The presidential campaign—well, one in particular—has introduced a new greeting to the political world: the fist pound (also known as
dap
). Last night, we saw perhaps the most high-profile pound of all time, as Michelle and Barack Obama bumped fists on national television before he took the stage. (Video
here
.)
What’s hilarious is watching the formal, AP Stylebook -loving media trying to figure out what to call it. In an article about Obama’s body man Reggie Love, the New York Times called Love’s preferred greeting a ” closed-fisted high-five .” Last night produced other assorted references:
“Taking a fist-pound from wife Michelle, Obama stepped to the podium Tuesday”— MTV.com
“Michelle Obama (L) gives her husband, Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator Barack Obama, a knuckle-bump as a sign of support before he speaks to supporters.”— Monsters and Critics
“At 09:09:27 Central Time, Michelle Obama gave Barack Obama a pound in St. Paul, Minnesota.”— Lola New York
“I never realized how romantic and respectful and mutually appreciative and loving a frat-tastic fist bump could be. Could it be the new peck-on-the-cheek?”— The Frisky
“… Obama, who was joined on stage by his wife Michelle, with whom he shared a celebratory fist-bump .”— Reuters
“Obama, began with a loving fist to fist thumbs up with Michelle.”— Capitol Hill Blue
“Michelle is not as ‘refined’ as Obama at hiding her TRUE feelings about America—etc. Her ‘Hezbollah’ style fist-jabbing …”— Commenter, Human Events*
“I loved that moment, when they touched their hands together like that .” –Commenter, bjkeefe
*Correction, June 10 2:40 p.m.: This article originally linked to Human Events without specifying that it was a commenter who made the ” ‘Hezbollah’ style fist-jabbing” remark, not the columnist Cal Thomas, whose article was linked.
