The Barry Blitt illustration selected for the cover of the July 21, 2008 New Yorker magazine (I won’t bother linking it here, the image is already circulating widely enough) 
will echo until at least the day of the general election, if not well beyond, perpetuating the lies and misconceptions while feeding the egos of the smear-mongers who will grin like canary-fed Cheshire cats. Worse yet, the imagery demeans more than just the Obamas; it belittles virtually all with African ancestry as well as those of the Muslim faith. It was clearly an attempt at humor, conceived to poke fun at the worst rumors and whisper campaigns.
Some will find it funny. Will most? I think not.
It was a mistake. The people who wonder about Senator Barack Obama’s background (or Michelle’s) will never read the article, but that picture will show up in their email once a week for months. There is no way to measure the impact on opinions, and the outcome of the election.
There are, however, ways to respond. For subscribers, obviously they can cancel. For the rest of us the best choices are two-fold:
- Email the New Yorker magazine to express your dismay, displeasure, and disappointment in their lack of judgment in this case. The address is: themail@newyorker.com
- Follow this link to a page on the Obama campaign site set up to accept donations in direct response to this irresponsible so-called journalism.
I’m actually a fan of the magazine. I’m saddened. I grew up looking forward to the arrival of each new issue, it’s been a staple in my family for decades. I wish they’d thought about how it would resonate throughout the country at this juncture, not just about their own subscribers. It’s one thing when a politician fails to appreciate the power of the internet, but there’s no excuse for a major publication not considering what would become of their cover art.
Filed under: 2008 Election, Democratic nomination, Media coverage, Michelle Obama, Obama, Obama's Campaign for Change, discrimination, humor, politics, smear | Tagged: 2008 campaign coverage, Barack Hussein Obama, cheshire cat, Megyn Kelly, Michelle Malkin, New Yorker, satire, smear monger
Honestly when I first saw it I thought, “wow, that really points out the all the ridiculous accusations people make against him,” but all this uproar over it just shows that stupid people on the right will applaud it as an attack on the Obamas, and stupid people on the left will condemn it as an attack on the Obamas.
What ever happened to freedom of expression? Did the first amendment just fly out the window? The NewYorker and other groups have been poking fun at the absurdity of politics ever since 18th century woodcuts. John Stewart owes his career to the fact that Bush is a goofy looking moron.
Does the fact that Obama is a black man and named “Barack Hussein Obama” mean that he will be the first untouchable president in US History? Lest anybody making any attempt at humor, FOR OR AGAINST him will be subject to his “that’s not fair” whining and branded a racist in the public eye?
Everybody is entitled to an opinion, but can we express them in a an artful way as guaranteed by the first amendment? Apparently If it highlights race or ethnicity in any capacity, “No we can’t” (unless of course your poking fun at stuffy rich white guys, then its open season)
PS: Show my support by giving him money? The fact that it costs millions of dollars to be president is arguably exactly whats wrong with this country. This is why politicians take cash from lobbyists and do what big business tells them to do once they get in office. They all do it, because you HAVE to be a millionaire to hold federal office. I don’t even vote anymore why would I waste my money on somebody’s campaign? Freaking absurd.
I agree with your ps.
As far as freedom of expression we are living in very sensitive times and while you may pierceive it one way clearly the whole world preceives it a different way.
It was poor judgment, when I first saw it I thought that it was a photoshop job. Meaning I didnt think any respectable outlet of journalism would actually print something so diviscive as their cover.
Well, anubis, if you don’t vote I’m not surprised you wouldn’t donate. I don’t call for the New Yorker to be censured, or to have the copies pulled from circulation, I just think they goofed and need to hear about it. The only way to get their attention is on the bottom line. So if you support their actions, go buy a copy at the nearest news stand.
I remain convinced that the problem is not only that they’ve provided ammo to the very groups they tried to satirize, but that in doing so they’re also demeaning others with the caricatures.
Yes, we have freedom of expression in the USA. I’m expressing my distaste for what I consider their poor judgment in expressing theirs.