The Kids Who Would Be President: When Your 2012 Candidates Were Young

slideshow

by Frances Martel | 9:40 am, August 25th, 2011

» 35 comments

During the course of a presidential campaign, the lucky few who remain competitive candidates share nearly every aspect of their lives with the American people– from how they care for their family to their views on the most personal issues. But while we get a great idea of what they would be like as leaders, it’s hard to imagine them as carefree children with no political aspirations whatsoever, or young adults who have no idea they will end up on the national spotlight.

What were they like as children, teens, young people with no particular political aspirations or responsibilities? The internet has a surprising variety of answers to this question for each candidate, all of whom grew up across the nation, from Massachusetts to Hawaii, and while it gives us little insight into how they would govern with the power of the commander in chief in their hands, it serves as a good reminder that all our candidates were once young– and adorable little critters at that. Below, a collection of photos of the candidates making headlines during this election season.

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Jon Huntsman

Among the current presidential candidates, as we have noted before, Jon Huntsman has turned his Facebook profile more than anyone else into something of a nostalgia goldmine. In this child photo-- one among many-- young Huntsman salutes the camera in a scout uniform.

Rick Perry

Once a cowboy, always a cowboy. This photo of Texas governor Rick Perry was released by his campaign-- though, alas, undated-- and depicted the frontrunner with a horse, wearing a cowboy hat in Paint Creek, Texas. Photo via Houston Chronicle

Michele Bachmann

While Rep. Michele Bachmann's yearbook photo had long been circulating on the internet, this classic was revealed by another star of the photo, her brother Gary Amble. Amble, a local weatherman with KCTV in Kansas City, agreed to an "exclusive interview" with his colleagues about what it's like to see your sister as a top-tier presidential candidate-- and shared some great memories.

Mitt Romney

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney appears here as a child in a photo published in the Boston Herald, with a caption explaining that his father, the adult in the photo, was an avid and "restless" golfer, for which Romney was a caddy.

Ron Paul

Congressman Ron Paul is one of the candidates for whom there is a far greater volume of photos from his days of yore online, but this may be the oldest one, an undated shot depicting Rep. Paul as a young teen.

Newt Gingrich

Whatever former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich looked like as a child, it appears he has done a good job of keeping it a secret. Nonetheless, this shot of Professor Gingrich and his impressive sideburns at the University of Georgia is quite a delightful relic of the era.

Herman Cain

Unfortunately, we could not find any photos of former Godfather's CEO Herman Cain as a child, either. What we did find, however, was an image from Herman Cain's high school yearbook. Yes, the presidential candidate was voted Most Likely To Succeed, which begs the question: what percentage of presidential candidates that poll outside of marginal numbers earn that distinction?

Barack Obama

And finally, the presidential candidate that gets far and away the most airtime: the incumbent, President Barack Obama. In this photo, the President wears a University of Hawaii shirt and plays baseball. It is an undated shot released by his campaign in 2008, but he looks to be around seven years old.

2012 elections, barack obama, Democrats, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, newt gingrich, Republicans, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Slideshow

Greg

My favorite is a very “Schrute” like Gingrich.
Anonymous

LOL!! I had the same thought.
Anonymous

I would have thought the main guy that to make the race would be at no1. Other than that, RON PAUL.
Anonymous

Boys will be boys.

http://yfrog.com/kjug9afj
UGAgrad

Newt Gingrich did not teach at the University of Georgia. He taught at West Georgia and Kennesaw State.
The Real Royal Emperor

On target there!
The Real Royal Emperor

Duly noted. He has been a bit extravagant in the creation of his meager academic credentials.
The Real Royal Emperor

Tollbooth Parry is always been a dandy, hasn’t he?
ObamaSux

I see that Mediaite didn’t want to post the photo of young Barry burning the American flag.
Anonymous

I wonder if 0bama threw a baseball like a girl when he was a kid, or did he grow into it?
The Real Royal Emperor

So vote for Tollbooth. He can lead us in a few cheers.
http://twitter.com/LippyBroad lippybroad

And poor Barry. He wandered around looking for a Dad to play ball with him. He’d continue to wander around as the communist puke of a “father” went around the globe impregnating how many women?

And here we are, decades later, and he’s taking out his Daddy issues on the entire country.

Fanfreakingtastic.
Anonymous

Last but least… Barry, holding onto Larry’s bat.
http://twitter.com/BusyDay2day Father Time

The lipstick won’t help with hiding the ignorance and small brain. You’ll need a big hat.
richs

In the same way that you have always done, right racist king?
Anonymous

I’LL BET THEY ALL HAD A TWO PARENT FAMILY BUT ONE,,,GUESS WHO,,,WONDERBOY
Anonymous

Royal King I get, Imperial Emperor I get, but Royal Emperor is a bit messed up isn’t it, like Imperial King would be?
http://twitter.com/Wallycrawler Wally Crawler

Except fer Obama none of these turds will ever be President!
richs

You keep putting him and President Bush down yet you lived in Texas for at least 15 years with these two as your Governor. They must have been doing something right while you have shown yourself to be an empty suit, assuming you own a suit.
Anonymous

I liked the picture of Perry what a little cutie pie and Cain looked like a smart young man who had a bright future ahead of him.
Anonymous

His grip is wrong in the picture unless that’s a cricket stance in Kenya.
dan

It’s so true, isn’t it…
Perry was flouncing about the place in government ‘vanity’ projects, otherwise known as tax-payer funded pork-barrell spending, flying non-war, non-missions around the world, after having attended a socialist institution like a tax-payer funded University. What a commie.
While, Obama attends private non-tax payer funded colleges and gets jobs in law firms and not daddy’s farm.
Boys will be boys.
dan

‘Daddy issues’ and Presidents, eh? Well, at least Obama hasn’t taken his out on taking America into a $4trillian war costing thousands of soldiers their lives.
The Real Royal Emperor

A couple of them likely had a father and a number of mothers.
Anonymous

That lipstick can’t hide the pig, dahlin’.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_D7ZXLQWAIWYID3S5BJYQEETHTQ DavidT

Hence, this is a part of the reason why baseball helmets were created!
resolute2010

All those pics are really cute, but Ron Paul was the cutest back in those good ole days.
http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

Perry’s dad surely resembles Bush Jr…. I wonder if….. Naaaaaaaawwww couldn’t be.. never mind..
http://Mediaite.com Frances Martel

Oh come now, it isn’t Michele Bachmann’s fault her dad moved to California after the divorce.
Anonymous

Cute, RRE (not!)
Anonymous

who do you think paid Obama’s way?
Anonymous

give it a rest – that’s who you want for obvious reasons – sanity will prevail.
NDanielson

Wow.
BO42012

Awww I’ve seen BO standing like that while swinging in golf, how cute. And Bachmann she’s a very beautiful woman, she was def. Blessed with the pretty gene.
Raintyday

No, your right – just more than that amount thrown down the tubes giving it away, for bribery and to make himself look good. (Which it hasn’t) If you want a babysitter for your live, try returning home instead. Cheaper and more freedom than your going to have with him as president. He needs more education on world affairs and how USA runs first!