Was Michelle Obama’s Target Photo Staged?

by Verena von Pfetten | 10:43 am, October 3rd, 2011

While for some, a photo of Michelle Obama shopping at Target is just that, for others it’s a calculated campaign-ready photo op, engineered to convince the masses that the First Lady is just like us, no matter how many thousands of dollars of borrowed diamonds she wears.

RELATED: Michelle Obama Likes To Be ‘Comfortable & Pretty’, Used To Shop At Target

According to the Washington Post, conservative commenters are accusing the White House of staging the image.

“First Lady Michelle Obama shopping at Target with an AP photographer in tow . . . . planned? I think so,” tweeted Fox News and syndicated radio host Sean Hannity.

“One wonders if First Lady Michelle Obama truly thought she could pass for an ‘everywoman’ as she shopped” at Target, sniffed the Blaze, a Web site launched last year by radio host Glenn Beck.

Rush Limbaugh called it “What a phony-baloney plastic banana good-time rock-and-roller optic photo op.”

While we were less concerned with the image implications of the photo, we had a similar debate in the Styleite offices last week. We just thought it was interesting that she’d never been photographed shopping in a Target before and wondered if perhaps the White House had tipped off a photog — not that the entire outing had been staged. The AP photographer lucky enough to snap the pic isn’t commenting, but the Assistant Chief of Bureau for Photos at the AP wrote a short blog post about it on his Tumblr (yes, really) last week:

First Lady Michelle Obama has said in the past she likes to go shopping incognito. AP photographer Charles Dharapak captured her doing just that in a suburban Washington retailer today wearing sunglasses and a ball cap. Charlie made this frame with his Canon 1D Mark IV and a 24-105mm lens. His exposure was 1/200 @4.5 rated 2500iso.

Sadly, that doesn’t give us much to go on. The AP’s public press statement is equally unforthcoming, offering only, “All I can say is that it was the result of good source work on his part.”

The Washington Post also points out that “corporate chains such as Target prohibit news photography on company-owned premises without prior permission”, though that doesn’t mean much other than the photographer may have been granted permission from Target — which, duh. What retailer would turn down that sort of publicity?

All said, something tells us that Michelle Obama wouldn’t be interested in putting on a disguise and shlepping out for a Target run if she didn’t actually want to go to Target. And while her European vacations and borrowed diamonds may have convinced some that she’s a high-falutin’ fancy pants, her well-documented tendency to wear H&M and previously proclaimed love for Target has us wondering what all the fuss is about.

Michelle Obama’s Target trip: Critics take aim [Washington Post]
Attention Shoppers! [Paid To See]
Michelle Obama Criticized For Target Shopping Trip [Jezebel]

Michelle Obama michelle obama target michelle obama target photo op michelle obama target staged

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1051017636 Karen Varga-Sinka

Nope, I don’t think so. I think she has more to worry about than staging a photo at Target. It’s DC.. reporters and photogs in DC have ways of finding out when the secret service is cleaning an area. Something is going to happen there.. and they will go and stalk until they figure out why.. especially at a Target.
Anonymous

Is this even a question? Of course it was staged. Everything this incompetent admin does is staged….and the lowinformation-underinformed-misinformed people keep buying it!!
Anonymous

YES ! the AP was giving a call from the administration she was shopping that day at that Target! Multiple people have already said they called them at AP. It was a photo opt to make her look good after polls started showing her fade among the people!
http://twitter.com/Good_Lt Good Lt.

Wait…I thought the ‘progressive’ left was protesting and boycotting Target stores.

