Tasteless and Offensive? You decide.

joebananas · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 8:03 am Post subject: Tasteless and Offensive? You decide.

New Yorker's 'terrorist' Obama cover under fire
Is the liberal magazine's latest cover depicting Barack Obama as a Bin Laden sympathiser incendiary or have people just not got the joke?
July 14, 2008 5:51 AM

In a campaign in which Senator Barack Obama touching fists with his wife sparked a "controversy", the New Yorker's latest cover was never going to slip onto newsstands unnoticed.

In a satirical swipe at the crazy rumours about the presidential candidate and his wife, Michelle, the liberal magazine depicts them as terrorists in the oval office. Obama is in Muslim clothing; Michelle, in an Afro and military garb, has an AK-47 slung over he shoulder.

Naturally, the fist bumping is there, along with a portrait of Osama Bin Laden and an American flag roasting in the fireplace.

Asked about the image, Obama shrugged his shoulders. But his (and McCain's) spokespeople have made clear their disapproval, claiming most readers would judge the image "tasteless and offensive".

They may be right. Readers have declared they will abandon their subscriptions amid declarations that the cartoon, by Barry Blitt, was "gross, sick and pathetic".

The magazine's editor, David Remnick, believes the image "holds up a mirror" to the absurd and often malicious rumours that have stuck to his [Obama's] campaign. And he believes his readers are intelligent enough to get the joke.

Rather depressingly, it has been suggested that people won't understand the point of cartoon, titled "The Politics of Fear", and that the cover should have included a caption.

A caption? What would it have said? 'The New Yorker would like to inform readers that the above depiction is supposed to be funny. We don't really think Obama is a terrorist and we like Michelle's hairstyle as it is. Just in case any of you should think us unpatriotic, we remind readers that the Stars and the Stripes should be kept away from fire at all times.'

For anyone who needs a caption to get the joke, Remnick's most extensive explanation of the cover can be found in this question and answer session.

He says it "combines a number of images that have been propagated, not by everyone on the right but by some, about Obama's supposed "lack of patriotism" or his being "soft on terrorism" or the idiotic notion that somehow Michelle Obama is the second coming of the Weathermen or most violent Black Panthers. That somehow all this is going to come to the oval office."

By ridiculing these ideas about Obama, is the New Yorker helping to peel away layers of conspiratorial mud? Or, in the subconscious minds of the masses, will the image simply reinforce lingering fears about the Democratic candidate?

Skwake · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

cast my vote Cool

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Seems pretty obvious to me that it's ironic, especially given the context.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 8:41 am Post subject:

cameraboy, I think that you overestimate the general public's knowledge of what "irony" is. Laughing

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Good thing that the general public doesn't read the New Yorker then, I guess Laughing

joebananas · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

I find nothing funny about a terrorist in the Oval Office burning an American Flag.

The New Yorker is trying to warn us. we should listen.

Broccoli B · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

I don't know what kind of magazine the new yorker is, so it is hard for me to judge.

hammy · Outlaw Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 137 City: dallas-ish

I hate how McCain is all playing nice...

I want to see the candidates battle till the death Twisted Evil

edrex · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

DRAGON88, is it like rain on your wedding day? Or a black fly in your chardonnay? Very Happy

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

The new yorker is generally considered to be a very liberal publication.

Ironically, Alanis Morisette is not singing about irony so much as unfortunate coincidences.

joebananas · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 10:46 am Post subject:

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

edrex · Posted: Jul 14, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

joebananas, Laughing

Dave W · Posted: Jul 16, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

The fact that people are actually upset about this is kind of scaring me. First off, it's a liberal (flaming) publication. Second off, it's a drawing-one might even call it a cartoon! Political cartoons that are more offensive than this get drawn and printed on a daily basis in this country. Why does everyone have their panties in a twist about this one?

It's not like it's depicting the prophet Mohammed or something. Neutral

What the heck. Google Muhammed and Islam and three different spellings come up. Someone's probably going to be pissed about how I spelled it.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jul 16, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

goofyboy · Posted: Jul 17, 2008 2:34 am Post subject:

wakeboarderdave1, consider at least going to vote for one of the 3rd parties. it helps to get them on the map and with funding. just a thought.

thomas12 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 38

i think that its a funny cover

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

If you don't want to vote, go to the polls, go in, close the door, don't select anything, and open the door.

In some places, that registers and makes a statement other than that you are lazy and apathetic. That shows that you care enough to go to the polling place and say that you didn't vote becasue the choices are all crap.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jul 17, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

I like Jon Stewart's interpretation of what Obama's response should have been:

joebananas · Posted: Jul 17, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

eeven73 · Posted: Jul 17, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

this guy thinks it is a funny cartoon.