All the weird things people have thrown at politicians

The age-old tradition of throwing things at public figures is still alive and well. Just this month the CEO of airline Qantas was hit with pie at a business conference in Australia.

As politicians and businesspeople everywhere are well aware, there's always the risk of an angry member of the public taking advantage of appearances to get in a good shot.

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Over the years — and across the globe — a diverse collection of objects have flown through the air with political leaders as the target. 

Here's a look at some of the creative projectiles unleashed at elected leaders across the globe, starting with America: land of the free, home of the flying pies and glitter.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Clinton got what appeared to be a shoe thrown at her in Las Vegas during a speaking tour in 2014. 

The former secretary of state and presidential candidate was speaking at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries when a woman chucked her footwear at the stage. The woman missed, but she was still taken into custody.

Image: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

Now that's a glitter bomb. In 2012, a University of Colorado, Boulder, student threw glitter at the then GOP presidential candidate after a speech in Denver, Colorado.

Glitter bombing is often used on politicians who are against LGBT rights and same-sex marriage. The "bomber" was cited on misdemeanor charges.

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum 

Protesters also threw glitter on the GOP candidate after the South Carolina primary in 2012. Two people yelled "Occupy!" when they threw the glitter at him.

Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich

So much glitter rained down on Gingrich at a book signing in Minnesota in 2011 with his wife, Callista. It was reported the man who dumped the glitter said, "Feel the rainbow, Newt! Stop the hate! Stop anti-gay politics!"

GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin 

The former Alaska Gov. Palin was almost hit by two tomatoes while at a book signing at the Mall of America in Minnesota in 2009.

U.S. President George W. Bush

The famous shoe incident of 2008 didn't take place on American soil, but rather in Iraq. Journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi lobbed the shoe during a press conference.

Image: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Vermont governor Jim Douglas

The governor was hit with cream pie thrown by a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume at a Fourth of July parade in Montpelier, Vermont, in 2008.

Conservative commentator Pat Buchanan

Here's a new one: salad dressing. That's what Buchanan was covered in after speaking at Western Michigan University in 2005.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

It's raining eggs. The "governator" took an egging in Long Beach, California, before a gubernatorial debate during his governor campaign in 2003.

The thrower was part of a group of young people on campus at California State University Long Beach. The Austrian actor took the egging in his stride and chalked it up to free speech.

Image: Francis Specker/EPA/REX/Shutterstock

Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader

Pie in the face — it seems inevitable during a political campaign. Nader got his turn in San Francisco in 2003 while endorsing a Green Party candidate for state governor.

U.S. President Bill Clinton

During a trip to Poland the former president was hit with a raw egg during a speaking tour in Warsaw in 2000. A 19-year-old man was arrested in the incident.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman

The moment Glickman was attacked with pie became Jon Stewart's "Moment of Zen" on Comedy Central's The Daily Show back in 2000.

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown

Activists hit the San Francisco mayor with three different pies filled with cherry, tofu and pumpkin while he spoke at street-cleaning kickoff event in 1998.

The trio of assailants said they targeted the mayor for his policies on homelessness. Part of the Biotic Baking Brigade movement, they were found guilty of battery after the case went to trial.

The UK, meanwhile, has a real fondness for eggs.

Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage

In a spectacular hit earlier in 2017, Farage took an egg to what would have been his face. Luckily he had his gaudy purple and yellow umbrella on hand.

Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

UK Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott

A protester successfully egged Prescott, with yolk and shell running down his shoulder. The deputy PM then took a couple punches to the thrower's face back in 2001.

Other countries also throw plenty of things at their elected officials

Canada — Fisheries Minister Gail Shea

 She got pie right in the face in 2010.

Italy — Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 

The PM was hit with a toy statue of a duomo (perhaps the one in Milan, since that's where he was) in 2009.

Guatemala — Vice President Roxana Baldetti 

The veep was covered in flour after giving the state of the nation speech in Guatemala City in 2014. 

Venezuela — President Nicolas Maduro 

The president was hit in the head with a mango with a message written on it when he visited Anzoategui in 2015.

Politicians, a word of advice: Duck!

Photo editing by Haley Hamblin and Lili Sams.

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