New York Post Employees Unhappy, Ashamed Of Offensive Cartoon

The mood inside the New York Post, it seems, is a mix of anger and bewilderment that the paper published a cartoon depicting the authors of the stimulus as a dead, crazed chimpanzee.

On Wednesday, an employee of the paper told the Huffington Post that the phone lines had been inundated with complaints over what was interpreted as a racially charged jab at Obama. "As they f--king should be," said the source.

Today, meanwhile, the Post's Associate Editor, Sandra Guzman, sent out an email to other reporters distancing herself from the paper's cartoon and acknowledging that she has talked to management about her disapproval.

"Thank you for your feedback," reads the email. "Please know that I had nothing to do with the Sean Delonas cartoon. I neither commissioned or approved it. I saw it in the paper yesterday with the rest of the world. And, I have raised my objections to management. --Sandra Guzman."

The Post has stood by the cartoon, saying that it was meant to mock the contents of the stimulus by comparing the legislation to a now-infamous chimpanzee who attacked a woman in Connecticut.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about the image on the Air Force One, Wednesday and had the following to say: "I have not seen the cartoon, but I don't think it's altogether newsworthy that I don't spend a lot of time reading the New York Post."

Comments

[shellofmyselph527]

Why don't we get our heads together and move forward in a productive way toward something that is more lucrative, like fixing the deficit, or trying to figure out how to get people into jobs, or any number of worthwhile things, Instead of sitting around blathering on about nonsensical things like a cartoon. Sure it could have been taken as an insult. But taking it as an insult is essentially like letting the class bully take your milk change. That's what is wrong with our country today, we have too many people blowing out opinions on superficial trivial nonsense, and not enough people willing to say something and stand behind it. Too many speakers and not enough doers!!! I say lets get up off our duffs and do something about the real issues and stop wasting time with all the nonsensical bull. Thanks for your time.

[JohnLloydScharf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJKK6oSAXXk

Where were you 14 months ago when they were attacking President Bush this way?

[shellofmyselph527]

I was laid up having a miscarriage about 14 months ago, then recovering the several months after with post traumatic stress disorder... thats the truth of where i was at. my comment has nothing to do with president bush or obama or any political figure. it has to do with the state of our country as a whole, and the negligence that we pass of to our governmet when we are the ones that are not acting. re-read the whole statement before you waste your time commenting with blather!

[JohnLloydScharf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJogDbYhR14

Where were you 10 months ago when they were attacking President Bush this way?

[JohnLloydScharf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qVS4hUkiyk

Where were you over two years ago when they were doing this to President Bush....

Good work. New heights of hypocracy.

[Frank Cannon]

The significant difference here is that President Bush actually is a monkey. Did you not notice the previous 8 years of flying poopoo?

[shellofmyselph527]

I fail to see why there is such a big fuss over a cartoon. The Cartoon seems like a shameless attempt by the artist and the newspaper to bring about a whole big stinking bunch of publicity. As for the outpouring of comments on the cartoon, you are doing exactly what the depiction was engineered to do. Think about it. Everyone who has commented good, bad, or indifferent (including myself) has been taken for just a few moments from living just a few moments of their lives, distracted by something that is meaningless in the long run. Those few moments add up people!!! In a few weeks the cartoon will be forgotten and you will be on to another meaningless topic, wasting yet again another few precious moments of your life, talking about something else that will ultimately be forgotten. The artist, whats his name, has gotten his name out there, the newspaper has gotten a buzz, and people are mad over what boils down to some guy's opinion in a drawing. It just makes no sense to me how OUR GREAT NATION can get so upset over something so trivial. It will not make or break anything, its not going to eat you, and you don't have to depend on it to get next week's groceries in the ice box.

