New Yorker cover

[MadsenOMC]

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2008/07/21/p233/080721_2008_p233.jpg

Apparently Obama is not a fan. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/14/obama.cover/

I like it.

[The Heart Collector]

It's pretty awesome.

The article in question is actually really long, detailed, and in-depth.

[Cop No. 633]

Obama of a few months ago would have talked down to himself on his vote for the FISA bill so I don't think he really has much say about what is "tasteless and offensive." The man needs to stop separating himself from every person who makes honest criticisms like Wesley Clark. I swear, every time he has to make a statement about how he "deplores" somebody's comments and doesn't "reflect" his views, it's painting him even more into a corner with actual progressive people in this country.

I think it's a good cover by the way. It's completely obvious that it's satirical.

[Homyrrh]

Hell, you know he and Axelrod were guffawing at this shit.

[MadsenOMC]

Hell, you know he and Axelrod were guffawing at this shit.

As they should be.

[someguy]

Someone called it gutless, and I can see that.

[The Postmaster General]

The only thing that bothers me about the picture is that I've only heard them classed as Muslim extremist sympathizers, but in accordance with that, they would have had Michelle covering her head, not looking like a Black Panther --- I've heard more linking between Hillary and black radicals than with Michelle. It seems that they are inserting a racial slant with no merit for satire. Unless I just haven't heard them classed in that manner, but even still it seems like they are stretching with the big afro and camo gear.

[Elgyn]

I actually think it`s funny, and the people angry are missing the point.


OBAMA IS MUSLIM!!
MICHELLE HATES AMERICA!!!
THEY`RE GONNA BRING TERRORISTS INTO THE COUNTRY!!!

Being critical of your country does NOT make you un-patriotic.

[someguy]

I don't think the drawing is offensive, but I think that it failed to work as a good satire. I think this (http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzY3OGU2NTcwNDk0NGVlMzBlYWM2YTEyN2Y4OTI4Yjc=) summed up why pretty well.

What I find interesting about the New Yorker cover is that it's almost exactly the sort of cover you could expect to find on the front of National Review.

[Homyrrh]

I don't think the drawing is offensive, but I think that it failed to work as a good satire. I think this (http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzY3OGU2NTcwNDk0NGVlMzBlYWM2YTEyN2Y4OTI4Yjc=) summed up why pretty well.
Or, perhaps not even rhetorically...when did Rolling Stone gain enough cred to be called The New Yorker? Ah wait...no halos. Heh.

[MadsenOMC]

We spent an hour discussing this in class last night. I was surprised at how many adults, liberal and conservative, claim to be offended by the cover. I think it is totally relevant. 12% of voters still believe he is a Muslim! The news networks (and not just FNC) have run hysterical stories about why Michelle is so angry and hates America, and if Obama really went to a Muslim-training school, and the fact that his middle name is Hussein (I guess every guy named Ted or Jeffrey is a serial killer). The cover is an attempt to generate a serious discussion about legitimate topics. I think it was effective.

[Homyrrh]

We spent an hour discussing this in class last night. I was surprised at how many adults, liberal and conservative, claim to be offended by the cover. I think it is totally relevant. 12% of voters still believe he is a Muslim! The news networks (and not just FNC) have run hysterical stories about why Michelle is so angry and hates America, and if Obama really went to a Muslim-training school, and the fact that his middle name is Hussein (I guess every guy named Ted or Jeffrey is a serial killer). The cover is an attempt to generate a serious discussion about legitimate topics. I think it was effective.
Aside from everything, I very much resent Michelle Obama's snide remark about being pround to be an American for the first time. Obama's doctrine is at lease change for the nation's good (especially evidenced by his recent centrism), not his wife's bitching about her country. MY biggest gripe with this is the downright stupidity in saying something like that during a campaign. Wesley Clark's comments were one thing, but the dude's own wife is downing the nation's he's campaiging to lead.

Does that make her a terrorist? Of course...not.

What class(es) you in, Madsen?

[MadsenOMC]

Aside from everything, I very much resent Michelle Obama's snide remark about being pround to be an American for the first time. Obama's doctrine is at lease change for the nation's good (especially evidenced by his recent centrism), not his wife's bitching about her country. MY biggest gripe with this is the downright stupidity in saying something like that during a campaign. Wesley Clark's comments were one thing, but the dude's own wife is downing the nation's he's campaiging to lead.

Does that make her a terrorist? Of course...not.

What class(es) you in, Madsen?

I resent people getting offended and all worked up about that comment. Give it a rest. In this 24/7 news cycle, every little thing they say is overly scrutinized to the point of absurdity. She was trying to make a valid point. Poor choice of words? Fine, feel free to believe that. But she didn't mean that that moment was literally the first time she was proud to be an American. A little perspective please.

In one month I will have my M.A. in New Media Studies. I am in a Niche Journalism class right now.

[The Postmaster General]

I'm not offended by it, but it seems out of line - it lacks sophistication, even for satire. It comes off more like a South Park sketch than a legitimate political point. If you think you're surprised, I'm surprised at how hilarious everyone thinks caricaturing African-American features is. They could have just as easily made Michelle dressed up like Aunt Jamima and told everyone they were playing off one of many other criticisms. It could have made a good point, but it still would have been stretching a point for the sake of doing afro-centric caricature.

