Georgia Newspaper Puts Obama In Crosshairs

Via Wonkette, a small paper serving the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Georgia called the Roswell Beacon is drawing fire for running a cover that depicts Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama in the crosshairs of a gun sight. The cover image promotes a story by freelance reporter Alan Sverdlik, who penned the article because "he was curious how law enforcement agencies were handling the increased number of threats lodged against Obama by white supremacist groups" in the Fulton County area. Sverdlik has told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he had no input on the cover design that accompanied the article.

A diary on the popular liberal blog DailyKos is driving much of the outrage at the Roswell Beacon. As Kos Diarist "Spiral Stairs" puts it:

The accompanying article is about hate groups in the area who are upset about Senator Obama's candidacy and concerns the local authorities have about possible violent acts from these groups. The article itself is not offensive, but the cover is beyond the pale. As indicated by the article, there are some serious racists in the area, and Obama's candidacy has brought out the worst in a lot of people. The last thing we need is a newspaper to suggest assassination with an incendiary cover such as this.

The AJC reports that the outcry has had limited effect:

Readers -- Kos receives more than 1.3 million visits a day, according to sitemeter.com -- were encouraged to contact the newspaper and its advertisers. By day's end, Holiday Inn announced it would no longer do business with the Beacon, though the paper's publisher, John Fredericks, said editorial decisions would not be influenced by "liberal blogger thuggery."

"Good, bad or ugly, we tell the truth," he said.

Fredericks and senior editor Tim Altork said there was little internal debate over the appropriateness of the imagery, though they were aware it was likely to create a stir.

"We knew we were on the provocative edge," Altork said. "But it's a very fair piece, a smart piece."

Nevertheless, this "fair...smart piece" has been seemingly expunged from the newspaper's website.

Comments

[wndrwrthg]

To see this as a threat to Mr. Obama is a reach. The story talks of groups that are sending threats to the candidate, thus the graphic is in line with the story. They are not advocating the assassination of Mr. Obama and it highly unlikely that anyone would be incited to do so by the graphic. Those who would be so inclined are going to do the deed and this image is of little value to them. I fail to see the outrage, as I have stated the graphic is in line with the body of the story.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Poppycock. Over-intel­lectualize­d rationalization.

You are assuming that the people this graphic will rile up can READ.

Thought experiment: Would you -- or the Secret Service -- hold the same position if it was Bush in the crosshairs?

[wndrwrthg]

Pishposh. No, I would not differ in my opinion were the story to be about threats to george bush and used the same graphic. What the Secret Service thinks I cannot attest to as I am not privy to their thoughts. Given the past actions of said S.S., I would expect them to contact the editor.

[ilcapo]

Bush,nor anybody else should be in crosshairs,but he should be in hand cuffs for war crimes

[floydknight]

Wow! I almost read over the most amazingly ignorant thing I have ever read on a blog. You suggest that seeing this as a "threat to Mr. Obama is a reach." Then you acknowledge reading about "groups that are sending threats to the candidate.­"

[wndrwrthg]

The use of the image is not a threat nor will it incite violence against Mr. Obama. The fact that there are groups or individuals that threaten him is what the story is about, thus the use of a image that shows him in the crosshairs is not inappropriate. Using your arguement, one could conclude that the mere writing of the story would incite violence because it gives them noteriety.

[YuryGetsin]

"Those who would be so inclined are going to do the deed"

Really? This is the grand sum of wisdom you have gained throughout your life?

Vote Obama
It's what all the stupid people aren't doing

[wndrwrthg]

Wow, you really put me in my place. My point being that the use of the graphic will not incite an attack on Mr. Obama. The use in relation to the story is apt. If a similar story were to be written about another candidate, I would find the same rule applies. I will be voting for Mr. Obama this election cycle, so you can calm yourself.

[blueshield]

Your argument may seem reasonable, but it neglects the real effect of the power of suggestion.

It's easier to see with an example. Say your hometown newspaper ran a cover story showing your bank branch in the crosshairs, with an accompanying article on the groups of murderers in your community who were threatening to shoot people who have accounts there. Would you be as comfortable dropping in? What if the crosshairs was on your child's school, and the threat was being made against students? Even if the police had all the named suspects in custody, would you be willing to bet your family's life that the published image would not inspire someone else to attempt it?

[Mykel]

Isn't it interesting that no matter how hard the radical Right tries to cast Barack Obama in a negative light, their efforts only succeed in making them look like complete fools, at best, and barbarians, at worst?

I'm starting to really enjoy this seemingly miraculous ability of his to turn things around and against his opponents.

Maybe it's the black-white-Muslim trifecta.

A modern day Moses, if you will.

[soundfury]

First it was Hillary's negative flier with the rifle going through Obama's head, then it was Mike Hucabee wtih the joke about a gun pointed at Obama's head AND NOW THIS!

Obama needs more security. Let's make him President ASAP. You can't get more security than that.

I think everyone is mighty bitter in this country. Once again, Obama was right.

[dapperd72]

A simple alteration of the photo presentation would probably have avoided all the criticism such an image encourages. Obama's photo only needs to have the crosshairs removed, otherwise we all have excellent reason to suspect the editor can't hide his own desire to have this "white fright" turn into an assassination attempt. I strongly suspect this directly resulted from Mike Huckabee's warped "joke" during his NRA Convention speech last week that a crashing sound he just heard was Obama falling off his chair when he heard a gunshot. That reminds me of Robert Kennedy's murder by Sirhan Sirhan in 1968 after he won the CA primary & came within a hair of Presidential nomination. I find Huckabee's sense of "humor" repugnant and this "joke" was no isolated incident either. A few months ago, he went pheasant-hunting with journalists in Iowa, then remarked as he carried his avian victims for the camera that he shot them because he knew they wouldn't vote for him in the caucuses. I'm glad he's no longer a contender, but hunters generally should kept as far away from the White House as any bona fide terrorist. Ted Nugent & David Duke would probably smile broadly from this whole hideous controversy over Obama's crosshairs image on this pathetic excuse for a newspaper.

[Bluejay00234]

Oh lets all give a hand to Mike Huckebeeeeeeeeeee, thanks Mikee! I'm sure they had your comments in mind when publishing this.

[Muzikal203]

It was a tasteless thing to do, and it would have been no less tasteless had it been one of the other Presidential candidates.

[kellygrrrl]

if this had been done to "one of the other candidates" or to the pResident Chimp or to Darth Vader
there would be arrest warrants drawn up immediately.

[soundfury]

Smart girl, Kelly.

[Syco]

no they would just black bagged them

[kellygrrrl]

Civil War?

[BADEN]

Absolutely.

I'm ready to rumble.

The past "southern strategy" cabal has ruined the United States politically and socially.

I'm sick of them.

[kellygrrrl]

Oh. My. Gawd!
this is going to get very ugly!

[timeforachangenow]

the possibility exists....­8(

[Pammy1151]

This is the email address of the owner of the Beacon. I sent an email to him and I suggest you do the same. Flood him with emails.

beaconcast.comaconcast.com

[kellygrrrl]

Thanks Pam

[BADEN]

Will do.

[metrext]

While you're at it, might as well add another name to the email.

Tim Altork - Senior Editor
beaconcast.comcast.com

[chic111]

I just wrote to them. Thanks. This is going to really get ugly. Us dems really have to stick together.

Chic

[floydknight]

Do you have his home address?

[SpoxLogic]

Not to mention that they could get into seriuos trouble with the Feds on this. Totally boneheaded!

[kellygrrrl]

If we did this with Dick Cheney's photo we would be arrested

[wm1066]

Well maybe we should do it on the streets of St Paul during the convention.
Everybody all of a sudden hold up a picture. That would get media attention of the demonstration.

[BADEN]

That' s what I was thinking also.....I want to see one of those big black SUVs pulling up in their parking lot - They gots some 'splainin' to do.

[Desdemondo]

Low class uneducated whites are searing with hate at the very thought of how well America the great has evolved to the point that a black candidate is running a well managed political race and stands to be the eventual nominee of the Democratic party.

Rednecks and hillbillies: get over it. It is now 2008, even in your wilderness.

Just imagine what a presidential victory for Senator Obama would do to enhance America's image, which has been so badly damaged, bruised and battered over the last eight (8) years.

The dawning of a new and better day for America is at hand.

Obama 08 - yes we can.

[Viper]

Actually Obama is running so well because us White men have royally screwed up our country for about 30 years.

Regards

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Only 30?

[Syco]

i think this country has been screwing up since Adams

[metalpipe]

I'm betting this was a trick to get in the lime light. They knew the odds were no one would go to jail over it, and it certainly got them some attention. I found at where I work, you don't want that kind of attention.

[soundfury]

Thank God the well-educated whites are winning over the uneducated whites at choosing the next President of the United States. We already know what happens when the uneducated whites succeed at picking a President.

[260Parkway]

I've lived in Georgia for the past 20 years and the level of ignorance from white america is staggering. I don't want to belive that this state could be Kentucky or West Virginia but I'm beginning to have my doubts. Not all of white america is that way, just a certain segment. If we could only rid the world of people of that ILK the rest of us could live in harmony.

[Speakchic]

And sadly this will not make much news. Because after all he is black and the country is trying to deal with that.

[Sctt859]

LOL omg...what time are we living in? It feels like 1968 all over again, though i was born in 1985 >,>

[floydknight]

If feels like 2008 to blacks.

[rmetz74]

Horrible, but not surprising.

I hope Democrats will get over their shock quickly, and go on the offensive - calling this crap exactly what it is... Race baiting. Don't shy away from it. Put it front and center in the press, and get the people who did it on all the talk shows to stammer through their pathetic justifications.