New Yorker Obama Cover Sparks Uproar

Politico: Campaign Calls Magazine Cover Art "Tasteless And Offensive"

(The Politico)  This story was written by Mike Allen.

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Barack Obama's campaign is condemning as “tasteless and offensive” a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Obama in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife.

An American flag burns in their fireplace.

The New Yorker says it's satire. It certainly will be candy for cable news.

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 Sen. 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 issue, which goes on sale Monday, includes a long piece by Ryan Lizza about Obama’s start in Chicago politics.

At a press availability Sunday afternoon in San Diego, Obama was asked, according to a transcript by Maria Gavrilovic of CBS News: “The upcoming issue of The New Yorker, the July 21 issue, has a picture of you, depicting you and your wife on the cover.

“Have you seen it? If not, I can show it to you on my computer. It shows your wife Michelle with an Afro and an AK-47 and the two of you doing the fist bump with you in a sort of turban-type thing on top. I wondered if you’ve seen it or if you want to see it or if you have a response to it?”

Obama, shrugging incredulously, replied: “I have no response to that.”

The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: “On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in ‘The Politics of Fear,’ artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.”

Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post said Sunday on his CNN media show “Reliable Sources” that the cover is arguably “incendiary.”

“I talked to the editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, who tells me this is a satire, that they are making fun of all the rumors,” Kurtz added.

Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune defended it as “quite within the normal realms of journalism,” adding that “it's just lampooning all the crazy ignorance out there.”

The panelists agreed it would succeed in its goal of getting attention.

[ariel133]

How is this any differant than others who poke fun- Saturday Night live, for one- and Reverend Jackson for two- Obama is quick to accept apologies, but if he feels threatened perhaps there is some truth to it.

[floydzepp5]

Its the New Porker. What does one expect?

[ariel133]

Obama is not any more a "breath of fresh air" than a man who who believes in fairy tales. He says nothing- and give s good speech. He cannot lead without experiance. Putting your trust in someone unqualified is just plain dumb.

[wiccantexan]

Obama is quick to accept apologies, but if he feels threatened perhaps there is some truth to it.

Posted by Ariel133
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According to the news story, Obama shrugged it all.

[Mccarthyaw]

Putting your trust in someone unqualified is just plain dumb.



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Posted by Ariel133 at 09:20 AM : Jul 14, 2008

Exactly why I am not voting for McCain.

[zerato-2009]

ow a magazine dares to print what all of us good christians think.

Posted by GOP_forever

Don''t think that Christians think this. Only the racists, bigots and ignorant think this. Which means no Christian would think this.

While it is a piece of satire, it seems that its effect is missed on the feeble minded.

[greeneyes222]

Tasteless? Every politician alive and dead has been caricatured, but somehow Obama is sacrosanct?

If Obama is elected, you can bet there will be more of this. They need to learn to deal with it gracefully instead of acting like whiny little pc children. If they can''t, I seriously doubt he''s/they''re mature enough to run the country.

[floydzepp5]

Obama is not any more a "breath of fresh air" than a man who who believes in fairy tales. He says nothing- and give s good speech. He cannot lead without experiance. Putting your trust in someone unqualified is just plain dumb.

Posted by Ariel133 at 09:20 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Such as Bush Supporters?

[dirtyharry02]

America better WAKE UP!!!!! The truth hurts. Wake Up America!!!!!!

[fstop100]

Right on New Yorker Magazine....Love IT!!!

[Mccarthyaw]

Yeah, its satire. It is supposed to make fun of the scare tatics right wingers are using against Obama. Unfortunately, many people will think it is the truth.

[nlm2383]

I''m not going to vote because I don''t feel that my choices are what I''m looking for, but this is wrong... Say that you meant it however you want, but it can be taken so many ways and it just looks bad for the magazine.

[blackyowe]

It makes me mad and I don''t even like Obama. It''s really in bad taste and racist. Shame on you, New Yorker!

