New York Times Removes Melania Trump’s Crotch Selfie From Article
After The New York Times’ published a photo of a scantily clad Melania Trump, the woman who would be first lady should Donald Trump become President, with a profile published online Wednesday, the paper apparently thought better of the decision and removed it. The photo appeared in one of Melania Trump’s tweets that she posted earlier this year. Her tweet contained the simple message: “Perfect beach day” with two emojis. The close-up photo showed her wearing white bikini bottoms. The Times embedded the tweet in the article.
Over the past six years Republicans, along with their fellow travelers in the Right-wing media, have seldom missed a chance to ridicule, insult, and/or demean First Lady Michelle Obama. Given the petty things she’s been pilloried for, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that her biggest “crime” is being African-American, the spouse of an African-American and Democratic President, and not a Stepford Wife.
It was with some interest, then, that I watched the “controversy” over Melania Trump’s “crotch shot selfie” dissolve into nothingness and evaporate like one of The Donald’s deep thoughts in a stiff breeze. In the wake of this incident, I found it difficult not to think in terms of wondering what the outcry would have been had Mrs. Obama been the one posting a “crotch shot selfie” (And how many times will I type “crotch shot selfie” before it loses its luster?).
There’s a chance (perhaps not very good…but stranger things have happened) that Mrs. Trump could be our next First Lady. Is a “crotch shot selfie” the sort of proper, dignified demeanor that Americans Republicans and the Right-wing media demand of a President’s life partner? Though the position of First Lady comes with no salary or authority, Americans Republicans and the Right-wing media feel it with their rights to demand that the wife of a President conduct herself in a manner they approve of that speaks of dignity and class. Lord knows that Melania Trump’s “crotch shot selfie” is EXACTLY the sort of demure, dignified, classy behavior that Americans Republicans and the Right-wing media expect of a First Lady. Then again, Americans Republicans and the Right-wing media would accept Sasha Grey (Ed. note- Ask Google…just not while you’re at work, ‘kay??) as First Lady if her husband was a reliably Conservative Teapublican.
If there’s anything resembling a benevolent God out there, we should probably all be praying to Her that I never, EVER have to type the phrase, “crotch shot selfie” again. We’ll all be better off for it.
