That New Yorker cartoon: The Times tells Obama to get over it
The ed board weighed in today on the New Yorker's magazine cover — and in one of those rare moments, seems to agree with conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, who told the candidate to "grow a pair." From the editorial:
Let's be frank. People sophisticated enough to read, say, newspaper editorials are smart enough to know that the New Yorker's cover art this week — portraying Barack Obama as a be-turbaned Muslim and wife Michelle as an Afro-sporting terrorist with an AK-47 across her back — is a work of satire. But what about the millions of dumb Americans who will think otherwise?
Obama's campaign is deeply worried about the legions of morons who they apparently believe make up the heart of this great nation.
But, as Swati Pandey pointed out in yesterday's round-up, not everyone agrees that the cartoon actually works as satire. Here's Pandagon's Jesse Taylor:
... it’s like holding a satirized Klan rally by holding a Klan rally...with a laser show that makes a three-story image of a burning cross. A bigger, badder, better version of the thing you’re attempting to mock doesn’t constitute mockery, it just constitutes a gaudier version of the thing you’re addressing.
What do you think?
I heard that Barack himself was upset at the cartoon.
Why?
Who get's upset at a cartoon?
Well, Muslems get upset at cartoons.
In fact radical intolerant Muslems get upset at cartoons.
Hmmmm.
http://TheJohnMcCain.com
Posted by: TheJohnMcCain | July 15, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Yawn. He's going to be the next president. Old Man McBush knows it. You know it. I know it. We all know it.
Yawn.
Posted by: John | July 15, 2008 at 11:31 AM
The first comment made about this post is the exact reason why its a bad idea retard.
Posted by: Harold | July 15, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Your spelling is as twisted as your logic.
Posted by: Sam Wilson | July 15, 2008 at 11:36 AM
The New Yorker cover isn't satire, it's outrageous. If they have a shred of decency, their next cover with one of candidate McCain shoveling money at rich people his wife boozed up beyond rationality with him recording a POW message in Vietnam.
Satire conveys messages of truth in a way that is meant to be entertaining. All the New Yorker cover does is depict Republican talking points, none of which has a shred of truth to them.
One can only imagine that the editorial board of the New Yorker was channeling the dreams of the RNC. Now we know what the magazine is REALLY all about.
After all, their logo with a monacle is exactly the kind of rich that the Republicans are so eager to destroy the country for for the rest of us.
No wonder the internet has become such a hotbed of political activity. The corporate media is just another lobbyist for the corporate cause against the people.
Shame on the New Yorker. Shame on the LA Times for defending it.
Posted by: Bill Gordon | July 15, 2008 at 11:36 AM
What a racist double standard.
When they start mocking Christians or Jews on the front cover of a national journal, then we can talk.
Until then, anyone who doesn't see the racist double standard are themselves racist.
Obama isn't a Muslim, but that's not the point. The point is that American journals feel it's OK to print images that are incredibly offensive to blacks and Arabs, and no matter what their not very clever meaning was, they simply don't have the stones to do the same wrt images of Jews or Christians... not on the covers of major journals.
Period, end of story.
Posted by: James McDouglas | July 15, 2008 at 11:37 AM
This is the NEW YORKER, a sophisticated literary magazine, not the N. Y. DAILY NEWS or even the N.Y. TIMES!!
Complaints by people who would otherwise never look at the
NEW YORKER are tantamount to over-reacting!
Would there have been the same reaction if the same cartoon, reduced in size, were on page 65 and surrounded by the continuation of a book review? I doubt it!
Posted by: James Jackson | July 15, 2008 at 11:39 AM
First, "muslem" is spelled "muslim."
Second, your statement is absurd. An offensive cartoon is offensive, regardless of the religion of the reviewed.
Guess who else was offended by the cartoon? John McCain himself.
In fact, McCain condemned the cartoon. In his own words: “I think it’s totally inappropriate, and frankly I understand if Senator Obama and his supporters would find it offensive.”
Posted by: NotJohnMcCain | July 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Opinion says:
"Obama's campaign is deeply worried about the legions of morons who they apparently believe make up the heart of this great nation".
They should worry about; what is the lesson from 2004 election? there are enough morons in this country who can believe propaganda material (swift boats and all) and can even give a second term to one of the worst presidents. So yes Obama's campaign should be worried - there might be enough morons to believe false info and elect back another republican.
Posted by: sdsd | July 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM
It is satire. There is free speech in this country to protect just this kind of thing. If you're offended by this, who cares? If you don't like it, don't like it. This isn't news.
This is just some more flag pin, fairy tale, Monica Lewinsky, RIAA lawsuit nonsense. Grow up and why don't you start reporting the true story. People are so dainty that they are willing to give away our freedom so that their feelings don't get hurt. Grow a pair.
