Blogs fired up over New Yorker’s Obama cover
Depicting the Democratic frontrunner as a flag-burning, Osama bin Laden devotee won The New Yorker few fans.
The July 21, 2008 cover of The New Yorker illustrated a view of Barack Obama that looks like it was designed by a dream team of Republican interests. Except that even John McCain’s camp, he of the Iranian cigarette joke, agreed with Obama’s campaign that the cover was tasteless and offensive.
Barack in what’s presumably Muslim wear, Michelle toting an assault rifle, the kids nowhere in sight (perhaps receiving anti-American tutelage at that moment), it’s just satire from the New Yorker’s point of view, a visual amalgamation of the perception Obama’s political foes wish to encourage.
“Is the liberal magazine’s latest cover depicting Barack Obama as a Bin Laden sympathiser incendiary or have people just not got the joke?” the Guardian’s deadlineUSA blog asked. “Scare tactic,” said Politico of the attention-getting stunt.
The real lesson may be not to judge this month’s New Yorker by its cover. The magazine hit newsstands today, with the cover leading into an 18-page look at Gothamist called “Obama’s sharp-elbowed rise through the Chicago Democratic political machine.”
I loved this cover. The Obamas don’t like it because the truth hurts. I think alot of people do view them this way, especially Michelle.
It’s not truth begin displayed, it’s a portrait of ignorance just like the New Yorker intended it to be. The problem is that people who actually believe this kind of garbage about the Obamas won’t get the joke. They will think the New Yorker agrees with them. They are so oblivious that they won’t see the cover for what it really is, a look at their stupid ideas on paper to show how ridiculous it looks.
I agree with you completely. It is a great satire and I just hope it doesn’t hurt his image too badly. What a shame if a clever piece of art work were to be his “swift boat”…
More education, PLEASE! Before commenting.
The picture is not offensive is is funny if you are an educated individual. It is just the left wing idiots trying to fuel the fires of latinos and uninformed whites in america. There is a amazing number of people that are truly uneffected by the cover, and that will show in the Nov. election. I am one of the few black americas that still believes that white america will do what ever it takes to keep a black person out of the white house unless they are servant, or an associate by default.
I FEEL THAT THE PICTURE IS ACCURATE, IN A COMICAL WAY!!!
The fact that Mrs. Obama said that she was truly proud to be an american for the 1st time, was totally misconstrued. During the marchs on DC and the boycotts there were many white americans that were not proud of america because its treatment of blacks. Eileen if you had lived in the old south and had seen people Lynched for fun would you have been proud, when you simply hear about that horrible past in America are you proud in that instant? Some people were absolutely disgusted about things that have taken place here in America, and today are very much against our foreign policies, and some people want to change that. People should check out some history and look at our policies and you will understand the place you live in. Michelle did not say she hated America or that she did not believe in America.
I admire New Yorker magazine for revealing Obama and his wife’s believes. Hope this will sound the alarm for those who are decided to vote for the most liberal senator in US senate.
The saddest part to this whole issue of racisim both behind closed
doors and in the media. Is that it truly is irritating when the victims
are treated like the instigators and the instigators act as if it is
simply “fair game”. Here’s something to think about for the white
family. If you call a person of color by the closed door names you use
everyday, and your young child picks up on it why do you immediately
dismiss the child’s recital as “something he/she picked up from kids in
the neighborhood”?
You all seems to cling to one of the corner stones of this nation (free
speech) until your true bigotry is brought to light. Yet at the same
time when a MAN who is the epitome of this country is about to be
president, the narrow minded bigoted, and racist motivated comments are
“freedom of speech,why if blacks say it can’t a white…..,don’t say
anything about Obama or you’re a racist” comments fill the air?
The beauty of Obama’s race for the presidency is that all the closet
racist, fear mongering, hateful people who spout false, misleading
comments. Forgot one thing in this election, MATH.
Simple math, Sociology, and US Census is why Obama will be president.
The math of US Census: The total population of blacks in the US is
between 12-15 percent (33,770,952 approx) . Of that percentage you
would be lucky to muster 70%(23,639,667) that will cast a vote even if
the cadidate of choice IS A BLACK man.
From that 70% you will find that a portion, (to appease the hardened
closet bigots) about 15 to 20percent (18%=4,255,140) that would vote
for the another candidate (ie,Clinton or McCain). Leaving Obama a grand
total of the African-American,Black vote of roughly 19,384,526. IF IT
WERE A PERFECT TURNOUT OF ELIGIBLE AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTING.
