Vote '08

NEW YORK (AP) - A satirical New Yorker magazine cover cartoon depicting Barack Obama and his wife as flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals is on newsstands and the Obamas aren’t happy.
The illustration, titled “The Politics of Fear” and drawn by Barry Blitt, depicts Obama wearing traditional Muslim clothing while his wife, Michelle, is dressed in camouflage with an assault rifle slung over one shoulder and her hair in an Afro.
The cartoon is not explained inside the magazine, where readers will also find a 15,000-word story about Obama’s political education and early years in Chicago.
An Obama spokesman says when it comes to the magazine cover, “most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive,” adding, “and we agree.” John McCain is also calling it “totally inappropriate.”

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Above: a discussion of the controversy with editor Hendrik Hertzberg.

One opinion: the cover is in poor taste:

“…such a complex meta-joke is, firstly, tricky to accomplish, and, secondly, too abstract to adequately smack down the gargantuan size and volume of these rumors. So the point is lost without the benefit of the “it’s about scare tactics” press release, and the cartoon fails. But, unfortunately, such a failure risks the illustration ultimately becoming part of the rumor it seeks to expose.”

Other opinion: the cover is not in poor taste:

“When liberals start policing the “poor taste” of cartoons so that some people don’t get the “wrong idea,” it only reinforces the notion that all the fearmongering was effective, and perhaps right — and also shows how weak and tenuous Democrats fear their position on terrorism remains.”

Our opinion: leaning toward the latter. Come on people, lighten up. This is satire. It’s a pretty poor attempt, but it’s not the end of the world as some are saying.

What do you think about it? Let us know by posting a comment!

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