The latest controversy to come out of the White House has nothing to do with the war in Iraq, the economy or even George Bush.Last week the White House Web site posted a number of pictures of Vice President Dick Cheney as a photo essay from his fishing trip on the Snake River in Idaho. One picture in particular sparked controversy as millions of Internet users with their minds in the gutter claimed to see a naked woman reflected in Cheney's sunglasses in a tight shot of his face where is he smiling uncharacteristically.
When the picture is analyzed closely, it seems apparent that it is a hand casting a fishing rod being reflected in the lenses, but some poorer quality photos, even when zoomed in on, are more difficult to decipher.
The topic has turned into an Internet sensation, and not just among bloggers, as nearly 300 articles on it are turned up by a Google News query. There have even been YouTube videos dedicated the the topic posted in recent days.
White House spokespeople have vehemently denied the accusations and the photo remains on the Web site.
Particularly after the much-publicized Eliot Spitzer scandal, the idea of Cheney in any similar circumstance grabbed the public interest, but would a White House photographer really be there, taking official photos if Cheney were with a naked woman? And moreover would it be posted on the White House Website?
If as many Americans can get this interested in the actual politics of the country, beyond the scandals involving naked women, the state of the democracy would be in much better shape.
Photo source: LA Times
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