the buzz log

Not perhaps since John F. Kennedy's own beach photos has a nation been so stirred to seek out revealing images of the incoming commander-in-chief. Searches are soaring for "obama pictures" and, in a realm normally reserved for prepubescent idols, "obama shirtless." Yes, the man so far designated to stimulate the economy, restore American dignity abroad, and save the planet from global warming, has inspired lookups more befitting a, dare we say, heartthrob.

Reassuringly, other recent Obama searches do dwell on the more relevant issues at hand ("obama inauguration," "obama cabinet picks"). The photo exposé, however, once again underscores the celebritization of Obama (as a John McCain ad once famously pointed out).

The latest act of online voyeurism comes from a confluence of three recent pictorial events: Two include Barack Obama's return to Time magazine's cover as Man of the Year and the release of never-before-seen college photos, in which the future No. 44 posed in a Panama hat, leather jacket, and occasionally with a cigarette for a hopeful photographer's portfolio. That momentous puff induced a teacup-sized tempest as people zeroed in on the "obama smoking" pic. 

The third event is his holiday trip back to his home state. The president-elect did what any red-blooded American would do in a tropical isle: He stripped down to his swimming trunks and dove right into the winter surf. The ABC video showed a fleeting rear view of Obama descending into the water, but that was enough to trigger the buzz for "obama hawaii" (+130%), "obama vacation" (+113%) and, of course, the aforementioned shirtless queries.

To those who would defend the dignity of the Oval Office and all its inhabitants, will their brains eventually soften with four years of headlines like the New York Post's "O, My Bod!" (with yet another name twist in paragraph one: "Just call him 'Ab'-bama.'"). Forget tabloids—the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported regular citizens turning into paparazzi packs. Meanwhile, a true paparazzo snuck a shot, and the hosting site was promptly overwhelmed by political oglers.

His photogenic vim and vigor have long evoked comparisons to the charismatic Kennedy, who similarly inspired a brouhaha over his beach photo. Former Vanity Fair magazine editor Tina Brown, in a CNN interview about Obama's enormous star power, claimed that Obama is aware of his appeal and "he deliberately dials back on his charisma" to spare the masses. (Brown by the way once ventured on Greek God territory and called Obama "Apollonian.")

Indeed, the president-elect himself, while courting the exposure, showed signs of being willing to draw the line: An AFP article noted Obama saying to news photographers, "Ok guys, come on...How many shots do you need?" Doubtless once the honeymoon period is over (and technically, the wedding's not until January 20th anyhow), this rapture will be tempered.

As for the shirtless searches, a slideshow of "Other Shirtless Presidents" reveals he is not the first, nor will he likely be the last. And as for shirtless celebrities versus shirtless politicians, Obama's Web appeal runs second to "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson, thereby upholding the right and proper balance in the world.