The news got worse for Barack Obama Sunday: for the second time in three years he made GQ's "Least Influential List."
This time the magazine referred to him as "a very eloquent hat stand":
He can blame Republicans in Congress all he likes and get away with it because congressional Republicans are the worst. But the fact remains that I have spent the majority of this man's presidency watching bad things happen, then hearing a thoughtful speech about how we gotta make sure the bad things never happen again, and then watching as nothing gets done. Next time there's an election, I want Nate Silver to analyze the data and tell me who to vote for so that I don't end up casting my ballot for a very eloquent hat stand.
Ouch!
Back in 2011, GQ had this to say about the President when he was the 25th entrant:
Okay, so we're cheating a bit with this one. He did order the raid that wiped Osama bin Laden off the face of the earth. But then he used that surplus of political capital to let everyone in Washington stick a boot in his ass. This is a man who should be the most transformational figure of the century. Hell, he promised to be that. Instead he wields all the power of a substitute teacher at night school.
Did GQ put Obama on this list in 2012? No. Instead, the magazine named - wait for it! - Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
As this list always comes out in late November, GQ could claim it wasn't being partisan.
However, in July of last year, the magazine featured a lengthy hit piece about Romney wherein he was referred to as a "Tin Man."
Also of note, GQ admitted in 2007 that it had succumbed to pressure from the Clintons when it shelved an article it was about to run critical of Hillary.
That said, others on the 2013 list include:
- Fox News's Howard Kurtz
- CNN's John King
- NSA leaker Edward Snowden (seems an odd choice, no?)
- Lady Gaga
- Tim Tebow
- Miley Cyrus
- Pope Benedict XVI
- Justin Bieber
- Anthony Weiner
- And at number one, Dennis Rodman
(HT Weasel Zippers)