[floydzepp5]

I thought RightWingNuts liked Gun Toting Women?

[floydzepp5]

zerato, everyone at my church thinks this and I visit other churches and they all think that too. A true christian does not want to be led by a muslim.

Posted by GOP_forever at 09:29 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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But then Obama isn''t Muslim and you''re not true Christian.

[Mccarthyaw]

zerato, everyone at my church thinks this and I visit other churches and they all think that too. A true christian does not want to be led by a muslim.


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Posted by GOP_forever at 09:29 AM : Jul 14, 2008

Good thing Obama isn''t a Muslim then.

[wayne081]

Poor, poor, Obama. If he can''t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. It just shows how immature Obama really is and what a elitist, pseudointellect we are finding him to be. Vote for a man of character and a true patriot, vote for McCain.

[floydzepp5]

Grandpa McDepends with his onset Alzheimer''s won''t even remember he''s running for President by October.

[jackie0428]

GOP_forever , Obama isn''t a Muslim, but be advised that FloydZepp is.
Floyd also has never seen a terrorist or Jihadist he didn''t love.

Why are all the people who love Obama also the same ones who defend Muslims and terrorists and terror attacks and people who kill Americans and women and children? I don''t know about you guys, but I''d be VERY uncomfortable to be siding with the same people who support our worst enemies.

[floydzepp5]

Obama isn''t Muslim no matter how much RINOganda is spewed by the McDepends Supporters. McCain Campaign way over....

[zerato-2009]

erato, everyone at my church thinks this and I visit other churches and they all think that too. A true christian does not want to be led by a muslim.

Posted by GOP_forever

It seems that your churches are racists and bigoted. And perhaps you can read the bible for some direction for these lies people are spreading.

[floydzepp5]

GOP_forever , Obama isn''''t a Muslim, but be advised that FloydZepp is.
Floyd also has never seen a terrorist or Jihadist he didn''''t love.

Why are all the people who love Obama also the same ones who defend Muslims and terrorists and terror attacks and people who kill Americans and women and children? I don''''t know about you guys, but I''''d be VERY uncomfortable to be siding with the same people who support our worst enemies.

Posted by jackie0428 at 09:35 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Any proof of that or do you still think that just because you say it people will believe?

That''s so Shrub Failure 1999 dude....

[l00ker]

Sorry folks, but Obama is no more immune from satire, scrutiny, ridicule, or investigation than any other person running for such a high office. I know many of his fans believe otherwise, but they are wrong. Their affinity for Obama has biased and blinded them. Because of this relatively short career and meteoric rise, Obama is a virtual unknown compared to McCain. Because of this the press has finally caught on that they have a lot of "catching up" to do with him. Obama is going to be put thru the ringer the next few months, and that is exactly the way it should be.

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Posted by jerr111 at 09:30 AM : Jul 14, 2008


Well, then we should see more satire of the insidious, subversive, cloak and dagger, skullduggery and treacherous AIPAC, B''NAI BRITH, ADL, JDL and any other jew in, around and running for public office, or financing those in the running for such. And any investments of the cancerous sore Israel in our country.

[zerato-2009]

ccording to Islamic scholars, reciting the Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, makes one a Muslim.

Posted by fenner

I guess that makes you a Muslim too.

[floydzepp5]

FloydZepp5, how dare you suggest I am not Christian! I put $20 in the ciollection plate everytime for all to see. I pay big money to Jesus.

Posted by GOP_forever at 09:38 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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LOL! Now THAT was funny!

[pensacola88]

Sorry folks, but Obama is no more immune from satire, scrutiny, ridicule, or investigation than any other person running for such a high office. Posted by jerr111 at 09:30 AM : Jul 14, 2008

That''s very true. It comes with the territory. No one can give something they don''t have. Magazines that can''t give respect to high profle individuals, obviously have no respect to give.

[floydzepp5]

Posted by fenner at 09:39 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Sort of like Shrub directing all gynecologists to have love with their patients...