Posted by: - Annon | July 15, 2008 at 11:41 AM
"... it’s like holding a satirized Klan rally by holding a Klan rally...with a laser show that makes a three-story image of a burning cross. A bigger, badder, better version of the thing you’re attempting to mock doesn’t constitute mockery, it just constitutes a gaudier version of the thing you’re addressing."
If David Duke was the rally's center of attention, perhaps; not MLK.
I can understand Obama's campaign worrying about fanning the flames of ignorance, but the morons willing to buy the B.S. about his religion and intentions aren't going to vote for him anyway (see comment #1 above).
Posted by: The Voice of Reason | July 15, 2008 at 11:42 AM
The cartoon was priceless as satire! BUT it just goes to show you what the Dems are made uo of. Cry baby, snivelling,finger pointing, spoiled idots that can't even accept a drawing that might have some criticism in it. How did the majority leadership of our do-nothing shameful congress get elected? If they get their way, we will lose our freedom of speech. Kudos to The New Yorker!!!
Posted by: dave in georgia | July 15, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I think its great that some one finally printed what so many people really think.
Posted by: Tom West | July 15, 2008 at 11:44 AM
No one is saying every American is a moron, but 13% of the population still believes he's a Muslim... There are a bunch of Americans who don't even know where Iraq is and still believe that Iraq was responsible for 9/11... How do you think Bush got voted in twice if not for some misinformed voters? It is what it is, and everyone knows someone who is difficult to talk to about world issues or has so many preconcieved biases that they buy into everything... we're trying to get away from this stuff, not put it out there for everyone to look at and post on their fridge if they like the art... yeah it's satire, but it hits home... if there was no explanation given, I would think they were trying to promote this line of thinking, not make fun of it.
Posted by: tosher | July 15, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Tittering at a cocktail party about the lack of "a pair" for Obama's objection to the cartoon is sooooo far removed from the ignorance of a portion of our electorate.
Informed readers realize 30% of our fair citizens already believe Obama is/was a Muslim...
The cartoon was at best unfortunate, at middle elitist and at worst ignorant.
It is an easy joke any semi-informed, ironic commentator could have made.
...and perhaps quoting sage "Mishrill" Malkin is an indicator of this paper's leaning...
What could Obama really do???
Posted by: Wayne | July 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
So 48% of Americans are either humor impaired or such idiots that they can't tell satire from reality. Not surprising considering how many people believe Stephen Colbert is a real journalist.
Inspiring that... NOT!
Posted by: vladimir_dt | July 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
If he can't take this kind of stuff now how in the world will he be able to handle being president! It only gets worse from here. Get over it.
Posted by: Marsha | July 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Who cares, the New Yorker portrayed him exactly as he is. If he cannot deal with the truth, get out. Don't need him anyway, as he will be a detriment to this country.
Posted by: A True Republican | July 15, 2008 at 11:47 AM
While I can deal with this satire, my problem with it is that there are enough stupid and ignorant Americans who believe it is true and that Obama would actually hang a picture of bin Laden in the White House and that he is Muslim. There's enough innuendo being passed around by Republicans and other anti-Obomaites that he is Muslim (see Cheney's innuendo's that the 9/11 hijackers were Iraqi's for further description of innuendo).
Posted by: Mike from NYC | July 15, 2008 at 11:47 AM
The knucklehead commenting above is why this Obama cartoon is misunderstood or taken the way some who need to believe that he is secretly a mad extremist Moslem.
unfortunatley I get these types of far right driven propaganda, associating Obama with terrorist extremist forwarded to me far to often and from seemingly inteligent people say things like "it does make you wonder".
Posted by: sc | July 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM
".. it’s like holding a satirized Klan rally by holding a Klan rally...with a laser show that makes a three-story image of a burning cross. A bigger, badder, better version of the thing you’re attempting to mock doesn’t constitute mockery, it just constitutes a gaudier version of the thing you’re addressing. "
i can't think of a better way to say it
Posted by: Monty | July 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Yup... looking at the poll results...
"is a work of satire. But what about the millions of dumb Americans who will think otherwise?"
Those millions must really exist, take it seriously, and be voting in this poll. Sad.
Posted by: rinauldi | July 15, 2008 at 11:49 AM
"In fact radical intolerant Muslems get upset at cartoons" Wow, you can't even spell Muslim. I guess under Bush/McCain you would qualified to be a mid-east Ambassador. Get a clue you moron.
Posted by: TheJohnMcAreYouEffenJoking | July 15, 2008 at 11:49 AM
It is OK for the media to make fun of every one else. Why is Obama "so special" he should be exempt???
Posted by: sharon pierce | July 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I see TheJohnMcCain is doing his smear campaign again. Senator Obama is a Christian, and it is just disgraceful that TheJohnMcCain is suggesting otherwise.
Posted by: NotJohnMcCain | July 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM