Obama: Mag Cover Insults Muslim Americans

Says New Yorker Cartoon Of Him And His Wife Is "Not What America's All About"

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting him and his wife as flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals doesn't bother him but that it was an insult to Muslim Americans.

"You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things," the presidential candidate told CNN's Larry King. "And for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America's all about."

Obama blamed himself for not being forceful enough in challenging some of the rumors about him, including that he is Muslim. Obama is Christian.

The son of a Kenyan father, Obama lived in the largely Muslim nation of Indonesia as a child. He dealt with similar questions in February after a photo surfaced of him wearing traditional Kenyan clothing during a visit to Africa in 2006.

The cover of the magazine, which hit newsstands Monday, depicts Obama in traditional Muslim clothing - sandals, robe and turban - while his wife, Michelle, has an assault rifle slung over one shoulder and is dressed in camouflage and combat boots with her hair in an Afro. A flag burns in a fireplace behind them as they bump fists, and a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs above the mantel.

New Yorker Editor David Remnick told the Huffington Post Web site the cover was chosen because it had something to say.

When first asked about it on Sunday, Obama declined comment. His spokesman, Bill Burton, said it was "tasteless and offensive."

Obama said he's developed "a pretty thick skin" running for president and has "seen and heard worse."

"I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead," he said. "But, you know, that was their editorial judgment. And as I said, ultimately, it's a cartoon, it's not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about."

In an interview with CBS News' The Early Show on Tuesday, Republican John McCain denounced the magazine cover.

"If it's an attempt at satire, it's wrong," McCain told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "It's wrong and it's offensive." (Watch the full interview with McCain.)

[ariel133]

But it is ok for Obama to insult people by calling them "Bitter" ? Double standards do not work with those that are aware of the hypocrisy.

[rushlimpdrug]

What a slick politician.

He passes the buck to the muslims.

Way to go wimp.

[platteman]

Time for all this PCness to go down the toilet. Everyone can be offended by just about anything.

Wonder how the "bitter" people who cling to their guns and religion feel now. Talk about a double standard, Obama has now set the bar as high as a pole vaulter. Obama is just an elite liberal, more liberal than anyone in the congress. He always talks down to everyone.

[mgeg1]

Barack Obama isn''t a Muslim, though. Small town people ARE bitter as ***. They don''t like dirty Mexicans or secret Muslims like Barack Obama. I think, to save America from ignorant, gun-slinging rednecks, you should have pass a simple test to vote. If you think Barack Obama is a secret Muslim, you can''t vote. If you think the Bush tax cuts and McCain''s "gas tax holiday" are good ideas, you can''t vote. If you can''t even point to Iraq, Iran, or North Korea on a map (but you support bombing them anyway), you shouldn''t be allowed to vote.

[dowell100]

Does anyone really buy Obama''s spin???

Obama is just disgusting.

[jjhughes8665]

And a nominee who thought Iran was sheltering ''Al Qaeda in Iraq''- funny how there weren''t any before this war started - before Lieberman reminded him that they actually hate each other.

[loneeagle57]

"Cartoon insults Muslims" How? Is Obama that bad of a person that Muslim isn''t good enough of a term to describe himself?

[dumbobama]

Barack Obama isn''''t a Muslim, though. Small town people ARE bitter as ***. They don''''t like dirty Mexicans or secret Muslims like Barack Obama. I think, to save America from ignorant, gun-slinging rednecks, you should have pass a simple test to vote. If you think Barack Obama is a secret Muslim, you can''''t vote. If you think the Bush tax cuts and McCain''''s "gas tax holiday" are good ideas, you can''''t vote. If you can''''t even point to Iraq, Iran, or North Korea on a map (but you support bombing them anyway), you shouldn''''t be allowed to vote. Posted by mgeg1
-------------------------
Sounds very Fascist to me.

[liberalme]

He always talks down to everyone.

Posted by Platteman at 10:07 AM :

No he doesn''t, you just have to have an IQ higher than mud to understand him.

[mgeg1]

A fascist is not what you think it is, buddy. It''s a bundle of sticks that implies strength through unity. You should lose your voting privileges for making a poor comparison.

[legacyabq]

Where are you guys getting this stuff? All O. said was it''s offensive. To HIM. Are you saying people can''t have their own opinions? Isn''t that what you claim liberals do? Stifle opinions? Now you criticize him for having one? You guys are a like a CULT! Don''t you ever think for yourself? Or do you repeat everything Limbaugh drones into your dull minds, which comes out of your limp drooling mouths? Calling someone a muslim extremist and a terrorist because they are black, and who''s father is from Kenya is mean spirited, underhanded, and viscious. This isn''t about a "politically correct liberal". It''s about slandering a good man, and clinging to RACISM. Your racism. Why can''t you just admit that he''s not a muslim in disguise (paranoid doesnt do you justice) but just black. Er, half black. And you are racist pigs who "won''t vote fer noo black-man, ya hear?"
Swine. Get lives.

