Posted by Meagan of The Gaffe Watch:
The cover of the New Yorker is causing such a scandal that it is important that we take a look at some reactions, aftermath posturing, and “bigger-picture” examinations.
- Jeff Fecke of Blog of the Moderate Left and Shakesville expressed outrage not at the content of the satirical image, but at the context in which it is being publicly displayed.
- The artist of the questionable artwork was interviewed by the Huffington Post, in which he defends his piece.
- Michelle Malkin advises Barack Obama to “grow a pair” .
- Atrios of Eschaton correctly notes that the cover could also easily “be run on the National Review”.
- Jill at Feministe is simply stunned.
- Joe Gandelman of The Moderate Voice provides us with a pointed list of the ensuing mayhem that the New Yorker hath wrought: “It is not labeled as satire on the cover so anyone looking at the magazine — ignoring the old axiom that “assume” makes an “ass” of “u and me” — might assume that the piece inside deals with the aspects the cartoon shows.”
- As always, Memeorandum will self-aggragate with the latest discussions in the blogosphere.
I personally agree that, absent sufficient context, this cover artwork is reprehensible and I call for its removal immediately. The lack of text present does not serve to differentiate this as satire. This is quite a bit different than Stephen Colbert condescendingly agreeing with Bill O’Reilly.
What do you think? How do you think this will play out? Will this, as some liberal and moderate bloggers have opined, become fodder for the right’s habitual fearmongering? Will we begin to see this distributed sans context in jingoistic chain emails designed to appeal to America’s fear of African-Americans and Muslisms? Will Bill O’Reilly proclaim something to the effect that if even the liberal New Yorker thinks the Obamas are radical America-haters, it must be true? Let’s hope not. But I haven’t much faith. We’ll continue to cover the aftermath in the meanwhile.
17 Comments, Comment or Ping
Avrom
I dunno.
I mean, I have *practical* concerns–that like any satire, the number of idiots who will take this literally, and actually believe the content that it’s depicting ironically, is high enough to cause problems. For that reason, I wish that Remnick and the New Yorker had been a bit more circumspect. (Of course, I could even say that about Colbert as well–note that he *was* invited as a speaker at a Republican event, presumably by people who completely failed to get that he was a satirist.)
But can I *really* look at that picture and doubt, even for a moment, that it was intended to satirize, rather than convey, a conspiracy theory? No, I can’t. I mean, come on. You can’t really lay it on much thicker than that cover does. Some people seem to be doubting that the picture was intended as pure satire (or that it was intended as pure satire of the right-wingers, rather than Obama), and I really can’t help but shake my head at the notion.
Jul 14th, 2008
rikyrah
How will it play out?
Not well.
Jul 14th, 2008
cinco
It’s unacceptable. Someone needs to be reprimanded for thinking that it was ok to make this type of mockery/satire of a presidential candidate. I find it offensive as an American, as an African American, and as a woman. I think that to imply beliefs/representations in a cartoon that are not factual is inappropriate. Unfortunately, there will always be a few individuals that are in the position to influence a multitude…
Jul 14th, 2008
Lynne
As has been pointed out by others, if that image had been in a bubble over the heads of Klannity, O’Lielly and Limbarf, then it would truly have made the point that the editor of The New Yorker is now making the media rounds to explain.
