Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Pass the Baby (around the candidates)



When we had our first baby, my wife and I used to joke about writing a book of party games with babies. One of the games we imagined was inspired by the fact that we were never able to sit down together for a meal without the baby wailing and one of us having to get up and rock her in our arms. We called the game "Pass the baby," a sort of hot potato combined with musical chairs. It went like this: a group of adults would pass a baby around the table. If the baby cried while you were holding her you were out. One by one people would be eliminated until a winner, with whom the baby was sedate, was declared.

A version of this game was played, unwittingly, with a 5-month-old baby girl among the Presidential candidates. It's hilarious, if not a bit creepy. Go to the slide show: http://www.slate.com/id/2181495/nav/tap3/

If this baby is any indication, the Democrats definitely have the edge and among them it looks like Edwards all the way. Save the poor child from Romney! It looks like he's choking her. Another funny thought; being female would be an unfair advantage if the Presidency were decided this way.

2 comments:

elvi said...

Interestingly, Kucinich and Edwards have exactly the same hold on the baby - look at their left hands clamped around her left thigh. Richardson seems to be doing it too, though with the right hand. I wonder if there are baby holding lessons for candidates? Dropping a baby would be a pretty big faux pas, after all...

B. Glen Rotchin said...

Interesting observations Elvi. I wonder where all this baby holding (and g-d forbid, kissing) came from. There's probably a book here, or at least an essay. Was it to humanize the humanoid politicians, make them appear more sensitive, family-oriented and caring for the future? Thanks for your comment.