Even the pictures that had Bush Jr in them showed two real Presidents, of course President Obama being the far greater of the two.

Thank you so much! It calmed me just remembering his goodness. Plus, I had never seen most of these pictures. Seems so long ago.

It is whether the recipient of the hugs or touches welcomed them.

Too bad you couldn't introduce a wonderful collection of photos without inserting a dig at the right to control by whom, when, and how one is touched.

and grab them by the shoulders, sniff their hair, and kiss them on the top of the head?

Without permission?


Pretty sure Obama never did such a thing.

But no one being touched, to my knowledge, has raised the issue of Obama's touch being unlescome. Women touched by Biden have - which is why the discussion is an important one to have, and trivializing it or attributing it to trolls is inappropriate.

Aside from that, although asking verbally is the most certain way to be sure your touch is welcome there are also non-verbal ways to ask. Further, the more intimate the touch (approaching unexpectedly from behind (Bush & Merkel), nuzzling or sniffing hair (Biden)- as opposed to a brief hug from the front, for example) - the more important to be sure you actually have consent.

I don't assume lack of consent when I see a photo of two people touching - unless their facial features or gestures suggest discomfort, or they make a statement indicating it was non-consensual. None of those are present in the Obama photos - so there is absolutely no reason to raise that question by implication in connection with a lovely collection of Obama photos, except to pick a fight with those of us for whom, regardless of the party of the person doing the touching - believe the burden to ensure your touch is welcome lies with the person doing the touching.