Now that''s a classic!

[walt1944-2009]

Everyone in the country is excited about the cover on the latest issue of The New Yorker.

I do not ever remember the New Yorker having a cartoon showing the Great Emperor Bush II and "Bagdad John McBush" McCain wearing Nazi SS uniforms giving each other a Nazi salute! I do not remember any New Yorker cartoon showing Phil Gramm holding an economics degree in his hand and wearing a "dunce" cap!

I suppose that shows how politically biased The New Yorker is! I would guess that because of that cartoon, Phil Gramm is removing them from his "whiners" list!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!!
sig heil, TOTALLY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!!

[jeffstersf]

I am a long-time New Yorker subscriber. I am an Obama supporter. After this horrific mistake I have to give one of them up. The New Yorker has to go!

[floydzepp5]

Posted by fenner at 09:41 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Oh but we are listening. And he will be President after November. McCain will just be on oxygen.

[xmanborg]

I agree tasteless and offensive and uncalled for. Now if the New Yorker wants to be FAIR they will print a something about McCain similar to this.

Tastless and Offensive I thought the New Yorker was above that kind of Print Trash. My parents use to get the New Yorker for years back in the 70s & 80s & 90s & I use to look at the magazine all the time. I have lost some respect for the New Yorker. If It had been about McCain I would be saything the same thing right now. Just Uncalled for and Tasteless and Offensive.

[slader99]

We knew things were going to get ugly; and the more they do, they more they remind people of the last 8 years, and the more theyll turn away.

Obama in a landslide :)

[prelgovisk]

Obama is not anti-american, but he does want to change America. The only problem is, what is he going to change and how? He never tells us that.

It is his own fault if we have to use our imaginations to fill in the gaps. I think he is counting on many to fill in these gaps, through hope, with visions that favor him.

But this is a two-edged sword. It is only natural for the gaps to be filled in with images that not favor Obama by people who know that not all change is for the better.

Obama, please tell us the changes you will make and what it will cost us. Then we won''t have to deal with images of fear. We will have something more important to talk about.

[zerato-2009]

o''''bungler is completely confused as to why anyone could POSSIBLY think of him as Muslim - - - he seems to also have a PROLONGED "junior" moment.

Posted by fenner

mccain accused obama ducking a vote on Iran a vote mccain missed himself
mccain claimed to have given his viet cong interogators the names of the pittsburg steelers but his book states another team
mccain could not remember his vote on whether to allow viagra and not birth control pills
Mccain could not remember he did not support the new GI bill and blamed webb for not making it for a longer time

And taht was in the last 10 days for mcconfused

[zerato-2009]

do you know the difference between RECITE AND POST OR PRINT?

Posted by fenner

It seems you don''t know that muslim

[talkingham]

U ain''t seen nothing yet. If the New Yorker can stoop to this just imagine what Fox-owned news and publications are going to do right after the Dem convention the dam is going to break on all the junk they are piling up on Obama. In fact, since Obama kicked Hillary out the campaign, the news media have stopped painting all those rosey pictures of his canidacy haven''t they? Now it''s all negative all the time.

[floydzepp5]

Grandpa McDepends: Rehashing your Grandpa''s Ideas from 1950.

[floydzepp5]

Vote 1950: Vote for Grandpa McSameTiredOldIdeas

[l00ker]

Obama is not anti-american, but he does want to change America. The only problem is, what is he going to change and how? He never tells us that.

It is his own fault if we have to use our imaginations to fill in the gaps. I think he is counting on many to fill in these gaps, through hope, with visions that favor him.

But this is a two-edged sword. It is only natural for the gaps to be filled in with images that not favor Obama by people who know that not all change is for the better.

Obama, please tell us the changes you will make and what it will cost us. Then we won''''t have to deal with images of fear. We will have something more important to talk about.

