Image: winner of the Second Life “best boobs” contest 2007, Keumjoo Ahn.

Noticed in the MSM headlines this week that Newt Gingrich is parroting the current Republican party line that Hilary is the “one to beat” — and considering what happened in Gingrich’s recent Second Life appearance, the double entendres are flying around my head like human-animal hybrids in SL. To say the least, being “accosted” by nekkid girls and black cats in Obama t-shirts was probably not what the conservative politician expected in his live visit. Or maybe it was the *real* reason he visited SL (as himself, anyway). Too bad protesters were limited to *five* (according to the article). Snip:

A funny thing happened when Newt Gingrich visited Second Life. The first thing he saw was “a lovely young digital lady” - who was completely naked!

“This is the new technology of the 21st century,” Gingrich told the audience later - though he was referring to online political forums. But the truth turned out to be much more complicated…

As Gingrich spoke, he endured some “cyber-heckling,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “A small group of protesters gathered in the neighboring sims,” reports the Second Life News Network, “and shouts could be heard during the press conference.” In an online video, CNN notes that Gingrich’s Second Life audience included “sundry protesters - and people generally flying around.” And in the front row of Gingrich’s audience sat a giant cat wearing a Barack Obama t-shirt.

“I had heard that it went smoothly - well, by SL standards,” said one Second Life user.

Link (thanks, El!)

Update: Now reports are saying that there was no nudity at all, as told by David Cassel in Fighting Nudity in Second Life. It’s well worth a read; the digital-organic politics and tactics around preserving the so-called dignity of conservative politicians like Gingrich is fascinating.