The op-ed is quite choice, really - and hard to know where to cut.
Cover charges If Obama's campaign is upset by a magazine satire, what will it do when the real attacks begin? July 15, 2008
Let's be frank. People sophisticated enough to read, say, newspaper editorials are smart enough to know that the New Yorker's cover art this week -- portraying Barack Obama as a be-turbaned Muslim and wife Michelle as an Afro-sporting terrorist with an AK-47 across her back -- is a work of satire. But what about the millions of dumb Americans who will think otherwise?
Obama's campaign is deeply worried about the legions of morons who they apparently believe make up the heart of this great nation. Obama spokesman Bill Burton helpfully interpreted the sensibilities of these uneducated masses when he said Monday, "Most readers will see [the cover] as tasteless and offensive. And we agree." Republican nominee-apparent John McCain's spokesman, Tucker Bounds, seemingly too bored with the controversy to come up with an original epithet, simply agreed that the cover was "tasteless and offensive."
Also offended by all the tastelessness was Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks, a fervent Obamaphile, who went on CNN on Monday to call for a boycott of this week's issue of the magazine. What Parks, Burton and myriad critics across the blogosphere agree on is that, yes, people who subscribe to the New Yorker are probably smart enough to understand the concept of satire, but the issue will be seen by clueless people at newsstands nationwide -- and they will come to the dangerous conclusion that, well, some artist hired by the New Yorker thinks Obama is a Muslim, his wife is a terrorist, he uses the American flag for kindling and he'd put a portrait of Osama bin Laden in the Oval Office. It's terrifying to imagine the impact this might have on the campaign.
By all means, read the whole thing - but quick: guess which right-wing house organ published this? The National Review? The Weekly Standard? Human Events? The Washington Times? Nope: this was written by that noted VRWC lackey The Los Angeles Times (via Hot Air Headlines). Sounds like that, when it comes to the Obama campaign, somebody over there is just a little bit tired of... well, take your pick; most of them would probably fit.
Still think that brazenly going back on your word to the media that you were going to accept public financing for the general election was a net positive for you, Senator Obama?
Moe Lane
Well of course us rubes out here could never...
Jaded July 15th, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. CDT (link)
understand satire...only Obamaphiles will "get" it....I personally think it is hilarious and I will buy a copy just to up their sales and than throw it in the trash where it truly belongs.
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy & does not destroy him is his own enemy
More please
mbauer July 15th, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. CDT (link)
I really do wish that this entire election would play out like a movie. I'd be so highly entertained if I could grab some popcorn and watch it for 3 hours... Or maybe they should make it into a trilogy.
But no, it's more like a very lengthy season on tv... that leaves me begging for the next episode to come on right now.
I heard he eats baby seals....
Aaron Gardner July 15th, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. CDT (link)
oops I guess I shouldn't joke about that...all us rural folk might believe it...then we'd have to march...and torch fuel is through the roof..nor have I sharpened my pitchfork lately..;^)
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger
"I'll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust" Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah...yes I love it that much.
oh and rec'd.....n/t
Aaron Gardner July 15th, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. CDT (link)
n/t
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger
"I'll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust" Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah...yes I love it that much.
As another redneck rube out here in the
janis July 15th, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. CDT (link)
heartland, I was tickled pink to see the magazine cover. It is said that good satire must include truth in order to be funny--oh, boy, did THIS one hit the head on the nail! The only thing truthier that they could have portrayed was a drawing of Obama cowering in a corner somewhere wringing his hanky and crying "They're so mean to me!" What a total wuss.
The funny thing about this whole story
Shaggy_Dog July 15th, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. CDT (link)
Does anybody out there actually read the New Yorker? What's its circulation outside of Manhattan? Could it even be six figures- I doubt it.
Polarization
Attucks July 15th, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. CDT (link)
Obama is the reason for the polarization…I begged & pleaded with our County chairwoman from the start of this debacle..I told her that a woman & a black against each other was going to cause a great divide..and it is quite evident that many others felt the same way. I also told her that Obama would never survive the vetting process..The Dems in power firmly believe that they can hide Obama, and thus far they have been able to do just that..
They’re betting that we will all get in lockstep before November..but Obama is such a weak candidate, in all phases of his life that people are starting to see what a stain he is leaving every time he is unscripted. This “Man of Unity” is causing the greatest divide this Country has ever seen. a Dem for McCain..I'm voting for a Hero (McCain) not a Zero (Obama)
Attucks®
Hmmm- if a cartoonist put Bush in a minister's
streetwise July 15th, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. CDT (link)
outfit, with Laura barefoot and pregnant, standing in front of a wall with Dr. Dobson's picture and a floor-to-ceiling cross whose bottom is impaling the Constitution, the Great and the Good of the MSM would be celebrating great satire.
Made to order satire
Socrates July 16th, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. CDT (link)
I think the New Yorker served up this cover just the way they thought Lord Obama would like it. He should have said "I thought it was funny. It's just they way the Right tries to portray me, and I'm glad some in the media can see that."