[dumbobama]

A fascist is not what you think it is, buddy. It''''s a bundle of sticks that implies strength through unity. You should lose your voting privileges for making a poor comparison. Posted by mgeg1
----------------------------
LMAO. What a NAZI you are. Your Fascist views reflect an ignorance that befuttling.

[dumbobama]

Where are you guys getting this stuff? All O. said was it''''s offensive. To HIM. Are you saying people can''''t have their own opinions? Isn''''t that what you claim liberals do? Stifle opinions? Now you criticize him for having one? You guys are a like a CULT! Don''''t you ever think for yourself? Or do you repeat everything Limbaugh drones into your dull minds, which comes out of your limp drooling mouths? Calling someone a muslim extremist and a terrorist because they are black, and who''''s father is from Kenya is mean spirited, underhanded, and viscious. This isn''''t about a "politically correct liberal". It''''s about slandering a good man, and clinging to RACISM. Your racism. Why can''''t you just admit that he''''s not a muslim in disguise (paranoid doesnt do you justice) but just black. Er, half black. And you are racist pigs who "won''''t vote fer noo black-man, ya hear?"
Swine. Get lives. Posted by legacyABQ
-------------------------
Your comments reflect your stereotyping and make you no better than a Racist is. Continue down that hatred road and tell me how that is working for you?

[drivelphobe]

Watch out, heads are going to roll. You can''t insult a Muslim now can we!

It''s time to cut out political correctness. I''m sick and tired of being overly concerned about illegals'' feelings, the feelings of non-English speaking foreigners, the inability to profile based on race, height, skin tone, hair color, age! This is becoming a joke and the citizenry of America are taking it in the shorts. Start using English only and no more "press 1 for English". Just a simple question, why is it that Spanish speaking people are the only ones who can''t learn English????? Why not press 1 for French, German, Farsi, etc? Disgusting isn''t it and we''ve just about had it.

[nolalou]

Obama is upset about a stupid cartoon.
And who gets upset about stupid cartoons, anyway?
MUSLIMS.
Posted by ddhinnyc

ddhinnyc, yup you''ve once again proved we are a nation of IDIOTS, and you win today''s prize! Read the article, Obama was not that upset about the cartoon, he said "But, you know, that was their editorial judgment. And as I said, ultimately, it''s a cartoon, it''s not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about."

[ariel133]

With a name like "DumObama" I don''t get why you are supportive of him? Or are you? Racism will always be a factor in society to some degree. The majority of whites are not ready for a black President and the blacks just want to vote in a black president, right or wrong- When the majority of blacks realize Obama is not qualified and vote for McCain then you can talk some real sense to us.

[dowell100]

Posted by nokoolaid
a nominee who still thinks Czechoslovakia is a country.
--------------------------

Everyone knows McCain doesn''t think Czechoslovakia is a country. He just mis-spoke by not saying "former Czechoslovakia." Another group of countries in this region have been officially using FYR...which stands for Former Yugoslavia Republic. So it is easy to stumble on this no matter who you are.

The real issue is the spin Obama and his followers have put on this. Obama has retracted or clarified his statements many times, but McCain isn''t allowed to do that?

The fact is, if you mention Obama''s race it is allegedly a bad thing. However, he feels free to attack McCain on the basis of age. That''s pretty bad and highly discriminatory.

There are 35.9 million people age 65 and over in the US. Each one needs to vote against Obama for under-handed comments by him and his followers against the mature citizens of America.

[singingrick]

Dear right wing hacks,

Obama is a Christian and has never been a Muslim or attended a Muslim school. Your swift-boating tactics represent the worst of what the American political discussion has become. If you have to lie, spin, smear and spread fear to win then what you support is not what this country wants or needs. It''s time you put your country before your party.

[ariel133]

saingingrick said : "It''''s time you put your country before your party."
I HOPE YOU MEANT THIS FOR OBAMA AND HIS LIBERAL LOSERS.

[singingrick]

saingingrick said : "It''''''''s time you put your country before your party."
I HOPE YOU MEANT THIS FOR OBAMA AND HIS LIBERAL LOSERS.

Posted by Ariel133 at 10:44 AM : Jul 16, 2008



What are you trying to say? Be specific if you can.

