Who's the guy in front of Sarah Palin's face in the ABC interview?

In addition to its much-touted broadcast interview with Sarah Palin, ABC News posted several excerpts from Charles Gibson's interview online, including an uncut shot of Palin in profile as the interview begins. In the TV version, this particular camera angle -- the viewer can barely see Palin's face, and her body language looks ever so slightly constricted -- is only partly used. 

But in the online version, the shot continues, and as Gibson asks Palin his first question -- Is she ready to be president? -- a distraction emerges of the kind rarely seen on network television: A tiny man outside the window appears to walk directly out from behind Palin's face and linger there for a few moments. There's an undeniable Gulliver's Travels* effect here, of a diminutive figure inspecting the great face of the governor (perhaps for lipstick?).

We here at Web Scout are wondering who this little lurking man might have been and have assembled a list of options.

Please register your vote below and/or leave other possibilities in the comments section. We will attempt to find out the correct answer from ABC Friday: Let's see if the wisdom of the crowd can predict it!

*Correction:  Sadly, I originally wrote "Robinson Crusoe" instead of "Gulliver's Travels."  Dear English teachers: please forgive me.

Comments

[Robert Danks]

This was that old beach laugh from finding the footprint of friday, then on digging it up,
was friday.

Are you americans getting beyond a pale.

Bob Danks

[Larry Clifton]

I knew yhe LA Times was green with envy over Sarah Palin's successs, but I had no idea they were focused on little green men.
A..clowns! one and all at LA Times!

[Terry Schuster]

Robinson Crusoe? How about Gulliver's Travels...

[dragonfly777]

Is this one of your more in depth and profound stories to keep the people informed of your brilliant reporting skills? Just what we need a kindergarten newspaper article. Maybe you need a sex ed class. Think you would understand it?

[RUSS BURCHAM]

For the sake of all of us -- get a job.

[basementfrog]

IF YOU'RE AN AMERICAN, THIS SHOULD REALLY PI$$ YOU OFF REGARDLESS OF PARTY

State Republicans, though, have a plan to give the McCain campaign an edge: suppress the vote.

The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP's effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.

"We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses," party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week. He said the local party wanted to make sure that proper electoral procedures were followed.

State election rules allow parties to assign "election challengers" to polls to monitor the election. In addition to observing the poll workers, these volunteers can challenge the eligibility of any voter provided they "have a good reason to believe" that the person is not eligible to vote. One allowable reason is that the person is not a "true resident of the city or township."

The Michigan Republicans' planned use of foreclosure lists is apparently an attempt to challenge ineligible voters as not being "true residents."

The scheme would, of course, disproportionately affect African-American families in the area, who are more likely to vote Democratic, and more likely to be in foreclosure as a result of sub-prime loans.

This is just part of a "comprehensive voter-challenge campaign" Michigan Republicans are launching this year, which will coordinate with the regional McCain campaign to train volunteers in challenging those who wish to vote on Election Day. (Whether the foreclosure-driven scheme will be implemented statewide is unclear.)

Asked about the GOP's efforts, Carabelli said, "I would rather not tell you all the things we are doing."

[Robert]

So LAT Focusses on "little green man".... not Palin words and facial expressions?

Trivial Entertainment not journalism!

[JudiNV]

The first frame makes me think of Alfred Hitchcock.

[antisocialist]

Good GRIEF, is the Los Angeles Times getting STOOOOOOOOOO-PIIIIIIIID!!! What an inane, assinine, asolute rag you have become!

[Mike]

The LA Times is the worst big market newspaper in the nation. This is what happens when the second largest city in the US has only one major daily paper. You call this news??

[Heather]

I think the "little" man is really Rove making sure Palin doesn't stray from the script.

[TrevorJordan]

Are you serious? This is a story? Come on, let's talk about some serious issues here. On top of that, you wrote "Robinson Cruso, when I think you mean Gulliver's Travels....?

How did this find it's way to the Google News main site?!

[Amado Castaneda]

Where's her husband when she needs him? Send him over to kick his ass, where's my tax money being spent. Send over the cop! What kind of camera is that? C'mon I need a higher-resolution picture, magnified by 10 and a police record of this annoying man. As far as I know it can be a joke about Obama going to hell and being aborted until he understands what he is allowing.

[Mr. Wilson]

There's something wrong with this picture, why they won't show her face? How can you trust what a person is saying when you can't see their eyes? Or, is it just me.

[Chris Reynolds]

Secret S always watching....is newbie wondering "where's those teeth???

[Michael S]

Seriously, this is how you guys spend your day? And you felt the need to circle the little guy in every frame you posted? Must be a real slow news day in the world of Britney/Lindsey watching, huh?

[Gene B.]

hussane obama trying to get into the picture some way...

[Edison G]

People need to WAKE UP and learn the truth about McSame's lies before we get more of the last 8 years. Rovian political tactics are alive and well and McCain is more of the same.

Watch and learn;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

[GaryD]

It's a Rick davis mini-me with cue cards

[CAM]

You gotta be #$%^ing me. Will the author please develop a web a site to solicite donations so that they may get some real training to fullfill a usefull job to society.

[Mark]

I am ashamed to be a Democrat. These are three of the most offensive comments I can ever remember from a "reputable" newspaper.

Todd Palin wearing baby bjorn
24-hour live-in obstetrician
Avon lipstick salesman

Hillary was OK because she kept within your view of the world, but now a woman is being put aside by you because she thinks differently than you would like. Do the world a favor and keep your political jabs clear of sexism. I fully expect you to follow up with the same type of list with racist comments for Obama.

[Arnold]

If News did not have some humor, who could keep reading/watching. I think the little man is a great story, to show that there is more than just Palin to focus on.

Arnold

[Chase]

He's the guy who is helping her answer the tough questions like, "If you are qualified for the job as VP, why is that "little" guy standing outside of our window giving you answers to our questions?"

[Geno]

It's THe Answer Man of course. The room is bugged, he was in a spot with bad recption, he had to move to hear the question. How else would Sarah know the answer.

Hey, they had a Wire on Bush in the '06 Debate, why not 'Mike Up' Sarah too.

[kissyface]

That's Jiminy Cricket. He's telling Palin that he quits, and not to come crying to him when she's turned into a donkey.