Is it now OK to shop there again? Has the six-month obligatory outrage period expired already?
Will Godbout

so what if it was?
Katty

It is totally asinine to think the American people want their next-door neighbor, idiot you work with, scrimping and shopping at Walmart, Target, etc.
I want the sharpest, most knowledgeable person possible – not a pretender to be just like me.
Come to think of it I probably would make a better president that what is currently in the white house….gees.
Maryroger

I doubt it was staged. CC don’t they all look the same to you?
Maryroger

Unlike Bush who declared MISSION ACCOMPLISHED on the deck of an Aircraft Carrier.
http://twitter.com/runforfun54 Ilene K

Really? Why the hell wld she need to stage anything … remember this is the same First Lady who came under attack early in the Administration for wearing clothes from JCREW. Give it a rest.
caconservative

According to AP-photographer, Charles Dharapack, the tip-off came from the White House. I think we can safely say this was a staged event.
Anonymous

Why is this news??? The website is more like the Enquire everyday. And here is stupid me reading this garbage. Oh well.
Anonymous

so who cares if it was staged or not. I am sure Target will be all the better for the publicity. No harm no foul
Anonymous

Of course it was staged. The WH doesn’t do anything that is not staged!

“CBS News reports the pics were snapped by an Associated Press photographer who says he was tipped off that she would be there.”
Kwislandlime@gmail.com

is this what our President and his wife are up to while so many Americans sit on unemployment lines and go to my local church for food!!! I guess Mrs Obama took off her bedroom slippers , stopped complaining and started shopped at Target to help boos our economy!! WHat a joke this White House is…this is some “change”.
Kwislandlime@gmail.com

is this what our President and his wife are up to while so many Americans sit on unemployment lines and go to my local church for food!!! I guess Mrs Obama took off her bedroom slippers , stopped complaining and started shopped at Target to help boos our economy!! WHat a joke this White House is…this is some “change”.
Anonymous

Good lord, is everyone blind? As soon as this photo went public, one look made it obvious the lady in the photo is NOT Michelle Obama. She’s a MO lookalike, a woman who resembles Michelle Obama, & someone somewhere, is having a grand time playing with your minds with that fact. Take a good look at her face, the mouth especially, it’s as plain as day this someone else. Pull the cotton out of your eyes folks, you’re being being duped.
Anonymous

Is Ed Schultz a fat idiotic hack? Is water wet?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1051017636 Karen Varga-Sinka

Well that sucks.. so much for thinking the administration had better things to do :)
Anonymous

The Obamas have spent the past four years peeing on our shoes and telling us it’s raining.

Of course, this was staged. Now, she’s “everywoman.” Ha!
Michelle

They know the perception of them vacationing in the Vineyard and hobnobbing with the fat cat elites, doesn’t look too good, so they had to do something to try and convince people she’s one of us.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWUMDXSUYVXFOVKEDR7OG3SD7A John Doe

Why should anyone ask if this photo was staged? The photo speaks loudly for itself
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LUKTQTZLZUTCR3SGOO76TTVOGY moremonkeybusiness

I assume the other gal is a daughter. Why does she have two cellphones?
Anonymous

It´s her assistant…but good question…why does she have two cellphones….
Anonymous

Doesn’t bother me or anyone I know,why does it bug you so much?
Anonymous

I am sure Moochelle just loves to hang out at Target…..Prob one of her favorite stores huh? Some people are so easily fooled, you sound like you were one of them….I’ll bet you think Barry didn’t listen to the racist sermons too huh?
Anonymous

You do understand that wasn’t meant as a victory in Iraq don’t you? Are did you buy into the blatent lies told over and over by the left? Once again, Dems rely on ignorant voters, they must love you!!
Cecelia

Yes, despite the wrong impression some folks may have about Mrs. Obama’s “vacations and borrowed diamonds”, Styyleite does not believe that she would go to Target for towels and cleaning supplies “unless she really wanted to go to Target”.

A brilliant summation, if just a mile off point and ten miles short of putting two and two together…

shessh….
Anonymous

Are you calling yourself a pretender?
http://www.facebook.com/tony.westover Tony Westover

“Was Michelle Obama’s Target Photo Staged?”

