New Yorker Cover Shows "Muslim" Barack With Gun-Slinging Michelle Obama

Politico.com:

The New Yorker says it's satire. It certainly will be candy for cable news.

At a press availability Sunday afternoon in San Diego, Senator Obama was asked, according to the diligent Maria Gavrilovic of CBS News: "The upcoming issue of the New Yorker, the July 21st issue, has a picture of you, depicting you and your wife on the cover. Have you seen it? If not, I can show it to you on my computer. It shows your wife Michelle with an Afro and an AK 47 and the two of you doing the fist bump with you in a sort of turban-type thing on top. I wondered if you've seen it or if you want to see it or if you have a response to it?"

Obama (shrugs incredulously): "I have no response to that."

Priceless stage direction by Maria.

The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: "On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of the The New Yorker, in 'The Politics of Fear,' artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the Presidential election to derail Barack Obama's campaign."

Read the whole story: Politico.com

Comments

[ebbtide]

Well, that is just grand, isn't it? All the false info re Obama and Michelle all wrapped up into one front cover. And we are supposed to buy this mag? Because of it's cover? No way. I do not buy any mags any more. One is best off getting the real info, instead of the hype, from the iternet and these days one needs to be skeptical about that also. LOL

And you know, dear New Yorker, that Obama and Michelle have two young children, which wyou also attack under the cover of satire? Good on you.

[seaward]

This is how the worst right-wing smear gets propagated. There is a certain percentage of folks who will believe this and then a few right-wing media types who will amplify it and if criticized they will repond that "it was just like what was on the cover of the New Yorker" .

Then a mainstream poll will ask if Michelle Obama's maiden name is Angela Davis and 36% of the respondents will say it is and that will get reported here and in Mother Jones and then another poll will state that 43% of respondents think that Obama wears muslim underwear and Keith Olberman will dutifully report it because he likes how it shows how stupid people are and that will get repeated in Kos and as fact by Maureen Dowd.

This is how McCain will win. The lefties can't help but eat their young. After all - to paraphrase Woody Allen - we would never vote for anyone who would have *us* as supporters.

[wmholt]

Well said!

[dhinds]

The New Yorker intentionally misrepresented Barack and Michelle's character, focused their readers attention away from the important issues and called into question their own credibility as a trusted source of information.

If I was a subscriber, I'd cancel my subscription.

[Promise]

What were they thinking?!! I have been a reader of The New Yorker for a long time. I once subscribed but it has slipped, in my opinion, in quality in recent years so now I just pick it up when I'm in the public library or if I find a copy at the dentist's. There is much still to like in the magazine if you overlook the elitist, or wannabe elitist attitude.

Their decision to print this cover is disastrous. Yes, once a person reads the article and sees that this is meant to put down the politics of fear, it is perhaps justified. But one picture is worth a thousand words and many people will see the picture and fail to read the article. Surely these hyper smart types at The New Yorker know that....In their ongoing effort to be one step ahead of mass culture, they have done this man and his cause a great disservice. They owe him a huge apology and several more covers to make up for this mistake...­if they can be clever enough to figure something out.

[iswideopen]

McAain=Bush.

[mlr710]

I understand the satire, I just wonder if others will get that or if we will have a week of mind-numbing commentary about this.

[DarkWitch]

Oh Dude, you actually WATCH that stuff?

I'd say it will get at least 3 or 4 days, unless something juicier comes along.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

I am enthusiastically for Obama and this New Yorker cover made me laugh out loud. If cable news grabs this and tries to elicit outrage or anything serious, all commentators should laugh out loud on the airwaves. Yes, long loud guffaws! I only hope the next issue of the New Yorker does something on its cover with Grampa McCain and rich nurse Cindy.

[4wehttam]

I'm sorry but this just feeds bigotry people already have. Having the networks air and discuss it for the next few days is bad press for Barack. There are too many ignorant people out there, and unfortunately they vote.

[soupson52]

Why? Why would someone do this unless they want more war and mayhem.

[Maverick80229]

An editorial staff with class and competence would never have considered this cover for their magazine.

Obviously, the New Yorker editorial staff has neither.

[PoliticalEnnui]

There is some satire that is nuanced and then some satire which fails on that point. For one, I consider this a failure on the part of the New Yorker. This isn't some page 5 cartoon to accompany a highly contextualized article. This is the front page. I expect better of such a publication.

[gala1]

If it was up to me I'd depict them as Lord and Lady Macboma, the Thane of Twaddlore.

Is that an entitlement I see before me?

The parallels are so striking -including the cauldron-stirrers of the Democratic Selection Committee--that I have to wonder just how much Scottish blood is in his mix

Bet this will be one of the NYers all time biggest selling covers.

-gala1

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

This is vile and disgusting. I know it's satire and I will defend to the death the freedom of the press to print this garbage but I shall never purchase The New Yorker again.

[larry278]

The cover clearly shows why your aunt in Iowa still reads the NEW YORKER & acts surprised when you send her a gift subscription of VANITY FAIR or NEW YORK. She likes multi-page stories, articles & the clever cartoons. She wouldn't get the NEW YORK SUN, NEW YORK OBSERVER but still remembers the old VILLAGE VOICE & ESQUIRE.

[njack]

I am appalled that the New Yorker would stoop to approving such a callous cover that they KNOW most Americans won't look beyond. They will see it at the newsstand and say to themselves, "See, I knew what they were all along, and now the New Yorker has validated all the rumours".

[JackNasty]

It's refreshing to see a sharp edge to the New Yorker's usually bland satire.

As for the the notion people who watch cable televion won't get it:: good grief. Mostly likley anyone aywhere who take notice of what the New Yorker prints isn't too stupid to understand the joke. The cartoon speaks for itself.