Over on the other side of the pond...down under...

Jughead · December 13th, 2007, 07:10 AM

Australians are arguing if this politician is wearing underwear in a newspaper's front-page pic....All I have to say is thank God this wasn't Hillary!

Quote:

Is this Maxine's 'Sharon Stone' moment?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caberrra Times front page

December 13, 2007 - 4:46PM

Canberra Times editor Mark Baker has defended his newspaper's decision to publish a revealing front-page photograph of Labor MP Maxine McKew in a short dress.

The broadsheet received complaints from readers today after it ran the image of Ms McKew talking animatedly to former prime minister John Howard at a function to officially declare her the winner in the Sydney seat of Bennelong.

The front-on photograph shows Ms McKew sitting alongside Mr Howard and, while it does not display anything inappropriate, suggests she may not be wearing underwear.

Online news site Crikey branded the photo Ms McKew's "Sharon Stone moment", a reference to the infamous scene from Basic Instinct.
Mr Baker today expressed regret to any readers who had been offended by the image, while defending it as a "tremendous picture".
"It didn't occur to me that people would have a problem with the issue of the dress," he told AAP.

"It's been an extraordinary response from people."

By mid afternoon today the newspaper had received between 15 and 20 complaints about the image, he said.

There were also calls to talkback radio in Canberra.

Mr Baker insisted it was his decision to run the photo and it had not occurred to him some readers would find it offensive.

"There's nothing immodest or undignified about it," he said.

"You can see a little bit more of Maxine's legs but there's nothing more than that.

"To the extent that some people could be offended, I regret that - by no means do we ever set out to offend people."

Some people who thought the image inappropriate were imagining more than was actually there, Mr Baker said.

Late today, Mr Baker sent an email to Canberra Times staff defending his decision to publish the picture.

"The picture showed a glimpse of leg up Maxine's skirt (no more than mid thigh)," the email said.

"It was not obscene. It was not voyeuristic. Those suggesting the picture shows more have vivid imaginations."

The Age newspaper in Melbourne used the same photograph but cropped it differently, avoiding the problem.

Ms McKew could not be reached for comment today and her office was unsure if she had seen the picture.