[ariel133]

NOKOOLAID- FUNNY, THE JUDGEMENTS OF A PERSON THAT ARE SO RIDUICLUOUS USING ASSUMPTIONS AND NOT EVER HAVING THE RESPECT TO ASK REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE- SEEMS BEYOND BELIEF. I HAPPEN TO BE A CEO OF A LARGE CORP., YOU MORON.

[ariel133]

BE SPECIFIC? IS THAT A JOKE?

OBAMA HAS ALWAYS PUT HIS PARTY BEFORE HIS COUNTRY. THIS IS NOT A TRUE LEADER. MCCAIN, ON THE OTHER HAND, KNOWS BETTER

[singingrick]

OBAMA HAS ALWAYS PUT HIS PARTY BEFORE HIS COUNTRY. THIS IS NOT A TRUE LEADER. MCCAIN, ON THE OTHER HAND, KNOWS BETTER

Posted by Ariel133 at 10:47 AM : Jul 16, 2008



Again, what exactly are you talking about? Do you have any examples or are you just making baseless accusations taken from talking point scripts?

[rushlimpdrug]

1.
"Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New Yorker magazine''s satirical cover depicting him and his wife as flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals doesn''t bother him . . . ."


If it doesn''t bother him,
what does that say about obama?

[talkingham]

Too bad Obama. Get off your high horse and recognize this as a cartoon, satire, which has been around a lot longer than U. Evidently Obama is leadership in the same vein as Pelosi and Reid, two losers who can''t get any quality legislation through. The republican cross-over vote, and the contrived caucus system has put Obama in charge, exactly what the republicans wanted.

[Marie Zarankevich]

This was not an insult to any one group, this was a direct insult to all Americans! -- We, as American citizens, have nominated Mr. Obama to run for the office of president of our country. -- This cover implies that, according to a particular point of view, our votes were misplaced. -- But that is why we DO vote, is it not? -- It is simple defamation and flaming, nothing more. -- We are stronger than that. -- The fact that it may insult one group a bit more than another is beside the point. -- We are ALL insulted by such behavior, which lacks integrity, or character, or honor. -- It says far more about the publishers than the subjects.

[legacyabq]

Hahaha that''s what I love about the internet. People can magically become CEO''s, or pretend they have PhD''s, or whatever. LMAO. Obama isn''t being politically correct, no where in the article does anything appear to show that. The cartoon was about OBAMA personally, so he has a right to be offended. Wouldn''t you be offended if someone dressed you up as a right-wing fascist, like Mussoulini? Same thing. I don''t like politically correct thinking either, but some of you are broadly-applying the idea to Obama, without evidence. He is not displaying politically correct prejudices, he just thinks its offensive to portray him as a terrorist. Which it is. So what? It''s a free country. But Obama is free to be offended. So what? You would be too. He''s a Christian for God''s sake, not a Muslim can''t you racist right-wingers comprehend that?? It''s plain English, which you insist on.. So what''s the problem?? God help us all, you guys think yu are "saving" this country with your conservative ideology, but your IGNORANCE is what is ruining it..

[liberalme]

The majority of whites are not ready for a black President and the blacks just want to vote in a black president, right or wrong Posted by Ariel133

Sorry miss/mr CEO of a large corporation--the "majority" of whites in this country are NOT racist bigots like you--many are intelligent and logical enough to recognize the situation this country is in cannot be repaired by the likes of a "I Can Win Any War" McCain mindset.
We need a leader who will not begin a war for oil, we need a leader who has the presence of mind for what is best for OUR country ABOVE what fits into his greedy pockets.
We need a leader who has the forethough to bring pride, honesty and honor back to Americans and has the needs of our country at the forefront of his decision making.
McCain---war--surge--war

[dowell100]

Dear Left Wing Hacks,

Your liberal views have done severe damage to America. Most Americans realize that and that is why...

Kerry
Gore
Dukakis
Carter (ousted after one term)
Mondale
McGovern

...have been vanquished by American voters. We don''t like what you offer. People voted for the Devil (GW) rather than elect Kerry, and that is a major statement against American liberal politics.

Obama will be as bad for America as the others.

McCain is strong in the polls not because he is running a visible campaign or even because he is any good. He is likely to win simply because he is not a Left Wing Hack.

[obama8years]

Of Course it Offends Muslims.

Tell me what American Culture Doesnt Offend Muslims.

Does Baseball Hotdogs Offend

Does Alchohol Offend

Does Gyms where men and women work out offend

Does Schools that dont give them 5 times a day to pray to Mecca ...Offend

Does Christmas offend them

Does Hannakah Offend them

Muslims in America cannot and will not assimilate.

