on September 25, 2009 at 4:06 PM
None. The suit is empty.
Schadenfreude on September 25, 2009 at 4:07 PM
I like the music they set this to. Well done. Creepy too, as is everything with BHO.
bound4er on September 25, 2009 at 4:08 PM
poseur
29Victor on September 25, 2009 at 4:08 PM
It’s actually him. His right hand is three dimensional and his angle shifts. He’s just that phony.
amerpundit on September 25, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Check out his right eye.
joshlbetts on September 25, 2009 at 4:02 PM
RobD on September 25, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Odumbass must have put a lot of vaseline on his teeth.
txag92 on September 25, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Oldnuke,
“Real or cardboard cutout, what’s the difference?”
The cardboard has some depth to it.
exhelodrvr on September 25, 2009 at 4:09 PM
I think he took a cue from another famous robot. At(0.36) your clue will be found, hmmm?
rihar on September 25, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Caption contest, anyone?
LEBA on September 25, 2009 at 4:10 PM
It’s Eddie Murphy. Testing out new looks for his next movie….Nutty Professor, the White House Years.
capejasmine on September 25, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Maybe he’s ‘The Stepford President’.
Oldnuke on September 25, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Sorry, make that 0.46
rihar on September 25, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I don’t keep up with the latest acronyms, what’s a COTUS?
clearbluesky on September 25, 2009 at 4:11 PM
It would be interesting to see the same thing done with Bush to see the contrast.
RobD on September 25, 2009 at 4:11 PM
It has to be a hologram; Fits, since he’s so hollow naturally.
Cybergeezer on September 25, 2009 at 4:11 PM
And don’t forget what an inspiration Obama is as our military’s CCiC!
drunyan8315 on September 25, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Did someone OD on Pelosi and Biden’s Botox?
Wolftech on September 25, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Let’s not forget the possibility of it being a hologram….
Mallard T. Drake on September 25, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Um, why does his right eye look like its moving, but the left eye doesn’t?
Count to 10 on September 25, 2009 at 4:14 PM
And you all thought those clever Japanese only made sex dolls!
MrScribbler on September 25, 2009 at 4:15 PM
I don’t keep up with the latest acronyms, what’s a COTUS?
clearbluesky on September 25, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I think he’s referencing “cut-out of the US”.
txag92 on September 25, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Eric Spiegelman….beware the wrath of Michelle, for cutting her out of the picture. RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
capejasmine on September 25, 2009 at 4:15 PM
But that assumes they would be able to tell the difference between the real Obama and a cardboard/wax/plastic/robot Obama.
AverageJoe on September 25, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Cardboard-cutout.
Maybe it should be CCOTUS.
Count to 10 on September 25, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Come, now! BHO has spent thousands of narcissistic hours in front of the mirror practicing the perfect pose and you MOCK him! Shame, shame!
Black Lips? RACIST!
SouperConservative on September 25, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Hologram
maverick muse on September 25, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Ahh, thanks. Haven’t had enough caffeine today i guess, the ol’ brain is working kinda slow.
clearbluesky on September 25, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Hard light hologram. Rimmer II.
29Victor on September 25, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Absolutely amazing, and admirable (if not a photoshop). The film maker focused on his left eye (to our right), and the perfection of the smile is supernatural.
So he does have a talent after all…
Akzed on September 25, 2009 at 4:20 PM
wax filled suit.
Griz on September 25, 2009 at 4:21 PM
“Things to do before considering request for more troops? Pose like a rubber man with 130 people at a cocktail party. Or, I could just send holoman, er, haloman, er, um, hollowman instead.”
LEBA on September 25, 2009 at 4:21 PM
It is him, it also goes to prove just how manufacture his smile really is. It must have taken hours infront of the mirror to “perfect” the Obama Smile. Creepy.
BTW: Who greased up Michelle’s legs?
milwife88 on September 25, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Well, that explains why 0bama is such a smeghead…
Wolftech on September 25, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Seven Percent Solution on September 25, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Maybe it’s Obama’s surrogate like in the new Bruce Willis movie.
Michelle Dubois on September 25, 2009 at 4:26 PM
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