Why is this even posed as a question? Of course it was friggin’ staged. The Associated Press can’t just go onto private property and start taking pictures of people without asking for permission first, it’s illegal. This was clearly an arranged photo opportunity.
http://www.facebook.com/horace.henry3 Horace Henry

C’mon ya’ll! I don’t think it was staged, but what if it was? Just what does a few pictures of the First Lady shopping have to do with the price of “Tea” in China, or th US??? If anything, it might be a great PR take off for Target, but that’s about it. Ya’ll are always trying to make something out of nothing. Michelle Obama shopping at Target… Give me a break!!
http://www.facebook.com/horace.henry3 Horace Henry

2500 iso? I guess that is why it looks pretty good at this size. Otherwise, it may take on more of a “grainy” look of enlarged.
Anonymous

She got flack for wearing bracelets worth $40,000 last week, so this is a way for them to counter that coverage.
Anonymous

Another “tea” conspiracy!
Al Gore

She has a personal staff of 44, don’t you think that one of them could have went to Target? What did it cost the tax payers for Michelle to go there with 50 secret service men and the White House Photographers? Did the White House run out of Toilet Paper or did she just need paper plates?
Anonymous

She went to Target’s. So what. Stop making something out of nothing. Plenty of desperate celebs “stage” just by chance pics all the time, and I don’t hear the same criticism.
Anonymous

I was there… She purchased a small child and a box of raisonettes,
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000561665430 Out Man

THE REPUBS WILL ALWAYS PLAY CLASS WARFARE AS LONG AS THE SUPER RICH GET ALL THE BREAKS ALONG WITH WALL STREET. WAKE UP AMERICA. VOTE OBAMA 2012 OR SUFFER BEING A REPUBLICAN PAUPER/PUPPET THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000561665430 Out Man

“”ALL”" FIRST LADIES BORROW GOWNS AND JEWELS OR THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE CRA* TO THE REST OF THE WORLD HEADS OF STATE WHICH SPENDS 100′S THOUSANDS ON THEIR WIVES. GET REAL.
Xlawnman

Seems another A hole thinks anyone who can think on their own is ignorant in his little mind.
Anonymous

Exactly.
Valerie Hoffmann

So they don’t own a ranch in Texas in which to vacation?? A lot of people I know go to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantuckett, so what? And I’m FAR from wealthy. God help us if our President isn’t well-connected? Who’s he supposed to hang out with, YOU???
Anonymous

Um what about, what’s that group of people called, oh yeah the paparazzi? They can go anywhere they want. As with anyone with a camera. Nothing illegal at all taking pictures of someone at at Target store or any other retail location. But you can surely bet your last dollar this was arranged. No First Lady goes anywhere without the knowledge of someone and the White House happened to pick the Associated Press. Why not TMZ, ya know. If they really wanted to get down with the real people in this country put that picture on TMZ. Problem with people running this White House is they like to talk being in the know about middle class America but still maintain an uppity mentality. You want to make an impact on people who you want to mobilize to vote, call TMZ to take a photo next time or instead of The View or Oprah types. Hey how about doing something out of the mainstream which is no longer mainstream. Go on Maury. Take members of the family to Family Feud. Do something outrageous that people are really going to talk about.

The Associated Press? Too many stuck up folks in this White House.
http://www.facebook.com/dee.gates59 Dee Gates

Have they even gone or seen Camp David yet?
Michael Holland

Staged? Pre-scheduled? Rehearsed? Oh, hell no. This was like those “real life” TV shows where you watch the first cops to investigate a crime scene from the inside of the room as they enter. I liked the Secret Service agents behind Mrs Obama too. Good casting.
Solmo

Of course it was Staged!! Spare me.Please. She is such a Disgrace and should be ashamed of her self. Is she “Proud” of America now ????
Solmo

Are you totally Out of you mind ???
Solmo

She is total Trailer Trash

Was Michelle Obama’s Target Photo Staged?

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