Do you know what sucks? This New Yorker cover

Oh, Lord. For its July 21 cover, somehow, someone at The New Yorker thought it would be hilarious and satirical to depict presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife wearing a turban and military fatigues, carrying a machine gun, burning a flag and fist-bumping—all of which while standing under a picture of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

I'm all for poking fun at the absurd and exposing the outlandish, inappropriate and oft racist allegations the Obama campaign has endured. But there's something about this image that goes too far, that feels egregious and exacerbating, that veers quickly from edgy to downright irresponsible. Or, as Obama spokesperson Bill Burton called it: "tasteless and offensive."

The New Yorker's editor-in-chief David Remnick responded by saying:
"Our cover 'The Politics of Fear' combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are."
and
"Satire is part of what we do."

I have to say the magazine's usual "satire"—mostly whimsical covers of things like dogs looking sadly at the snow—is a far cry from representing a woman who could potentially become our next first lady in a Black Panther Party-esque afro and a sinister smirk.
Something is just wrong, wrong, wrong about all of this.Source

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Posted by G Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:13pm PDT

There are too many idiotic people out there who will say " See it's true" upon seeing this cover. This was not funny in the climate we are currently living in . We need to focus on the real issues and stop with the stupid politics. This was crude and offensive. It crossed a line that should have never been crossed. Imagine if it were a cover with Mc Cain and his wife and past problems. There would be bloody heck.

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Posted by Mr. H Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:31pm PDT

This is bad only because some people aren't well read enough to appreciate the intention of the picture. I hear people say racist things about Barack Obama every day. The parody wasn't wasted on me. I grew up reading mad magazine.

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Posted by Kasha P Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:32pm PDT

I agree that does suck.

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Posted by Raven Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:07pm PDT

If people are bothered by the cover maybe they need to read the article..Obama has posed in Muslim dress before. Why is it a problem now? He and Michelle went to an church steeped in "black theology". Michelle herself has made several inflammatory comments regarding race. So, why is this so "offensive"? This campaign is getting ridiculous!! Everything that doesn't annoint him as the "Messiah" is offensive..I don't understand..I don't care for McCain either, but Obama is acting like a baby..And he wants to be President? And the cover of a book bothers him??

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Posted by Otto B Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:20pm PDT

Where is the cover with McCain nodding approval to Condi as she is waterboarding prisoners?
Do we get to see a funny one with then-wife Carole in the hospital while John and Cindi carry on yet-another adulterous affair?
How about one with John crashing a plane in Corpus Christi Bay?
Did you notice? All those "funny" issues to be satired about McCain are based on facts.
That's satire. Making up stuff is not satire, it is a hatchet job.

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Posted by Deana H Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:45pm PDT

I think it's funny. This is probably more of an accurate depiction of how the Obamaa really are compared to how their PR people try to show them as being. Go ahead and vote for him if you want the US snuggling up to terrorist countries like Iran. If he gets elected, I'm doing the unthinkable, moving to Canada

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Posted by Deana H Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:49pm PDT

THIS IS SOME BULL S&$# I AM SO UPSET WITH THIS RACIAL PIC THE AMERICAN FLAG IS IN THE FIRE YOU GOT A PIC OF OSAMA ON THE WALL AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MOST RIDICULOUS ATTIRE ON SENATOR OBAMA AND HIS WIFE ITS BAD ENOUGH WE HAVE FOX NEWS TALKING CRAP ABOUT THIS MAN AND REFERING TO HIS WIFE AS "HIS BABY MOMMA" NOW WE HAVE IGNORANCE FROM THE NEWYORKER ALSO......INCASE NO BODY HAS NOTICED AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE IT HARD ENOUGH AND THE MINUTE WE HAVE A SMART AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE AND STANDING UP FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IN WE GOT A&# HOLES TRYING TO BRING HIM DOWN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
How exactly do black people have it so bad these days? You can say what you want and act anyway you want and society looks the other way. AND the goverment pays your rent and buys your food. YOU were never a slave and unless you were born in Africa, you aren't an African American. You're just a plain old black American. What does Obama believe in besides black theology and being sympathetic to terrorists? Time to throw out the broken record about how bad blacks are treated in this country. If you don't like it, I'm sure you can find a cheap flight to Africa!

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Posted by Thomas R Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:12pm PDT

you mean this is satire,, I thought it was finally a picture that brought out the facts..

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Posted by Becky Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:21pm PDT

Just read one or both of Barack's books, and you will be very embarrassed for the staff at the New Yorker. Even though it is sattire, it is disgusting. Shame on them. I am white, and blacks have had to overcome much. I'd like to see you in their shoes. But there are also a lot of caucasions, and other races, who are mistreated by the government we have allowed, also. And who's fault is that? The lazy people who won't get out and vote for the strongest candidate with character, and impeccible integrity, be they a man or woman, regardless of race. Where is your courage??? It is my FIRM belief, we have no choice but to elect Barack. Anyone else would be cheating our wonderful nation. Maybe you'd rather sit in front of your tv's, drink, and deny you have any power at all to change things. Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see." More people should practice this.

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