Math & Sociology: MOST people in this country have finally begun to
realize that the right wing is simply disconnected from ordinary
people. That math adds up like this: US total population 281,424,603.
Based on the latest polls and a 70% turn out for the general
election(196,997,222) minus the earlier African-American vote for
Obama(19,384,526). The election if it were held today would go this way
with only the white, hispanic, & other ethnic groups.
Obama 48% (85,254,095)
McCain 42% (74,597,332)
The right constantly sound off about love of country and love “serving
their country”. If these same people who profess to love this country
were to look without the clouded self serving, manipulative guise with
which they try to demonize Obama, they would be some of the first to
admit this country has been a** backwards every since Bush took office.
Instead the right wing would have the lesser brain functioning
population believe that a massive number of “them” are turning “our
country over to “someone we don’t know anything about and has a funny
name” What does it say about the TRUE AMERICANS who have decided that
life with your head in the sand, antiquated stereotypical thoughts have
run their course in our country? It says that as all historical events
have happened in our great country, we are again on the verge of
another historic step. We are ONE country of MANY faiths, and
backgrounds. The majority in AMERICA DOES have a voice over our
direction and the right, who believe it is their birthright, or their
ancestors gave them superior entitlement can no longer fan the fire of
hate and fear.
Whatever the meaning for the New Yorker cover the feeling of those
that believe we are capable of better and we are ready to be BETTER,
fear will not sidetrack the desire of so many based on the hatred and
misguided manipulations of the greedy few.
That was a great deal of typing, but freedom of speech and the press are the foundation of this country, distasteful or not. I ahve seen an awful lot of people protecting Obama, but
he is running for president. Being Black has and should have nothing to do with a position of this importance. Personally, McCain and Obama have to be two of the worst candidates
this country has ever put up for president, excluding George Bush of course.
Whether they are the best or the worst, it speaks to the level of those that did not reach this point in the process given the past candidates.
I would shutter to think of where we would be, if those that lost to these two candidates were where they are now. As a gentleman, I will concede the process will never appease the whole. At the same time one or more segments of the population will feel somehow slighted or misrepresented. Those who support these two candidates will at times exude arrogance and lack of respect for the candidate(s)that did not reach this point. Which will continue to fuel the debate, but the subtle undertones of bigotry should not be “fair game” to any supporting group.
This cover is an example of how covert racism hangs as a shadow over the United States. As an educated woman and a former English teacher I find this offensive and tasteless. It crosses a boundary that should not be crossed. I liken it to putting president Bush on the cover with a KKK hood on his head. That would be inappropriate and I am appalled that such a well respected literary magazine would cross this line. I will participate in the boycott that Councilman Parks is calling for and encourage my friends to do the same!
Obama’s behavior throughout his campaign has smacked of MENDACITY and ARROGANCE. Notable examples of this were NAFTAgate and BITTERgate. When Obama tried to swiftly repair his damaged reputation because of BITTERgate, he cruely mocked Hillary by saying the following: “Who does she think she is, Annie Oakley? Ha, Ha, Ha! Yah, that’s who she thinks she is, Annie Oakley! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!”. This exhorted his rally audience to join in with their deriding and grossly insulting laughter.
Now when the NAIVE Obama is the object of the cover cartoon, he goes off like a matchstick on a hot pavement! Obama has no right to stifle freedom of the press!!
If he can’t stand the heat, he should stay out of the kitchen!!
Obama can’t have it both ways just because he is Black. When Bill said Obama’s claim that he was always opposed to Iraq Strategy is a “Fairy Tale”, his supporters, including his wife sounded off with acid comments tantramount to calling Bill a racist by deliberately misconstuing what Bill said. This led to over 90% of Black votes in South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, Philly, etc., going to the undeserving, naive, inept Obama. McCain will easily make a better President than Obama, and as I am an avid supporter of Hillary, McCain has my vote in November without any question whatsoever.
Read your history books again.
Wow! I’ve alwasys like the New Yorker, but this is a little to tacky and underhanded for me. I’d expect something like this from a rag. They just lost a customer.
Only stupid unintelligent people view them this way.
A political cartoon like any other joke, works
when most of the audience can laugh at it. You
should never have to explain, or even worse justify your cartoons. That would say that you’re not getting your point across whatever it is.
Yes you should vote for Mc Cain! After all his policies are so close to Hillary’s. Yeah right! You just got you feeling hurt because the old girl did’t win. You obviously were concerned about her policies since they were so close to Obama’s. You girl is a Democrat so you will be voting against her policies as well. DUH!!!!!