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Posted by Prelgovisk at 09:47 AM : Jul 14, 2008


What if he said that he was a jew, and was for all things jewish, and will make Israel the dejure 51st state, and will promise Israel 100 billion dollars per year, 100 F-22 Raptors, and all of the Tomahawks - nuclear tipped even - that they ask for, would kill every muslim in the Middle East, would that be telling enough?

[dirtyharry02]

America, have you already forgotten about 9/11, especially New Yorkers. How can we even vote for someone who has affiliations with the Muslim religon, it would be like voting in a Japanese after Pearl Harbor or voting in a Nazi after the Holocaust. When are Americans going to get a freakin'' backbone and stop worrying about being "Politically Incorrect", thank you to the New Yorker for doing this, maybe it will wake some people up!!!!

[floydzepp5]

What if he said that he was a jew, and was for all things jewish, and will make Israel the dejure 51st state, and will promise Israel 100 billion dollars per year, 100 F-22 Raptors, and all of the Tomahawks - nuclear tipped even - that they ask for, would kill every muslim in the Middle East, would that be telling enough?

Posted by l00ker at 09:52 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Well then he would be RINOpublican.

[aldon61]

I recognize the cover as satire; that said, it is totally in-appropriate! What could the editor(s) be thinking?

[floydzepp5]

Posted by dirtyharry02 at 09:53 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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Sort of like Bush kissing the Saudis right on the lips - where 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers came from.

[floydzepp5]

we will vote for an in tact brain with loyalty to country and a proven achiever, not a "community organizer."

YES, WE VOTE JOHN MCCAIN!!!!

Posted by fenner at 09:55 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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John McOnsetAlzheimer''s: Rehashing your Grandpa''s Ideas from 1950.

[l00ker]

...Finally, to see a political cartoon being denounced these days makes me uneasy. There are indeed plenty of political cartoons that are truly tasteless and offensive, but in a world in which Islamic organizations are making concerted efforts to compel Western countries to limit free speech because of a few political cartoons, it would have been much wiser for the Obama camp to have laughed this one off.
---Robert Spencer

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Posted by michaelt302 at 09:47 AM : Jul 14, 2008


Okay, let''s see that same cartoon on the front page of the Jew Yorker again, but with the Israeli flag in the fire place, or a yarmulke wearing head instead? Then we''ll see who laughs that one off.

[zerato-2009]

America, have you already forgotten about 9/11, especially New Yorkers. How can we even vote for someone who has affiliations with the Muslim religon, it would be like voting in a Japanese after Pearl Harbor or voting in a Nazi after the Holocaust. When are Americans going to get a freakin'''' backbone and stop worrying about being "Politically Incorrect", thank you to the New Yorker for doing this, maybe it will wake some people up!!!!

Posted by dirtyharry02

Satire does not effect the feeble minded with its message.

[floydzepp5]

fenner, I hear John McCain was a communist sympathizer while he was vacationing in Hanoi.

[wiccantexan]

America, have you already forgotten about 9/11, especially New Yorkers. How can we even vote for someone who has affiliations with the Muslim religon,

Posted by zerato
-----------------

Well, it''s a good thing then that no Muslims with terrorist connections are running.

[zerato-2009]

America, have you already forgotten about 9/11, especially New Yorkers. How can we even vote for someone who has affiliations with the Muslim religon, it would be like voting in a Japanese after Pearl Harbor or voting in a Nazi after the Holocaust. When are Americans going to get a freakin'''' backbone and stop worrying about being "Politically Incorrect", thank you to the New Yorker for doing this, maybe it will wake some people up!!!!

Posted by dirtyharry02

Satire does not effect the feeble minded with its message.

[floydzepp5]

fenner, I hear John McCain was a communist sympathizer while he was vacationing in Hanoi.


Posted by FloydZepp5 at 09:
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SURE SWEETIE.... SURE.

Posted by fenner at 10:00 AM : Jul 14, 2008
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I''m sure its true. Just like Obama is a Muslim.