Anyone who's ever seen "Planet of the Apes" or the recent "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," knows this is exactly how it starts. And it's all downhill...
The first two Presidents on 24 were Black men. The first was assassinated and the second was responsible for allowing nuclear bombs into the country, causing mass destruction.
Did the New York Post simply screw up, fail to take into account possible perceptions, and then get clubbed by a few shrewd competitors who saw a good opportunity? We'll never know.
If the NY Post wanted to run something funny and timely, they missed the mark. If they wanted something controversial - kudos to them for doing it exactly right.