[Katie Potter]

I see the cartoon as being a lack of respect for our country and the people who are breaking their backs under a new legislation to fix all of the damage that our last president caused. Yes, the cartoon is absolutely racist... and this is a young, white female speaking here... completely inappropriate towards African Americans, our President, and American PEOPLE in general. Specifically, I see it as a direct stab at Obama and his entire cabinet. The USA is in serious trouble right now due to a previous president who SHOULD have been depicted as a freaking monkey, we have a man in office now who started working on figuring out how to fix everything the MOMENT he knew he was to take office, and I don't see how anyone can justify printing something like this in an internationally famous paper. Americans are despised in every other country in the world. With GW finally out of office we're just sustaining our reputation as being the leading pompous jack-asses of the world by allowing something like that to go to press. How can you live in this country and have absolutely NO RESPECT for a brilliant man who's trying to pull us out of a bottomless pit? Humanity is dying, compassion is gone... and this cartoon kind of proves that. It's sad to see "the land of the free" turn into "the land of the bored, arrogant and ignorant." I'm moving to Canada.

[tonguetied]

During the campaign there were accusations of racism towards Clinton and Ferraro where none existed. Sounds like the same thing going on here with this cartoon.
It wasn't about Obama.
People are threatening to burn down a building and kill members of the media over this and the cartoon was not about Obama! He did not write the stimulus bill.
The whole thing is really crazy.

[Vieux Charles]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/4/12/183155/559

Anyone wishing to complain can complain here: http://www.dailykos.com/contactus

[MarsAmbassador]

I fail to see how anyone can defend that cartoon based on humour or satire. A chimp attacking a woman and the stimulus bill have NOTHING in common. Unless you're comparing Obama to a chimpanzee and calling for him to be shot. But in terms of humour, dissecting it from a rational point of view to understand The Joke that the cartoonist was trying to convey, there really is no connection between these two things whatsoever, therefore there is no source of humour whatsoever. There has to be a connection for it to be funny, and there isn't one. It's more classic Republican racism and baiting. Yet again. Just like all the monkey business they pulled during the election.

[ncmom54]

Agree, but for those who dont realize the intentional implications here are a few.

http://www.politivine.com/2008/06/13/racism-at-its-finest-the-sock-obama-toy/
be sure to click the link to Racial Iconography

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/11/politics/fromtheroad/entry4515246.shtml

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207163811.htm

I don't know the answer on how to deal with this only that it needs to be called out for what it is... this 'visual op ed' truly crossed the line... and they're going to keep pushing that line until we the people declare it unacceptable.

[care4mypeeps]

Although this cartoon brings to the surface the secret thoughts of those who are still chained to a racist past, it also gives us another opportunity to talk about race and call to task those who fan the flames with insensitivity and condescending analogies. MSNBC has got to call Pat Buchanon to task for his bitter racial insensitivity. If you were to pull out all of the tapes in which Mr.Buchanon discussed race relations with an African Americans you can line up the cheap shots and attacks that he heralds at our community. We as leaders lead our people in the right direction. We have conversations about moral and civic resposibility and for MSNBC to allow him to keep getting away with this is unconscienable. Who does he think he is to call my people to task when he cant see the hard work we do in the background only to have it dismissed by his long History of arrogance against the African American Community. MSNBC you owe us this One. FIx It Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rockyersocksoff]

Now I understand the adage "Dumb as a Post."

[Vieux Charles]

Its a bad cartoon because it makes light of a horrible incident - not because of some imagined racial overtones. People need to lighten up on this whole racial thing. It is quite all right to arbitrarially mention monkeys, watermelon, fried chicken or malt liquer in the same paragraph as a reference to a black person, or in this case in context with legislation that was signed 90% by white people.

[Osmona]

Okay, keep the blinders on.

