The President of the United States Barack Obama aka the Commander-In-Briefs, as he is affectionately called in Washingtonian Magazine, graces the cover of the may issue of Washingtonian magazine and ranks in at number 2 on its “Reasons We Love Washington” countdown.

The image taken during a recent vacation in Hawaii following the grueling election is of course not new as we brought it to you when it first leaked back in December.  But none the less it has caused a stir among protective supporters and the more conservative (in the non-political sense.)  The choice comes to many as a surprise as the Washingtonian is generally noted for being far more cleaan cut in its image.  The magazine is regarded as the beltway’s top magazine, noted for its regular rankings and detailed coverage of area professionals, businesses, and places, the publication typicaly stays away from such controversey.

Many critics have called the cover disrespectful as it depicts the presidency as a Hollywood-esque publicity platform thus robbing him of his power equity.  Would the magazine have published a shirtless photo of any other president for its cover?  Probably not, but the magazine’s editor at large defends the image anyway.

“You have a buff president and the paparazzi like taking shirtless photos of him,” Garret Graff, the Washintonian’s Editor-at-large told ABC News. Obama in D.C. is “really hot,” she added. The magazine tried to “capture the energy and excitement” over the Obamas and “have a little fun.”

I’m going to have to both agree with the magazine and bash it at the same time if that’s possible.  For one, I think this country has gotten very stuffy.  We’ve become very concerned with how leadership is viewed in the public eye while our overall national image suffers in the global perspective.  If I were editor, no, It wouldn’t have been my choice to publish a half naked paparazzi photo of the president on the cover .  I would have instead perhaps chosen to use one of him in his dip dapper suits with the stunter shades but then again the cover’s creating controversy. 

You’re going to see a lot of the especially from magazines.  Their industry is dying and desperate times call for desperate measures.  Where I will disagree with the publication is in the fact that the picture is completely out of character.  Although the Washintonian has been known to take a shot or two over the years with its political cartoons I don’t think we’ve ever seen the president shirtless.  Tabloid, gossip and entertainment rags…yes I’d understand.  This just comes off as an publicity stunt.