So… Time Magazine chose to release “beefcake” photos of Paul Ryan today, the day of the Vice Presidential debate. Photos that they took last year for the “Man of the Year” campaign.
The photos—which caused me to somehow laugh, shake my head, turn red with embarrassment, and clap all at once—are super weird. Paul Ryan on a weigh bench doing curls (Elspeth Reeve from Atlantic Wire explains that they are “what high school gym coaches nationwide call ‘curls for girls,’ bicep curls that make your arms beefy for the ladies but don’t really make you stronger or better at sports.”) and staring into the camera in a way that makes me want to cover my face with my hands and run away.
It’s not Ryan’s fault. No doubt that in December of 2011 the guy wasn’t thinking ahead to his run for Vice President and how that goofy stare into the camera would make him seem… well… goofy. And I don’t think it matters much whether you’re planning to vote Romney or Obama, this feels like a low-blow at a crucial point in the campaign.
I think we need to take a moment here and recognize that as hunky as his biceps may appear in these shots, Ryan is not being overtly sexualized. This series of beefcake photos is embarrassing only in its complete lack of seriousness. We still haven’t seen the elusive (and, at this point, alleged) Paul Ryan six-pack yet, and I maintain that I don’t want to see it. If I want to hate on Paul Ryan, I’d rather do it for his political strategies, fiscal policy, or anything else that actually matters.
I want to see the women and men who are best for their jobs elected in 2012. The ones whom America thinks represent the people best. And I hope we can move past these goofy high school-mentality media pranks and hear what Biden and Ryan have to say about the things that truly matter to the American people.
What do you think of Beefcake Ryan and his “Curls for Girls”? Do you think it was a mistake for him to pose for them in the first place, or is the fault planted firmly with Time Magazine for choosing to publish them today?
There is a related issue that I think people ought to consider, even if I don’t like where people might go with it. Running for President and being President can be physically grueling activities. It may be more demanding today than it’s ever been in the past. If you’re a candidate, you don’t work out just for a photo op, you work out just to be in good enough shape to keep going. If you look at the stress level and psychological impact, being President has to be the worst job you could ever have in a suit and tie.… Read more »
I probably disagree with most of his positions, and I hope he doesn’t become VP. But, I really don’t see what the big deal is with these photos. They’re pretty goofy and show that he has some sense of humor about himself, which I like to see in a candidate even if I’m not voting for him. I have a little more respect for him now. Besides, they may actually backfire politically, if they become caricatures of his platform. These photos are essentially editorial cartoons that he made of himself! ‘Twas ever thus. When you seem too young to be… Read more »
Fault lies with him for posing for them. Definitely agree that the pictures are more goofy/humorous than sexual. They make it even harder for me to take him seriously.
This was a big mistake by Ryan posing for these photos. No matter how benign it may have seen at the time, you have to realize that a liberal leaning press would trot them out at the first oppurtunity. Face it , ‘Dear Leaders’ whole re-election strategy is ‘ Vote for me because the other guy is worse’.
I don’t want to see the six-pack either, but Paul has nobody but himself to blame if he’s not comfortable with the further publication of these photos. If you don’t want photos of yourself use, re-used, and abused, don’t pose for Time.
One almost every other Ryan position, I’m with him.