100 OBJECTS

A History of the Campaign in 100 Objects

Photo Essay. Wednesday, November 7, 2012. By Richard Stengel

http://lightbox.time.com/2012/11/07/a-history-of-the-campaign-in-100-objects/#ixzz2Bubs5TVH

 

From Herman Cain’s cowboy hat to Stephen Colbert’s super-PAC fun pack to binders, Big Bird and bayonets, objects became the visual sound bites of the 2012 election. Perhaps because there was a dearth of ideas, politics watchers and Internet mememakers seemed to focus more on things than in any previous campaign. So we thought it only appropriate to create our version of the BBC–British Museum series A History of the World in 100 Objects to tell the story of the election. The pages that follow show the real thing: actual pieces of history, often given to us by the candidates themselves. Rick Perry lent us his Stars-and-Stripes cowboy boots, Jon Huntsman his beat-up briefcase, Rick Santorum his dog-eared pocket Constitution. Michele Bachmann sent the suit she wore on the day she won the Iowa straw poll. Saturday Night Live lent us the dentures Jason Sudeikis wears to flash Joe Biden’s smile. The president of an Ohio charity sent us a soup pot that Paul Ryan cleaned—or recleaned—during an impromptu drop-by. Congressman Darrell Issa lent us the gavel he used during the congressional hearing about security in Libya. And the Republican National Committee let us photograph the empty chair that famously shared the stage with Clint Eastwood.

Richard Stengel is the managing editor of TIME.

Democrats' Lectern

“I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy. I never have ... But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place, and I’m asking you to choose that future.”

—Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 6, 2012

Republicans' Lectern

“What is needed in our country today is not ­complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs.” —Mitt Romney, Republican National Convention, Tampa, Aug. 30, 2012

Buttons

Twitter invites candidates to boil their message down to haiku, but that is epic poetry compared with the instant message delivered by the campaign button. No issue in American politics has ever been so thorny or complex that it couldn’t be expressed on a tiny circle of metal. Health care, immigration, abortion rights, gay rights, oil drilling, the war on women—all these topics found their way onto voters’ lapels during 20 months of primary and general campaigning. Luckily for the Republican nominee, members of Dogs Against Romney don’t yet have the right to vote.

Plastic Rain Poncho

Two days before the Michigan primary, Romney stopped by the NASCAR Daytona 500 and told a group of plastic-poncho-clad fans, “I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks.”

Glitter Bomb

So-called glitterati activists targeted politicians including Gingrich, Romney, Santorum and Bachmann for their failure to stand-up for gay rights and women's rights.

Solyndra Hard Hat

The California solar-panel business became a dirty word that dogged the President throughout the campaign.

Michele Bachmann's Suit

The Minnesota Congresswoman’s first-place finish in the Iowa straw poll was the high point of her presidential campaign. She wore this Kasper suit (retail price: $240) for her speech to Republicans in Ames on Aug. 13, 2011. Bachmann dropped out of the race on Jan. 4 after coming in sixth in the Iowa caucuses.

Rick Perry's Boots

“I’m glad I had my boots on tonight, because I sure stepped in it out there,” Rick Perry said after his “Oops” moment in the Nov. 9, 2011, debate, when he couldn’t remember the names of three government departments he wanted to abolish. Rocky Carroll made this pair of ostrich-leather boots for the Texas governor in 2001. Perry chose the words freedom and liberty in honor of 9/11 victims.

Big Apple Pizza Menu

In a photo that quickly went viral, the owner of this Florida pizza shop, Scott Van Duzer, was photographed lifting President Obama off the floor in a bear hug on Sept. 9.

HPV Vaccine

Michele Bachmann earned criticism for suggesting in a television interview that “that injection” could cause “mental retardation.” The American Academy of Pediatrics responded, “There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement."

Etch-A-Sketch

Rick Santorum called Romney “the Etch A Sketch candidate."

Binders Full of Women

‘I went to a number of women’s groups and said, “Can you help us find folks?” And they brought us whole binders full of women.’—Romney, describing his efforts to recruit women when he became governor of Massachusetts.

Jesse Thorsen's Helmet

After the Iowa caucuses, veteran Jesse Thorsen, who wore this helmet while serving in Afghanistan, was reprimanded by the Army Reserve for endorsing libertarian Ron Paul while in uniform.

Godfather's Pizza Box

“When the Pillsbury Co. made me CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, I didn’t get the memo that the company was headed for bankruptcy. It wasn’t easy, but we turned the company around. Today I am announcing that I am running for President of the United States.”—Herman Cain, in his YouTube announcement video, released May 18, 2011 

Herman Cain's Hat

When Cain won the Florida straw poll on Sept. 24, 2011, “it shocked the political world,” he later told Time. “It shocked everybody.” In January he wore this hat to a Rock Me like a Herman Cain rally in Charleston, S.C.

Rick Santorum's Shale

In a speech following the Michigan primary, Rick Santorum said Big Government was suffocating the domestic energy industry and produced this piece of shale, waving it around to make his point. “This is oil,” he told the crowd. “Oil. Out of rock. Shale.” 

Big Bird

“I like PBS. I love Big Bird,” Romney said in the first debate. “But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for it.”

Do Not Euthanize Me Bracelet

Rick Santorum said that elderly people in the Netherlands wear bracelets that say “Do not euthanize me” because euthanasia accounts for 10% of deaths in Holland and half of those people are euthanized involuntarily. In fact, Santorum’s statistics were overblown and the bracelets nonexistent. A joke website was soon selling mock bracelets.

Sweater Vest

The campaign’s “official wardrobe,” according to Santorum.

The Book of Mormon

Was Romney’s faith a liability? One in five voters said they would not vote for a Mormon, but stories of his work ministering to his congregation showed a softer private side.

Super PAC Fun Pack

Comedian Stephen Colbert's do-it-yourself starter kit ($99) included an instruction manual, an Allen wrench, a T-shirt that reads “Turtles don’t like peanut butter,” a pair of tube socks, a treasure map and a small canned ham resembling Karl Rove.

Michelle Obama's Nail Polish

The First Lady wore this muted blue-gray gel polish for her speech at the DNC.

P90X DVDs

Paul Ryan’s preferred exercise regime. He even kept the workout on his iPad for use on the campaign trail.

Trayvon Martin's Skittles

Activists brandished skittles—which Martin had bought just before his death—after the 17-year-old was killed by neighborhood-watch coordinator George Zimmerman.

Official Obama Birth Certificate Mug

Obama released the long-form copy of his birth certificate at an April 2011 press conference.

Dressage Foam Finger
Ann Romney waved a self-mocking foam finger as her horse Rafalca competed for a spot in the London Olympics.
Cheesey Grits
‘Morning, y’all. Good to be with you. I got started right this morning with a biscuit and some cheesy grits. I’ll tell ya—delicious.’ —Romney at an event in Jackson, Miss.
Two-Dads Onesie
Obama became the first sitting President to support same-sex marriage, saying, ‘It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.’

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