Jul 14th, 2008
DROCK
Ok, next will be a picture of Obama holding a 40 oz and smoking weed, Michelle will have a head scarf on with pink rolls peeking out, and both young daughters will have round pregnant bellies. Don’t forget the plate of fried chicken and watermelon sitting on the kitchen table that their pet pit-bull Tupac is eyeballing…Wonder what magazine will have this image on their cover first…(did I miss anything)
Jul 14th, 2008
prophetess1953
FIRST OF ALL I AM NEW TO THE INTERNET SO PLEASE MY PUNCTUATION JUST READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY YES WE ARE UPSET BUT WHAT CAN WE EXSPECT EVERY ONE SEEMS TO BE OUT TO GET BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AND YES I SAID HIS MIDDLE NAME AND NOT ASHAMED TO SAY IT THATS HIS BIRTH GIVEN NAME IS IT NOT I AM A WOMEN A BLACK AND A CHRISTIAN AND I WALK IN THE OFFICE OF APOSTLE AND WHEN I SAW THE PICTURE OF THE OBAMAS I SIT AND I CRIED AND I SAID LORD I HATE HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT I SAID LORD I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEND AND NOW LOOK I SAID WHERE ARE YOU AT OPRAH WINFREY BECAUSE WHEN OPRAH ENDORSED BARACK ON TV I SCREAMED AT THE TELEVISION OPRAH YOU GOING TO GET HIM HURT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEIR IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT WHITE FOLKS ARE GOING TO LET THIS BLACK MAN BE PRESIDENT AND I TURNED THE STATION NOW THAT WAS A YEAR AGO BUT NOW LOOK AT GOD BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS THE FRONT RUNNER AND HE IS RUNNING LIKE NO TOMORROW HE HAS SOARED ABOVE AND BEYOND ANY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE AND IF THATS NOT ENOUGH HE IS ON THE CROSS AND NO HE IS NOT JESUS SO SHED A TEAR FOR THIS YOUNG BLACK MAN WHO IS BEING CRUCIFIED FROM ALL DIRECTIONS AND IF THATS NOT ENOUGH SOME OF OUR OWN PEOPLE WILL COME ON TELEVISION WILL TAKE THE WHIP FROM THE WHITE MAN AND WHITE WOMEN AND WHIP HIM AS WELL SO NOW GOD HAS ME AS A WATCHMAN AND I HAVE TO WATCH EVERYTHING FROM FOX NEWS TO HILLARY TO PUMA BECAUSE I WILL DO WHAT I CAN ON MY PART TO MAKE SURE THAT NO HARM OR DANGER COMES TO THIS YOUNG MAN BECAUSE AS WOMEN WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE NURTURER BUT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED WE ARE NOT ON OUR POST AS WE SHOULD BE SO WOMEN I CHALLENGE YOU TO GET ON YOUR POST AND REMAIN UNTIL THERE UNTIL GOD SAYS OTHERWISE LETS PUSH THIS YOUNG MAN AND WHEN WE SEE THE STRONG ATTACKS AIMED AT HIM WE SAY KEEP PRESSING BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA BECAUSE KEEP PRESSING BECAUSE GOD SAYS ALL IS WELL ALL IS AND YOU WIIL CONTINUE TO MOUNT UP AS EAGLES SIGN THE PROPHET
Jul 14th, 2008
sam
Bravo to the New Yorker for calling out the Republican attack machine with this satirical cartoon. New Yorker readers “get it.” If its humor is too sophisitcated for some idiot who reads USA Today, that’s not the publication’s problem. Exactly what kind of society do you want to live in where every publication is expected to write to the lowest common denominator?
Obama’s response pandered to a) stupid people and b) people whose first instinct is to squelch free speech. His reaction was similar to when he kowtowed to those who said he was unpatriotic for not wearing a flag pin. Just as he should have stood up to those yahoos for creating that ridiculous litmus test of one’s patriotism, he shouldn’t buckle under to those who would attack the New Yorker’s right to satirize the republican’s despicable attempt to paint michelle as some latter-day Angela Davis and Barak as a terrorist sympathizer. It’s like the critics of New Yorker took a page from the republicans who blasted moveon.org for its General Betray-us ad. What’s wrong with you people!!!
Jul 14th, 2008
Torie Michelle
This election season has been utterly disgusting.
Since it’s only one of maybe three political contests I’ve been old enough to truly understand and follow, I must say I’m curious as how races have gone in years long past.
I know that political cartoonists go at everyone, but isn’t there a line? Or is it all free speech? Who’s to say….
At the end of the day, I–along with plenty others–will still be offended by this cover.
Jul 14th, 2008
Lynne
DROCK,
I think you got in everything…oh wait…Michelle needs to be holding a check with a big “WELFARE” written on it.
Jul 14th, 2008
Jay
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.
Jul 14th, 2008
Kymberlyn
Before we start yelling for a boycott, let’s really think about the New Yorker cover in a larger context. Frankly, I find it funny and a huge slap in the face to the racism and ignorance that is part and parcel of American culture. Sometimes when the mirror is held up to our faces, it is an image that Americans–especially white Americans–do not like to see.