This is not as such a wake-up of how a majority of African American think most of America views them as. Not withstanding how and what they think of the Obama family I applaud them for the boldness of displaying their fear masqueraded as satire, in the realization that, someone from another ethnic background is empowered and no longer afraid.
I fine The New Yorker’s cover satire of the Obamas as offensive and depict a very narrow perception open to continue interpretative character assignation. It’s a double canon. I comprehend the point The New Yorker was trying to make, but at the same time it’s adding fuel to an already explosive topic. Unfortunately, many people will only look at the cover and not read the article to fully comprehend the cover’s satire, which leaves the picture as being its only source for interpretation. I cannot help but think perhaps The New Yorker has its own personal agenda to promote such propaganda. This is extremely unfair to the presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee.
Some of your comments remind me the reaction of Muslims to Mohammad’s cartoon in Danish newspaper.
Truth hurts. This is what most Americans view Obama and his wife.
This was absolutely tasteless and I will never read the New Yorker again. This was a horrible example of an abuse of the 1st amendment! First, most Americans aren’t educated so to use that as a retort was both sameful and bone headed. I am just plain outraged and if I met the artist on the street I would give him a black eye. New Yorker you suck and I hope for the downfall of your publication
One last thing… I don’t care for George Bush, but the media has pounded on him in every possible way. From cartoons to video.
I have not witnessed the type of public outrage that I have witnessed where Obama is concerned. The man is running for PRESIDENT. The rules are still the same, the job is difficult and
there will always be those who will make jokes in many forms by about those that hold the position. Obama supporters please grow up and stop making every thing a racial issue where Obama is concerned. He is running for PRESIDENT and he the toughness of his skin is far more important then the color of it. God help us!
First of all this isn’t racial it’s just plain tacky. Let’s see if next week there is a cover with McCaing touturing people and Cindy with a beer hanging out of a race car.
Dave L. While the core of your comments are true. I find the parallel a little more than apples and oranges. The sole purpose of a cartoon of this type is to feel into the fear and hatred the less educated hold for a candidate that “is different”. Show me a cartoon of Bush on ANY magazine cover with a KKK sheet, hood & a picture in the background depicting his respect for Hitler or David Duke, then your total point is made. I’m in no way saying that Obama is immune to jokes and satire, but there is a limit to which it is satire and it turns to subtle, overt racism. Sometimes the obvious IS in fact REALITY.
America is fighting a ‘War on Terrorism’ presently, on more than one front. To depict the next possible president as the enemy and call it good humor is as questionable as depicting the leader of the country during WW2 as a uniformed, arms bearing, brush-moustached Nazi spy in the Oval Office.It is especially inappropriate when so many young men (9 recently) are dying for the cause. It is no joke, for the latter reason.
To add to what I said earlier, from the volume
e-mails I’ve seen so far, the folks at the New Yorker should probably work on their humor a little more. Angry folks tend to drop subscriptions rather than start them.
WOW! I am so impressed by all those who want to boycott the New Yorker. That cover is really going to impact the future of the country.You should have so much rage in you about the price of gasoline and try boycotting a different oil company each month. Since our senior citizens will be choosing between oil and food this winter. What a nation of morons who seem to prefix every comment with “I am an educated…” Just another living testimony to how education has been failing this country for decades! Ignore the cover and get outraged about something more meaningful. Those who want to believe he is a muslim will and those that do not won’t, but the cover is certainly not going to suddenly change anyone’s opinion. Besides, everyone knows the New Yorker does many satire covers. Give it a break and make a real difference!
I have enough rage for all of them.
Oh Come On…It is humor for heavens sames…I laughed.
The problem is that people who actually believe this kind of garbage about the Obamas won’t get the joke. They will think the New Yorker agrees with them.
The wingnuts who believe this kind of garbage don’t read the New Yorker.
Are people really arguing for a “lowest-common-denominator” political discourse? Sounds like.
RACIST America!
SATIRE or SIMILE - “THE MAILMAN PAID THE NEW YORKER!”
“My little nephew came to me and he said, ‘Uncle, what’s the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?’” Mac said. “I said, I don’t know, but I said, ‘Go upstairs and ask your mother if she’d make love to the mailman for $50,000.’”
Bernie, was it a premonition or coincidental? What a way to let ‘em have it! Who’s laughing now? LOL …jokes on you New Yorker! LOL
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