[Vieux Charles]

No blinders here. You?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/4/12/183155/559

[care4mypeeps]

If you did not bare the scars of the master whip or the impregnation of his child through rape.
If you have not been sold on the auction block and had all of your children sold off like cattle then you can tear yourself away from the pain of the past and the inhumane treatment of a people who were chained to their circumstances. The tragedy is that too many have forgotten and thus allow those whose ancestors who committed the wrong to inflict it on a generation who overcame slavery only to not feel the pangs of those who brought thier freedom with their suffering. I Can Not Forget lest I dishonor the memory of my people who made it all posible. I am not consumed just grateful and accountable for my legacy and theirs. We do have to hold people accountable. If it was a AntiSemetic cartoon their would have been out rage, End Of Story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vieux Charles]

Did you once complain to the DaiIykos for their blatantly rac!st attacks against Colin Powell and Michael Steele? Did you ever write a letter to the Washington Post for the rac!st cartoons of Condi Rice by Pat Oliphant and Gary Trudeau? Did you call up the editor of Time magazine for allowing a rac!st editorial of Justice Clarence Thomas?

Spare me the faux outrage.

[shellofmyselph527]

as terrible as the atrocities were that enslaved and tortured your ancestors, and i do believe that we should never forget, there is room for forgiveness. none of the people that were alive then are alive now. none of the people that were beaten and sold are alive now. we only have terrible records of what happened between divided people. it was a backward and confusing and terrible time for our country. With all due respect and kindness, never forget, but forgive and move forward. There are bigger and more prominent things in front of us on our current table. as I have said a few times before, we should UNITE AS ONE PEOPLE, ONE WORLD RACE and take on the problems that face us now instead of living in a past full of hurts and insults. I am not in any way trying to play down or dishonor the memory of the people that were enslaved in our past. But, take heart "your people" are enslaved no more, and now you have one of "your people" sitting in one of the most influential seats in the world. leave the past behind, and move forward in our brave new world, child of today. Bring with you the memories of the children of yesterday so that we may continue to learn and grow, but shed the hurts, and take the lessons that we have all learned, and forge a new path. respectfully, Shell

[HyperInfluential]

It doesn't work that way. YOU don't get to decide what's offensive to African Americans. THEY get to decide. Same with any other group. Obviously, if the straight white males of the world had their own way they would have all kinds of pet names and references for the rest of us. We know this because they USED TO SAY THEM ALL THE TIME when they ran the world by themselves.

Now that we have diversity, straight white males are going to have to get used to the sensation of being surprised that they have done or said something offensive, and they are going to have to learn to swallow their pride and accept that even though they're pretty sure if THEY were black they wouldn't be making such a fuss, the fact is that black people ARE offended, so whatever they did WAS offensive. Offense has occurred. An apology is due. Even if you don't really "get" what the fuss is about.

[deano61]

Stereotyping is fine again, I guess? And for you straight white males, keep your opinions to yourselves.....................

[deano61]

Stereotyping in full swing....
And for you straight white males out there, blogs are no place for your opinions.....

[shellofmyselph527]

I know that what you said about the racial groups is politically correct and all, but you and most everyone out there fail to see the bigger picture, and that is what is keeping us in the darkness. What you just spouted off about racial groups getting to choose is the exact thing that racists have put in place to keep us separated. We are one world race, not african american, caucasian, hispanic, and other. As long as people keep buying into this propaganda, we will never be united. There is no "THEY" there is only "US", and once the people of this Great Nation figure that out, then we can truly be The United States Of America. Forget about offense. there would be no offense if we would all just toughen up and unite. The division is what is keeping this argument alive. SNUFF IT OUT!

[deano61]

Apparently the NY Post, as well as Rick Santelli, didn't get the memo that the critical opposition is supposed to be vacation whenever a Democrat is seated in the White House.................

[rockyersocksoff]

Damn straight.

Say, can I hitch a ride to the next meeting of Red Herrings, Straw Men, and Whatnot with you, pal?

[deano61]

Don't forget A.A.

[JessWonderin]

????? "critical response???" I guess in some parts of America racist sterotypes and implying the President should be shot for his actions can be "critial response" . . . . . most folks down here out of the hall'ar don't think so . . . .

