New Yorker ‘Obama’ cover sparks outrage
p2pnet news view | Politics:- In February, a pic of Barack Obama in traditional Kenyan robes taken during a 2006 visit caused a huge fuss.
How come?
Videos with captions such as the ‘Barack Obama In Muslim Tribal Clothing-Al Qaeda?’ started showing up on the likes of YouTube.
Now the New Yorker has a cover showing Obama dapping with a guy carrying what looks suspiciously like an AK-47, complete with bandolier. And the ‘terrorist’ is sporting camo pants and military boots.
But wait! It gets worse!
Apparently, the gunman isn’t a man!
It’s Obama’s wife, Michelle.
And that ain’t all.
There’s an American flag burning in the fireplace, over which hangs a picture of Osama bin Laden in half-face.
The Obama campaign is condemning as “tasteless and offensive” a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife,” posts Politico, going on >>>
The Obama campaign quickly condemned the rendering. Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: “The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama’s right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.”
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds quickly e-mailed: “We completely agree with the Obama campaign, it’s tasteless and offensive.”
“The New Yorker is no right-wing rag; the cover is meant to satirize the notion that Obama is all those things he has had to repeat he isn’t – Muslim, pro-terrorist, unpatriotic – capped off with the fist tap heard around the world,” says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, going on:
“The intention was innocent. Even good. But in a hypermediated world where news is routinely hacked to pieces, where content creators lose control of their work the second it hits the Web and picture and context are so easily parted, perhaps a new ethic should rule – one that considers the meaning of the parts as well as the whole.
“But that risks a dumbing down of our more complex messages. And maybe that would be ceding too much ground to fools.”
In a statement, the magazine said the cover, “combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are,” says the CBC, adding:
“The New Yorker says its is satirizing rumours about Obama —- including rumours that he’s Muslim and anti-American.
“It defended its choice, saying its readership is sophisticated enough to get the joke.
“Inside the magazine is a serious critique of Obama’s political skills by writer Ryan Lizza.”
.
.Stumble It!
huge fuss – ‘I’ve never been a Muslim’: Barack Obama, February 28, 2008
Politico – ‘Scare tactic’ – Obama slams Muslim portrayal, July 13, 2008
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – New Yorker Obama cover: The trouble with satire, July 14, 2008
CBC – Obama campaign says New Yorker cartoon goes too far, July 14, 2008
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July 14th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
My opinion on this matter believe me when I say I’m not prejudice towards a Black American President, but my opinion is this is funny I never heard of this man Barack Obama or even seen him until He was running for Office.
If he done all these things or accomplishments why was he ever on the news for doing so. A Old saying says once a crack head always a crack head.. Once a Muslim always Muslim.. Now we are at War fighting Terrorist that are Muslim I don’t think this country needs a Muslim or former Muslim running a Country fighting Terrorist.
I personally do not trust him or even want him in office. If any other Black American was running for office I would not have a problem with it as long as they were not a Muslim.. I hope I do not upset anyone’s belief in Muslim but we have to many people in the world dying from Terrorist of Muslim or Islam Faith. I look at this picture of what I think will happen. I say again this is my Opinion of what I feel and see in this picture.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
” I personally do not trust him or even want him in office. If any other Black American was running for office I would not have a problem with it as long as they were not a Muslim.. ”
Since he is, in fact, not a muslim, does that mean you don’t have problem then ?
” I say again this is my Opinion of what I feel and see in this picture. ”
Then you obviously have missed the point of the picture, clearly spelled out in the article.
The picture is INTENDED to outline the impossibility of Obama being all of those things illustrated in the picture.
It’s a parody of the ridiculous negativity of the attacks.
The bottom line is …
These things, though they are not true, give racists a reason to say they don’t support him, without
having to admit they are racist.
Fortunately, the only ones who believe the junk never were gonna vote for him anyway.
they sway noone.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
FAIL.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Oh wow, muslims == bad. Great job with the stereotypes.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Islam = evil
July 15th, 2008 at 1:26 am
i knuw it. that there blacky is a terrorist. SUE ellen! call that there new yorker and get us a nscription. Well gosh papa, theres a flag in the fire, theres a flag in that fire! Oh noes.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:27 am
heh.. i thought the war was against terrorists in iraq… not against muslims… k homies get your M16s and lets get them commies (cept them commies is dressed like muslims!)
July 15th, 2008 at 5:34 am
I thought the cartoon was funny. It’s good to know there are people in the US media still prepared to shake things up a bit. Shame on Obama for not sharing the joke.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:22 am
I think it is interesting social commentary to acknowledge that as modern as North Americans think they are, that antiquated racist thinking is alive and well.
It will be an interesting test of the United States to see how they handle this presidential candidate. The world is watching.
Note: The same “I never heard of him before now” that the first commenter said about Obama applies to most of the US presidential candidates over the years. Funny how short a memory most people have, or how unplugged from politics they largely remain.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Yeah, it’s pretty antiquated (what does time have to do with it exactly?) to acknowledge that there are different cultures and that some cultures are decadent and violent and the like. Hope you like your modernism when a tiny portion of the population commits the greatest part of the crime or when a certain religious culture comes in and rapes women everywhere. Good job with that. Who’s a modern boy? Who’s a modern boy? Yes you are!
*blech*
July 15th, 2008 at 7:59 am
If I was Obama’s campaign I would be more worried about the 19 page article IN the magazine than about the cover.
But to be fair maybe their next issue should have a cover with McCain as the Manchurian Candidate? ;o)
July 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am
This was sent to the editors of The New Yorker
I have been a life long reader of The New Yorker and a huge fan. Nowhere can one get more interesting articles – and your usually more liberal writers have made this years election all the more interesting.
Now you come out with what you obviously think is a satirical cover about all the rumors about Obama and his wife. Possibly in the old days when only people who read intelligent magazines would have been the only ones to see this cover would have “maybe” excused it as excessive.
However, in this new world of blogs and right wing media such at Fox and all the others, this cover will reach every person in the world for week after week- and just strengthen their beliefs that the rumors are true.
You should be completely ashamed of this stupidity and thoughtlessness you exhibited in permitting this cover to be published.
At the very least, I believe that you owe in to the Obama – and the entire country – to make your next cover read something like this:
THE NEW YORKER MOST DEEPLY REGRETS AND APOLOGIZES FOR THE COVER WE HAD LAST WEEK IN THIS MAGAZINE. IT WAS WRONG – IT DID GREAT DAMAGE – AND WE ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL DO EVERY THING WE CAN TO TRY TO RECTIFY THE DAMAGE WE HAVE CREATED BY THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ATTEMPT AT SATIRE !! – THE EDITORS AND STAFF OF THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE.
It is unbelievable that you could have been this dumb. Should I cancel my subscription ? Probably – but I will not do so – however, I am sure there will be thousands who do – and I may yet join them.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Good for you Robert!
I love the New Yorker and am glad that you are considering dropping your subscription. You will most certainly show the editors. All information should be spoon fed to the American public as to not arouse any dissenting opinions. Whenever I read (which is seldom) I want to read things that make me warm and fluffy inside. I want to be told what to think. I only want to hear the good things about Obama (doesn’t matter if they are true or not). Any negative press is racist. Good for you Robert you are my hero.
love
Lil’ Jimmy
July 15th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
“The people, give them a light, and they will follow it anywhere.” – Firesign Theater
July 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Indeed offensive.
No self-respecting AK-47 user would have any use for any kind of bandolier. The Kalashnikov uses magazines.