President Beefcake? "Pec-tacular?" D.C. magazine to feature shirtless Obama

By GottaLaff

Obama? Topless? Gasp! What will the righties say? "Weak" sure won't work... not this time:

In the throes of an economic crisis and two wars, does the nation want more headlines about a "Pec-tacular" “Buff Bam”?

President Obama appears shirtless in a bathing suit on the cover of May issue of The Washingtonian magazine. The magazine's excuse? The pec pic illustrates the #2 reason (out of 26) to love living in the nation’s capital: “Our New Neighbor is Hot.” [...]

Garrett Graff, editor-at-large at The Washingtonian, told ABC News the idea for the cover came during a discussion among the magazine’s staff about how, with the arrival of the Obamas, came a “celebrity aspect that has brought energy to the city and the attention of the paparazzi.”

“The Obamas are the center of attention here and the whole world is looking to Washington now in a way we haven’t seen in years,” Graff said, calling it “a real golden age of Washington.” [...]

“It’s a unique time in Washington and this photo helps capture all of the reasons why,” Graff said. “It’s not a normal way to look at a president of the United States but this is not a normal president.”

Graff said the magazine used the photo to illustrate two things: first, the president himself is hot – “you have a buff president and the paparazzi like taking shirtless photos of him,” Graff said – and second, the Obamas’ presence in Washington is “really hot.”

Hot and hotter. Do go on, I'm all ears... and eyes. Oh, and can someone please splash me with some cold water:

Graff said the magazine did not check with the White House before publishing and has not heard anything in response, but noted that the magazine does not hit newsstands until Wednesday. [...]

Obama has been captured shirtless before – from previous Hawaii vacations – and television networks, including ABC News, showed those images on-air during the presidential campaign.

Media critics, who have attacked reporters for coverage of the president’s dog, Bo, and the first lady’s penchant for wearing sleeveless dresses, now have more fodder for the week.

I don't have a doubt in my mind that they'll have a field day. So will we, but for different reasons... wink. But you know how the Rushpublics hate Prez O's popularity. If that cover doesn't raise a few... er, poll numbers, I don't know what will.

Somehow I think President Obama can handle the, um, heat, as long as he doesn't make the egregious mistake of smiling at anyone else. He might not be able to talk America down from another unpalatable, unpatriotic, Marxist act like that.

But appearing shirtless again? Pfft. Piece-o'-cheesecake.

H/t: Dr. President