Look at Dearborn, Michigan(little Palestine) where they have a loudspeaker in the town that does what Obama calls the most beautiful sound ever, Call to Prayers.

[ozonmojo]

The cover is deeply hurtful to Islamist terrorists and an insult to the inventor of AK 47 too.

[mjvw2]

and we must be careful not to insult the loving, serene, peaceful religion of islam

[liberalme]

Look at Dearborn, Michigan(little Palestine) where they have a loudspeaker in the town that does what Obama calls the most beautiful sound ever, Call to Prayers.

Posted by Obama8years at 11:00 AM : Jul 16, 2008

And your racism is offensive to God and everyone else--

[liberalme]

McCain is strong in the polls not because he is running a visible campaign or even because he is any good. He is likely to win simply because he is not a Left Wing Hack.

Posted by dowell100 at 10:59 AM


Hahahahahahahaha

[obama8years]

Ok, I guess I am being racist against muslims, but would you be too if you loved your country.

Last Friday, Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan, held an anti-American, anti-Israel demonstration. Protestors carried a large model of Jerusalem%u2019s Al-Aqsa Mosque and waved signs bearing slogans such as %u201CUS Hands Off Muslim Land.%u201D But the most arresting image was of a Muslim woman carrying a large sign featuring the face of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Time dims memories. I wonder if any onlooker at the demonstration saw the Khomeini sign and remembered those tense days of the Iranian hostage crisis, when Khomeini%u2019s regime violated the traditional sanctity of the embassy and held 50 Americans for month after month while Jimmy Carter dithered. I wonder if any of the onlookers knew that Khomeini%u2019s triumph in Iran in 1979 embodied the idea that Islamic law was superior to all other ways to order societies, and must be pressed forward by force. As Khomeini himself put it: %u201CIslam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled or incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world....But those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world.%u201D

[missingamerica]

Ok, I guess I am being racist against muslims, but would you be too if you loved your country.

Posted by Obama8years at 11:07 AM : Jul 16, 2008

A white guy shot a bunch of Amish school children down the road - a horrible, heinous act any way you look at it.

So I presume "Obama8years" would have me kill him, then all the other white people, and then commit suicide?

[obama8years]

Heres More on the Islamic land of Dearborn, MI.

Over the past week it''s been reported that two charities in Dearborn were raided by the FBI. One of those charities, Goodwill Charitable Organization, was shut down for funding terrorism. According to the Detroit Free Press, the second charity,
Al-Mabbarat Charitable Organization- USA, had its computers seized and its operations hindered even though it has not been tied to terrorist operations.

[texanforlogi]

Dear right wing hacks,

Obama is a Christian and has never been a Muslim or attended a Muslim school. Your swift-boating tactics represent the worst of what the American political discussion has become. If you have to lie, spin, smear and spread fear to win then what you support is not what this country wants or needs. It''''s time you put your country before your party.







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by singingrick at 10:42 AM : Jul 16, 2008


BEST POST OF THE YEAR! Well done, singingrick!

[endpcnow]

Centuries of oppression have existed wherever Islam is the dominant religion. A great number of Middle Eastern Muslims are easily offended by anything. The intention of Islam is to subjugate any nation in which Muslims gain a population foothold. Where Islam is the dominant religion, it also expects to be the law of the land, rejecting a secular approach to government. Wherever there is Islam there will eventually be fundamentalism and oppression. Christian proselytism is discouraged, where not outright prohibited, throughout the Muslim world and Muslims who convert to Christianity (or any other religion) are subject to death according to Sharia law. Ironically, this situation is not applicable to the Muslim communities in the West: for where Muslim clerics struggle against the Christian missionaries in Islamic countries, Muslim missionaries in the West enjoy many freedoms and may welcome new converts.

[obama8years]

Pretty good analogy, now have the white guy killing hundreds a day in the name of Islam, and have that white guy forcing the world to convert to the pig religion Islam. Than the analogy would be perfect.
---------------------------------------------------
A white guy shot a bunch of Amish school children down the road - a horrible, heinous act any way you look at it.

So I presume "Obama8years" would have me kill him, then all the other white people, and then commit suicide?

[obama8years]

Pretty good analogy, now have the white guy killing hundreds a day in the name of Islam, and have that white guy forcing the world to convert to the pig religion Islam. Than the analogy would be perfect.
---------------------------------------------------
A white guy shot a bunch of Amish school children down the road - a horrible, heinous act any way you look at it.

So I presume "Obama8years" would have me kill him, then all the other white people, and then commit suicide?

[texanforlogi]

If it doesn''''t bother him,
what does that say about obama?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rushlimpdrug at 10:50 AM : Jul 16, 2008


It says that he''s an adult and a real American!