Long before this cover, there was a segment of the American populace who believed that Barack Obama was a secret muslim. They cited his middle name “Hussein”, his not wearing a flag pin on the lapel of his jacket, and of course, his church (i.e. Reverend Wright). This segment still exists and they still believe Obama to be a muslim regardless of all the evidence to the contrary.
I don’t see anything racist in the over-the-top depiction because this is exactly what Obama has been dealing with from day one. Let’s face it, this country simply does not know how to deal with a black man whose pants do not sag down to his kneecaps with gold teeth in his mouth. They’re at more of a loss at a strong and educated black woman who isn’t named Shanaynay with six kids fron six different baby daddies. That’s really what this entire election has been about–this country’s refusal to deal with its racism in an honest fashion. The mainstream media isn’t comfortable with Michelle Obama, hence all the attempts at “whitewashing” her and remaking her into a “stepford wife”. Of course they gave Michelle an Angela Davis fro–white America was terrified of Davis at one point in time because she was “too strong and too radical”.
Jul 14th, 2008
JOHN
The cover of the New Yorker is almost always a satirical or humorous image, and the only difference hear is the explicitly political (and racial and religious) subject matter. But anyone who says “this doesn’t seem like a joke to me — there is no text or label identifying it as such” need only glace at a handful of previous covers. Moreover, text identifying the satirical tone of the image to less intelligent readers could easily be removed by those wishing to use the image for other purposes. I really don’t understand this controversy at all. I just don’t think it’s a FUNNY cover. The sad fact is that, yes, there are people who believe Obama is a muslim terrorist-sympathizer. That this image will convince others (especially Obama supporters) to adopt a similarly insane and stupid belief is beyond preposterous. So everyone can stop talking now.
Jul 14th, 2008
The Black Snob
This is where the much smaller number of minorities within positions of power in the media, regardless of their political/philosophical leanings, becomes such a detriment for all.
When operating out of that mono-racial, often solo-gendered newsroom things that simply look like enticing, cleverly disguised gray areas to some become highly concentrated, IEDs of regurgitated racial horrors for those who know better.
Unfortunately, “those who know better” don’t work there.
I’m sure the editors were just looking for new ways to push that envelop and expected some controversy (wanted it even) with this illustration, but they won’t get why this is such a BIG F-ING DEAL until around Wednesday or Thursday when this is still being talked about on TV and on-line and angry black people are giving them the “Gas Face” while picketing their NYC office. They will routinely explain over and over why it is kosher while a Pan-Hellenic Council Greek chorus shouts back to them why it is not until the editors finally realize their legacy of impeccable literary journalism, anamorphic cartoons of dogs n’ cats on therapist’s couches and Seymour Hersch award-winners will not provide the cover necessary to save them from the wrath of “Pookie n ‘em.”
Some folks will call a spade a spade and that cover, sans context or with context looks awfully uncool to me.
Jul 14th, 2008
meagan
Jay:
Barack Obama is not a Muslim, and has never been a Muslim.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
Jul 15th, 2008
Dabney
Jay,
Pull your head out of your ass for once man. Obama is not a Muslim. He is a Christian. Has been for a long time. His father was an atheist.
And even if he, or his father, was a Muslim you still need to pull your bigoted head from your ass.
Best wishes,
Dabney
Jul 15th, 2008
Shannon
i believe that was one of the rudest
things any cartonist could draw for you to
even inquire that about a man who actually is about change
putting him down doesnt better the next man in this case
now it has me thinkin what the other man is hidding….
this is one of the most emmbarrsing things to have to put up with
one minute people are portraying him as an animal now you
all are calling him a muslim….NO YOU HAVE GONE TOOO FAR HE
IS TRUELY A CHRISTIAN…. and just so you people can get over it this topic has been dropped dang it happen in July it is now October get over it.
Signing off completly,
A 10th grader from ATL
Oct 7th, 2008
Mary
Why can’t I find anything on what Michelle Obama religious beliefs ? Everthing just send me back to her husbands beliefs, What religious beliefs did her parents have? Was she baptised?
I feel you can’t really go by what the canidates are promising. Things still have to be approved by congress. You must look at the political person as a human find out what they believe, who they are friends with. What kind of past do they have. What kind of family values they have. Where they come from and where they want to see the United States of America go in the future, They must be willing to work for the people not have the people work for them.
Nov 2nd, 2008
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