[J55inMo]

I voted for Obama. I almost didn't, because I didn’t like it when his camp made ordinary situations into racism where none existed, and Obama didn’t object. Now to the cartoon; the first thing I thought of when I saw it, was the old comparison “that a monkey could have done a better job”. I thought the comparison was to Congress, given that they authored the bill. To me it’s no different than Obama making the statement about putting lipstick on pig. I didn’t think Obama was calling Palin a pig, and I don’t believe Obama is being called a monkey. How many times have I heard someone say; “I could get a monkey to do that job”. They weren’t talking about getting a black person to do the job, just expressing their view on the simplistic nature of the task at hand or the less than adequate results. The people who are trying to make everything about race and prejudice should look first in the mirror to see who the racist really is. If white America was as racist as some would have us think, we would not have a black president. President Obama is a big boy ,and if he feels violated I think he is capable of saying so without having Al Sharpton as a front man. And by boy, I don’t mean a black of male gender.

[norkas]

The cartoon offended well over 90% of American Americans and i am being very consertive. Many others were offeneded as well/

This was disgusting and anyone telling the Aferican American community what they should be offended about or what they should not be is a tyrant that sees the world ONLY throughe there own little eye glass.

Try doing a cartoon like this to the Jewish community and tell us that we should not be offended. Just watch what will happen because our people have suffered enough and the Aferican Americans in this country and elsewhere have as well.

I and many others find it offensive the retraction the post made and futhermore those that tells us how to interpt this are behaving like fools who have no logic or a clue to life or humanity.

[J55inMo]

If President Obama were a white man and the cartoon was the same, would it be racist or sarcastic? Maybe the people making it racist are the people making the comparison of President Obama to a monkey. I am not one of those people. I give him far more credit than that.

[deano61]

I Agree. Al Sharpton is a fool. He was the first in the media telling me how to interpret this cartoon.............................

[tmetu]

I understand how you can feel the way you do. I remember making the same such comments to my husband about a situation in which I felt that Hispanics were overreacting to something I thought was small. "I don't see why that is so offensive to them," I said to my husband. He put their situation in terms that I could better understand, in terms of something that blacks might experience and then I understood. Unfortunately, it is far more difficult for a white person to understand the plight of any minority group that experiences racism because you have no experiences that you can relate to.

Your comment shows the huge gulf between the experiences of black Americans and white Americans. I understand that you do not consider yourself to be a racist and you believe that most white Americans are as you are. However, as a black American I have experienced quite a bit of racism and have witnessed others being treated as less than human because of the color of their skin. This cartoon is in keeping with what I have seen and experienced. It is a thinly veiled racial swipe. And by the way, Obama won this election in spite of the racial attitudes held by many because of the dire situation our country is in. We did not have the luxury of voting for the white candidate, we had to vote for the most qualified.

[shellofmyselph527]

food for thought... the "white experiences" that you are searching for can be best demonstrated by the conquests of the roman catholic church during the crusades. we all have something to look back on and take from in the abuse category, if we dig deep enough. The whole point here is that we are being made automatons by the constant division in our world community by the politically correct hog wash served up to us by our schools and our television sets. the bigegr picture is what is im portant here not what the media tells us is important. look at it. oh my goodness! someone got offended by a cartoon and now thousands of people are blathering on about it on blogs and chats and comments threads. do you honestly think that this is truly important? Take for example the fact that in small towns across america the amount of people that are losing their jobs because of the poor economy. wouldnt your brain power be better suited to thinking about a solution or calling your congressman to have them push for more funding for, oh, say better health care for the masses, or more for the food stamp programs so that these poor people can eat. nope instead every one of us, (yes myself included) is sitting here wasting time, when we could be doing something about whats right in front of our eyes, instead of digging up past hurts, and the transgressions of our ancestors. Thank you

[Osmona]

Excuse you, but the protest is NOT against White America. The protest is against the NY Post. Furthermore, this is NOT only about President Obama. Its about African Americans and images associated with them for years. If there were no wordage in the cartoon no one would be complaining, but there was. If they had hung a sign on the chimps next that stated Congress, there would be no protest. We all know what the cartoon represented. Fortunately, the majority of Americans "get it" and are willing to speak out against this behavior.