But no. He went whiny, as usual.
He's just not ready for prime time.
-- Gone 2500 years, still not PC.
The ironic bit is, all of that stuff was primary-related.
Moe Lane July 16th, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. CDT (link)
We're hitting him for being a indecisive, inexperienced, oath-breaking, doctrinaire liberal who'll say anything - and betray anybody - to get elected.
Bet you won't see that on a New Yorker cover any time soon.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.I've been usurped!Probably not
Randolph_Finder July 17th, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. CDT (link)
Mostly because it would be tough to illustrate.
I don't think so
Raven July 20th, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. CDT (link)
Have him on his knees, clutching a hanky in one hand and tears running down his face, while arrayed between him and the audience, everyone he's thrown under the bus, some of them prone and bleeding, while his other hand is sticking the dagger into yet another of his supporters.
What do you think?
"It is getting harder and harder to find suicide bombers. And all the really good ones are gone."
Confirmation
kiki July 16th, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. CDT (link)
The whole response of Obama to the New Yorker mag is truly a display of his lack of maturity and capability to handle issues that may come. Obama is too emotionally sensitive. I believe it's nice for a man to display emotions but let's face it, Obama is emotional high maintenance, not experienced enough obviously due to his response to a cartoon. If Obama wants to roll with the big boys then he's going to have to learn to take soe punches. The old saying "Truth Hurts" applies to Obama. When the truth comes out, he is quick to defend himself with a lovely scripted speech but when questioned about any of his accomplishments or "plans" for the people, he eloquently switches channels or gives a "vague universal answer". If these qualities were the most important features for becoming President of the USA, then Obama would have my vote because these are the only things he does well. He would have been a wonderful actor and probably have won several Oscars by now had he not chose the wrong career. People would flock to see him with excited anticipation instead of blind, ignorant beliefs. Not the most fond of McCain either but I'll vote for him as a vota against Obama but we don't see Johnny addressing the citizens with his demands to cease and desist talk of his age. Even though the talk of his age, being old, is age discrimination just as talking about Obama's colour is, according to Obama, discrimination. Hmmmm....Works both ways...
He ought to start wearing red.
jimmuy8 July 16th, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. CDT (link)
Has this guy never heard of the "never let them see you bleed" maxim?
Jeez.
In a crowded emergency room, this guy is drowning everyone else out with his cries for a priest, surgeons and a team of nurses to treat his skinned knee . . .
In which I agree with Moe:
CrabCakes July 17th, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. CDT (link)
It's a cartoon...in a magazine that has exactly 0 impact on anyone outside the New York dry-martini crowd.. I can't believe that Obama (or all three 24-hour news stations) wasted a lick of time on it.
By the way, Moe, now that Obama's fund-raising numbers are out, I'm glad that you can finally stop worrying so much about him. He seems to have done fine. I know he appreciates your concern, though.
Thanks for the head's-up, CrabCakes.
Moe Lane July 17th, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. CDT (link)
Do you have a link to the breakdown by general/primary amounts, plus information on the DNC's basic numbers? The Reuters article did not include it.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.I've been usurped!No, I don't have the details.
CrabCakes July 17th, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. CDT (link)
I'm sure they'll come out over the next day or so, and I'd be interested to see how the money is being allocated.
I expect that the DNC will consistently underperform the RNC.
I have some more of the details...
Moe Lane July 17th, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. CDT (link)
...working on the post now.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.I've been usurped!Well Moe
Marcus_Traianus July 17th, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. CDT (link)
Since you are writing a post, can you also provide the amount contributed by Hillary supporters? I heard this morning there is a fairly active campaign to tape 57 pennies in an envelope and send them to the DNC. This of course is to show their displeasure with the sapient candidate whom believes there are 57 states. Could this be an underlying reason for their fundraising prowess? Please don't go to press without covering this point. Oh and also the whole joint fundraising thingy with the DNC.
"One great object of the Executive is to controul the Legislature. The Legislature will continually seek to aggrandize & perpetuate themselves; and will seize those critical moments produced by war, invasion or convulsion for that purpose". GOVERNEUR MORRIS
Contributor to The Minority Report
I'll be interested to see
Dave_in_Fla July 17th, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. CDT (link)
The behavior here is very odd. If they raised $52M in June, I would have expected that headline on July 2nd.
Unless this was all a game trying to shakedown their contributors by giving them an artificial sense of panic.
Not that this is a well run campaign, so you can't rule out accounting incompetance. But irrational behavior usually is driven by rational action in response to stimuli.
"If they were merely incompetent, then at least SOME of their actions would have been to the benefit of the country."
The run-up to June was
Raven July 20th, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. CDT (link)
"We'll raise $100 million in June!"
$52 mil, while impressive, is a failure. They promised $100 mil and delivered barely half.
"It is getting harder and harder to find suicide bombers. And all the really good ones are gone."
Im better than you
notfooled July 20th, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. CDT (link)
You guy are SO sofistaked. GEE