Barack Obama Presidential Campaign 2008

Obama's rhetorical style, borrowing significantly from the black church, was the device that telegraphed his passion. Since then, however, he seems to have largely abandoned it. Instead, he's trying to seem just like 'us' ("us" being working class whites). And that strategy is dead.

Like a tabloid talk show, the New Yorker cover was calculated to draw looks and sell advertising. But the so-called satire missed its mark.