Michelle Obama neither has unusually big lips, nor does she wear an afro --- and neither of those features have anything to do with being anti-american, but have everything to do with making fun of the features of black people.

[Homyrrh]

I resent people getting offended and all worked up about that comment. Give it a rest. In this 24/7 news cycle, every little thing they say is overly scrutinized to the point of absurdity. She was trying to make a valid point. Poor choice of words? Fine, feel free to believe that. But she didn't mean that that moment was literally the first time she was proud to be an American. A little perspective please.

In one month I will have my M.A. in New Media Studies. I am in a Niche Journalism class right now.
It's just stupid. I don't run for class president and say, as a senior, it's the first time I have school pride.

[MadsenOMC]

It's just stupid. I don't run for class president and say, as a senior, it's the first time I have school pride.

Um, OK. Good for you. What's stupid is getting all bent out of shape by a comment like the one Michelle Obama made. If she continuously made comments like that, there might be something to it. But she hasn't, and she has explained what she really meant. So chill and get worked up about something that truly matters.

[Homyrrh]

Um, OK. Good for you. What's stupid is getting all bent out of shape by a comment like the one Michelle Obama made. If she continuously made comments like that, there might be something to it. But she hasn't, and she has explained what she really meant. So chill and get worked up about something that truly matters.
Like terrorist candidates and their evil wives?

[MadsenOMC]

Like terrorist candidates and their evil wives?

Exactly.

[Homyrrh]

Exactly.
And their insurgent spawn-of-Satan brood?

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Obama is being completely irrational. Anyone dumb enough to go for McCain on account of this cover wouldn't vote for him anyway.

[MadsenOMC]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=176628&title=obama-cartoon

[The Postmaster General]

Obama is being completely irrational. Anyone dumb enough to go for McCain on account of this cover wouldn't vote for him anyway.


What are you talking about? All he said was he found it tasteless and offensive. Most people seem to agree. The media are the ones making a mountain out of a molehill, and being irrational about it like they always are - maybe even the the people buying into it are as well. Obama hasn't even commented on the cover.

EDIT: ^See even John Stewart agrees with that one. I'm starting to think if I made 5 1/2 minute videos instead of 4 paragraph posts that take a minute to read, people would have more time to get my points.

[someguy]

I'm not offended by it, but it seems out of line - it lacks sophistication, even for satire. It comes off more like a South Park sketch than a legitimate political point. If you think you're surprised, I'm surprised at how hilarious everyone thinks caricaturing African-American features is. They could have just as easily made Michelle dressed up like Aunt Jamima and told everyone they were playing off one of many other criticisms. It could have made a good point, but it still would have been stretching a point for the sake of doing afro-centric caricature.

Michelle Obama neither has unusually big lips, nor does she wear an afro --- and neither of those features have anything to do with being anti-american, but have everything to do with making fun of the features of black people.

Michelle Obama hasn't really gotten the Muslim smear, instead there's been the comments about her being so angry and disappointed in America so that's why she was drawn as a Black Panther type character than a Muslim.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

What are you talking about? All he said was he found it tasteless and offensive. Most people seem to agree. The media are the ones making a mountain out of a molehill, and being irrational about it like they always are - maybe even the the people buying into it are as well. Obama hasn't even commented on the cover.

EDIT: ^See even John Stewart agrees with that one. I'm starting to think if I made 5 1/2 minute videos instead of 4 paragraph posts that take a minute to read, people would have more time to get my points.

I doubt that's why he was pissed off by it. He's a smart man so he probably understood that it was satirical and making fun of the same people who have been smearing him on Fox News. He's worried because some people still view him in that way. I don't understand why he'd be so offended by satire that supports his side.

[The Postmaster General]

Michelle Obama hasn't really gotten the Muslim smear, instead there's been the comments about her being so angry and disappointed in America so that's why she was drawn as a Black Panther type character than a Muslim.


Oh I'm getting that, but there's ways they could have drawn her as a radical without pushing a stereotype that was relevant 30 years ago. Afros aren't exactly synonymous with being a radical. It might seem like a small thing, but then again, by making it so far-fetched it could have gotten the point across, but I think it rings of stretching things a bit much. They could have put a bob marley/Castro hat on her or something. (http://www.itsablackthang.com/bob-marley-caps.htm)

I just think it was a weird choice to revert to an image of a black radical that's so dated and fits the stereotype of racists - Keep in mind, I wouldn't have so much to say had the Review said they were also making a point about racists fears, but they didn't and I think that's dishonest and has lead to what could have been a good point into just being a mockery.

I doubt that's why he was pissed off by it. He's a smart man so he probably understood that it was satirical and making fun of the same people who have been smearing him on Fox News. He's worried because some people still view him in that way. I don't understand why he'd be so offended by satire that supports his side.

What are you talking about? You are replying to me saying Obama hasn't voiced an opinion about it - only his supporters have. What's "that" which you refer to when you say it's what I'm saying he was pissed off about. As far as we know, he thinks its funny but his supporters don't.

On the other hand, McCain directly stated and is quotes as saying "...totally inappropriate."

That's kind of weird that this is turning into a smear against Obama, who hasn't said shit, but no one is saying McCain is over-reacting or acting like an idiot. What is this? A case of sticking to your own, or are people really that determined to wreck this guy's chances?