A shirtless Vladimir Putin? A birthday cake captioned "You Didn't Bake That"? A mocking reference to Vogue magazine? Warm words from Hugo Chavez? George Clooney offering to "party at my house again?" Welcome to the world of Republican birthday cards for President Barack Obama.
Obama, who turns 51 on Saturday, has joked that his birthday wish is to win Florida in November. The Republican National Committee has other ideas, and is using the occasion to raise money and enlist volunteers with a website, www.baracksbirthdaycards.com. The cards have mocking or pointed messages about everything from the sputtering economy to the collapse of clean-energy firm Solyndra.
One card, with a photo of Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein, reads "News of Your Birthday Leaked Out." On another card, a grinning, shirtless Russian President Putin says "After The Election You Are Flexible For Me. I Flex For Your Birthday." A particularly dark card reads "Mr. President. I Couldn't Afford To Get You A Gift, So Here Is The Shirt Off My Back — Unemployed."
It's no "Boehner Birthday Song."