The Best Magazine Cover of The Campaign -- for Obama

Talk about bursting the bubble.

Talk about identifying the "elephant in the room."

This is, perhaps, the best campaign ad that the Obama campaign could ever have hoped for, or even designed themselves. It's brilliant strategy.

Take all of the negative whispers, about Obama being a Muslim, a Jihadist, a lover of Osama bin Laden, about Michelle hating America -- take all of them and put them out there, on the cover, in public, so that serious discussion can happen, these urban legends can be "Snoped" and these toxic boils can be lanced!

No substantive debate can take place in the choosing of our next leader as long as myth, fear, misrepresentation and cancerous, viral emails dominate the psyches of so many million voters.

If Barack Obama is a Muslim, is a Jihadist, is a lover of Osama bin Laden, let's have that discussion, fully, and then move on. If Michelle really does hate America, let's get that out of the way as well. It's still only July. Let's fully deal with this now and devote the next 3 and 1/2 months to serious dialogue.

In communication theory and crisis management it is always best to candidly tie these issues up one's self, be straightforward, cover all of the accusations and potential negatives and move on. This rips the rug out from under any legitimate opposition.

So, congratulations to the New Yorker. This goes beyond satire. It is a true public service, it helps America move forward and paves the way for sane, rational debates about the future of our great country.

Comments

[ddoston10]

When I think of satire, I think of Woody Allen as Alvy in Annie Hall, meeting Annie's parents for the first time. We see Alvy as a Hadistic jew, making wise cracks that no one gets ...

Woody Allen takes something that is partly true and stretches it. The New Yorker took something that is false and made it true.

On Verdict tonight, one of the guest said if Rush Limbaugh were painting the picture, then the point would have been made ...

[booksnmore4you]

It's always best to tie the issue up that you mentioned.

You mean like the Obamas have already done hundreds and hundreds of time already, right?

But there is a well-greased media smear machine that is much, much, much louder. That's why we need the only hope is for all of us to fund Obama the likes of which shall never be repeated in history and not pout just because he may have voted a time or two not exactly according to our liking.

[Gma11]

Obviously you're not talking to the swing voters in small-town Wisconsin. Images trump reason. Especially when people are insecure, anxious, and uncertain.

[DenverJuggler]

Unfortunately you couldn't be more wrong.
As witnessed already on Faux News and WorldNet Daily all this has done is reinforce factually incorrect stereotypes among the Right. I agree that it will not enforce this stereotype among the left who know they are not true, but the folks on the Right who believed that crap anyway will not go to snopes to find out it is incorrect and will point to this cover and say "see - even the New Yorker agrees with us - these rumors must be based in fact" totally missing the "irony" that it only took away from Obama's credibility even if it was intended (I'm not sure it was) to dispel those myths.

[TRYKER]

Welllll, thats one way of looking at it.
But the Mag, sitting on the racks around the country, will be seen by millions of already misinformed Americans in passing and may lead them to believe what they have been emailed endlessly about. They're not likely to buy it and find out the truth inside, the New Yorker has a specialized audience that already knows the truths whereas the rubes don't.

[johnwinner]

if it actually worked as satire, I would agree; it doesn't, so I don't. the satire would have to convince us, not that the people who believe this are stupid (it's obvious premise), but that those who lie to the ignorant are evil - and it doesn't do this. This mage will reapear from now 'tillNovember - for the next 8 years if Obaa is elected - on right-wing blog sites a poseters.
It is what it pretends to parody.

[loper2008]

you may be right ... time will tell

[sherbug]

Very high minded, I'm sure, but not very realistic. Racism is not palatable when served out in the open, its best savored when wrapped in innuendo, implication and spam emails.

I'm afraid this conversation is one we won't be having in the next 3 1/2 years, let alone 3 1/2 months. Why? Because those that threw the rocks are now hiding their hands behind satire.

[batgirl71]

The only problem with the premise you express is that the media is a joke and utter failure. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the media to take down these urban legends. Remember the Swift Boat Campaign? That campaign was only successful because the media allowed it to be. The media no longer cares about uncovering the truth and informing the public. It justs cares about making money, entertaining the masses and covering its corporate ass.

[SeriousBlack]

Perfectly put.

[SpoxLogic]

I totally agree.