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Pantsuits, hoops and ballot sussing: Election Day snippets
Washington, United States | AFP |
Social media jokes about Donald Trump “peeking” at his wife’s ballot, Obama shoots hoops and the “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits” is revived.
Here are some snippets from around the United States on Election Day.
Sneak peek
Donald Trump’s day did not start as well as he might have planned.
As he went to cast his ballot, The Donald’s fellow New Yorkers were characteristically warmhearted, greeting him with shouts of “New York hates you!”
When Trump was caught on camera seemingly taking a peek over the voting machine’s blinder at his wife Melania’s ballot, it would invite more mocking and launch the umpteenth social media election meme of 2016.
“Donald Trump doesn’t even trust Melania to vote for him” joked @cafedotcom.
When a similar image emerged of Eric Trump stealing a glance toward his own wife Lara Yunaska @JuddLegum tweeted “Like father, like son.”
We’ve all been there. pic.twitter.com/9rKQIh7Y18
— CAFE (@cafedotcom) November 8, 2016
Donald Trump doesn’t even trust Melania to vote for him. (by @ToddDracula) pic.twitter.com/GVMyNGJyUv
— CAFE (@cafedotcom) November 8, 2016
‘Pantsuit Nation’
Hillary Clinton’s emergence as the first woman to represent a major party in the White House race has given the humble pantsuit another moment in the sun.
In 2008, after losing the party nomination she thanked “my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits.” Since then it seems the movement had not gone away but gone underground.
A secret Facebook group called “Pantsuit Nation” began as 50 Hillary Clinton supporters who decided to wear the outfit to the polls to show their support for the Democratic nominee.
It now has 2.2 million members and counting.
The much-maligned garb has been made a quirky symbol for the former secretary of state, first lady and senator.
Beyonce traded her usual curve-hugging costumes for a pantsuit when she performed at a Clinton rally in Cleveland on Friday.
‘Don’t stand still, vote’
For much of the campaign Hillary Clinton has fought of suggestions her demeanor is a bit too rigid.
Her campaign fought back on the eve of the election by turning the nominee, her entire traveling team, former president Bill Clinton and Jon Bon Jovi into “mannequins.”
Harnessing a social media craze, the Clinton camp sent a roving videographer through her campaign plane among statue-still staff members.
The #MannequinChallenge had already been taken up by American football teams, entire schools full of students.
10 groups of people who absolutely NAILED the #MannequinChallenge https://t.co/pCF6NYGxrG pic.twitter.com/XmyRciY2ID
— HuffPostUK Lifestyle (@HuffPoLifestyle) November 8, 2016
Don’t stand still. Vote today: https://t.co/jfd3CXLD1s #ElectionDay #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/4KAv2zu0rd
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 8, 2016
Say it with a song
Shock rocker Marilyn Manson marked Election Day by releasing a graphic video that portrays the execution of a character resembling Donald Trump.
“SAY10,” the title track off the Goth artist’s upcoming album, shows Manson sitting on a throne and tearing out pages of a Bible before beheading the bushy-haired man in a suit.
Manson is known for his provocative gestures and for dabbling in the occult but has rarely been overtly political.
His video comes after a campaign in which a slew of top artists including Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen performed for Hillary Clinton, with none advocating violence against Trump.
Selfie nation
No public event, no notable occasion in modern life would be complete without a photographical self-portrait.
That includes ballot-casting selfies, except if you live in a US state where it is legally dubious.
A potpourri of election laws seem to proscribe the activity in some states but not in others. Some legal experts say the activity may be covered by the first amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing free speech.
Voters appeared unsurprisingly confused on Election Day, and at least one ran into trouble.
After Eric Trump posted a picture of his ballot paper Democratic activists lodged a complaint with the New York State Board of Elections.
Shooting hoops
Is the US election a slam dunk? It is for Barack Obama, who early on Election Day took part in a ritual game of basketball as Americans flocked to the polls.
In keeping with a 2008 and 2012 tradition, Obama hit the court with friends.
At 55 years old and after eight grueling years in the White House, Obama is more likely to be chipping a wedge shot than taking a free throw these days.
But at least there was no repeat of 2010, when he needed 12 stitches after “being inadvertently hit with an opposing player’s elbow in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family.”