[missingamerica]

lollll...ya know, if God said "OK, that is it. All of you inhumane, sadistic nuts die NOW!" al-Qaeda would drop like flies.

And so would all the right-wing neocon nutjobs like those who post here.

[liberalme]

Ok, I guess I am being racist against muslims, but would you be too if you loved your country.


Posted by Obama8years at 11

What do you think make up this country? We are a country of many ethnic backgrounds--many at one time have been unacceptable at one time or another--the Japanese, Irish, Italians and Germans to name a few.

What makes this country so great and separates us from the rest of the world, is the fact that we have so much diversion and we all accept each other for what we are.
We respect each others differences and on the most part, understand them.

Islam is a new venture for us--and anyone with and degree of intelligence knows, not all Muslims are terrorists--and until the people who have not allowed them to become familiar with the "average" Muslim--there will be the "fear" you display.

They are "different" but being "different" isn''t always bad.

[missingamerica]

Pretty good analogy, now have the white guy killing hundreds a day in the name of....

Posted by Obama8years at 11:15 AM : Jul 16, 2008

Ahhhh...so it is not the quality of the bestial act, but the quantity?

So tell me: How many white, nominally "Christian" people have to commit murder and/or rape and/or child molestation before you would have me go a''huntin''?

[liberalme]

Do it. Do it for next week`s magazine.

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 11:

And let us not forget the poorly disfigured ex-wife he couldn''t be seen with anymore.

[dowell100]

Posted by nokoolaid
And the Republicans will deliver us from the watelands (oh, wait - it was the Republicans who created the wasteland)

Consumer prices shot up in June at the second-fastest pace in 26 years with two-thirds of the surge blamed on soaring energy prices. (But it''''ll be fixed by offshore drilling, right?)
--------------------------------

Yes, I remember 26 years ago. Democrat Jimmy Carter was in office and home mortague rates we 18% plus. No one could buld or buy a house back then either. Did I mention that Jimmy Carter was a Democrat?

We may be in a slowdown now, but we will go into a prolonged economic depression if Obama is elected.

He follows the same liberal economic agenda as Carter and other Democrats (tax people to death)and the inexperienced Obama will make the same mistakes about economic matter.

America has very dark economic days ahead if Obama is elected. The last 8 years will look like the glory days by comparison.

[obama8years]

"Interviews with dozens of former classmates, teachers, neighbors and friends show that Obama was not a regular practicing Muslim when he was in Indonesia" %u2013 implying he was an irregularly practicing Muslim.
"Obama occasionally followed his stepfather to the mosque for Friday prayers, a few neighbors said" %u2013 confirming that he did pray in the mosque.
"Obama''s 3rd-grade teacher at the Catholic school, who lived near the family [said that] %u2018Rarely, Barry went to the mosque with Lolo''" %u2013 confirming that Obama attended mosque services.
All this matters, for if Obama once was a Muslim, he is now what Islamic law calls a murtadd (apostate), an ex-Muslim converted to another religion who must be executed. Were he elected president of the United States, this status, clearly, would have large potential implications for his relationship with the Muslim world.

In sum: Obama was an irregularly practicing Muslim who rarely or occasionally prayed with his step-father in a mosque. This precisely substantiates my statement that he "for some years had a reasonably Muslim upbringing under the auspices of his Indonesian step-father."

Therefore, what MMfA calls the "Obama-Muslim falsehood" is in fact confirmed by both articles as truthful and accurate.

Calling this a falsehood is in itself a falsehood.

[missingamerica]

Do you get the impression we should all thank CBS for giving Obama8years et al a relatively harmless outlet for their aggression?

[legacyabq]

Hahaha that''''s what I love about the internet. People can magically become CEO''''s, or pretend they have PhD''''s, or whatever. LMAO. Obama isn''''t being politically correct, no where in the article does anything appear to show that. The cartoon was about OBAMA personally, so he has a right to be offended. Wouldn''''t you be offended if someone dressed you up as a right-wing fascist, like Mussoulini? Same thing. I don''''t like politically correct thinking either, but some of you are broadly-applying the idea to Obama, without evidence. He is not displaying politically correct prejudices, he just thinks its offensive to portray him as a terrorist. Which it is. So what? It''''s a free country. But Obama is free to be offended. So what? You would be too. He''''s a Christian for God''''s sake, not a Muslim can''''t you racist right-wingers comprehend that?? It''''s plain English, which you insist on.. So what''''s the problem?? God help us all, you guys think yu are "saving" this country with your conservative ideology, but your IGNORANCE is what is ruining it..