[care4mypeeps]

It is so incredibly naive to always think benignly about a racist entent if you don't have to think about and be reminded what truely happend in slavery, it was horrific. When we sanitize our minds of all of the human rights violationa African American slaves suffered under their masters care the heart automatically breaks if the conscience is in good working condition. When we correctly depict what actually happend by the hands of the people we call great, great grandmom and great, great granddad we can right future legacy's from the sanitization of its cruel past.

Until we remember we can't correct the surpressed memories of those who forgot who handed us a sanitized version that keeps allowing those who are synister to keep opening old wounds.

If you are not offended good for you, but for those of us who are have a Right to feel the way we do.
I'm not consumed just trying to right the Ship.

[urfree2speak]

Okay, here we go..lets drag out the ole blacks are racist against us crap. You know when u make a statement....at least have it rooted in something other than sheer ignorance. Once you have enslaved a whole people, there is no erasing that ..period. Now the new politically correct observations are that we blacks are somehow "angry" and "racists" ..let me see.aahhhh....yeah! Why ? because I read! All you got to do is read.......
History is real, and "blacks " just did not walk across the ocean (casually) climb up on trees and hang themselves , pick all the cotton (literally in the world) not get paid...while eating swine intestines,brains etc. discover crack, import guns,alcohol and commence to stealing everything not nailed down while being "racists"
It is what it was/is racist! now the sad statement is that whites in long island NY are "buying" that stuff...hmmm we have returned to the era of "giant Negros"

[Dagpool]

I doubt it.

[ncmom54]

I'm a middle age Southern white woman and I remember:
Segregated bathrooms & water fountains. The bus that would not stop in the rain for an elderly black woman and her grandchild because the back row was full. Pictures of monkeys stuck on school lockers, beatings, housefires & hanging trees. There are laws now, but the evil still exists.
I worry about our President's safety. Depicting/inciting violence against him should be taken seriously regardless of how sublime it might be delivered.
Most Americans make an effort to honor our diversity and differences of opinion...
but why do we have to tolerate so much hate?

[JoeFromCA]

I didn't think it was racist. When I think of 'monkey depiction' of humans, I honestly first think of Charles DARWIN- who was white of course and often depicted as an ape. Next I think of George BUSH- maybe that's because I didn't vote for him and it was just common to portray him as such. That's my bias.

So, why do people immediately think it suggests a black person? Maybe because YOU are racist. By the way, did you know that most monkeys and apes actually have WHITE SKIN! They only have black hair. Anyway, I'm white, I voted for Obama, I think he's doing a wonderful job in a very difficult economic situation, and I think most of you are crazy. Thanks.

[lisa12345]

I do not think it was meant to be racist. I believe racism exists and is very wrong, and I think white America does have a long way to go in terms of "getting it" about race, but in this particular case, I don't think it was intended to be racist. It was meant to be rude and disrespectful toward Democrats/Congress for the stimulus. The gun, the blood drawn out in the cartoon--I thought it was tasteless. Violent..and made a joke of violence. It was insensitive toward congress, insensitive toward the woman attacked by the animal and the seriousness and sadness of that entire situation...it showed a lack of sensitivity toward the entire episode with the chimpanzee attack. That was not a funny scenario, and to make a cartoon like this...just shows insensitivity toward that whole horrible event.

I feel so sorry for the woman, and the woman attacked, and the animal. Just can't find any humor in it at all.

[Joy Foster]

...
So, why do people immediately think it suggests a black person?.

These depictions have not only suggested but blatantly labeled Black people for decades. Just because our friends and co-workers are not allowed to circulate this type of hateful propaganda on the job today, doesn't mean the sentiment behind it no longer exists. This derogatory terminology in particular, is still used by our neighbors, associates, even some people's family members to describe the Black race of people. As much as we'd like to say this doesn't happen, it would be absurd to try to deny it. This is not something that happened 2000 years ago, this is very recent American history. Sorry, we are not Post-Race America. Not yet, anyway.