Is the New Yorker's Muslim Obama cover incendiary or satire?

There are always at least two sides to everything in politics. The up-side for Barack Obama of the persistent controversy over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's black militancy and racist sermons was that it sure drove home the point to millions of thinking voters that the Illinois senator was attending a Christian church, which countered the even-more persistent online rumors about Obama being Muslim.

Remember the native costume photo that was or was not promulgated by the Hillary Clinton campaign way back when she thought she had a chance to win the nomination? It's still going around online.

But now comes another unwelcome development for Obama's camp.

The cover of this week's New Yorker magazine depicts Obama in one-piece Muslim garb and headdress fist-bumping his booted, Afro-wearing wife Michelle in camo clothes with an AK-47 and ammo-belt slung over her shoulder beneath a portrait of Osama bin-Laden while the American flag burns in the fireplace -- in the presidential Oval Office.

It's got everything incendiary except a vest bomb. Which is what should telegraph to most people that it's way over-the-top and, therefore, satire.

But politicians don't like satire because it's subject to differing interpretations.

Obama declined comment today, seeking not to elevate its importance. But, in a move that certainly drew more attention to a commercial decision with no hope of changing it, his campaign issued a statement by Bill Burton which Mike Allen of Politico.com reported as, "“The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Sen. Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."

The McCain campaign immediately e-mailed a similar statement from Tucker Bounds: “We completely agree with the Obama campaign, it’s tasteless and offensive.”

Of course, the McCain people must say that, despite some staff no doubt chuckling behind closed doors over their opponent's new challenge. That's the problem with satire. A lot of people won't get the joke. Or won't want to. And will use it for non-humorous purposes, which isn't the New Yorker's fault.

A problem is there's no caption on the cover to ensure that everyone gets the ha-ha-we've-collected-almost-every-cliched-rumor-about-Obama-in-one-place-in-order-to--make-fun-of-them punchline.

So you'll no doubt see this image making the internet rounds in coming months by people who don't want to see the satire. And won't include the magazine's press release saying, "“On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in ‘The Politics of Fear,’ artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.”

In that issue is a non-satirical piece by Ryan Lizza about Obama's political start in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune respected columnist Clarence Page, an African American, said he found the cover "quite within the normal bounds of journalism."

Little doubt the incendiary magazine cover accomplished its intent of attracting attention on an otherwise slow-news summer Sunday. It'll probably sell more magazines too. And more Mylanta for the Obama offices.

--Andrew Malcolm

(By the way here's the actual article that goes with this satirical/incendiary cover. Warning: It's very long.)

Comments

[Tim]

It's obviously both, smarty.

[Felicia WODS]

The New Yorker ( HATER'S ) Obama 08

[Amarissa]

Read the 15 page story inside the magazine and stop talking! Find out how he became a politician, how many people he stepped on! Things that intelligent people have been saying all along and no media took the time to investigate! and believe me, they were soft in the article! everything blogs have been saying for the past months has finally started to come out! The thing is Obama fanatics just want to hear him say there's "Hope", Hope for change, all the rhetorics he keeps on selling you. But the only change we have seen is only in his promises of being a new kind of politician! Reverend Wright said it after he was thrown under the bus: "Obama is a politician and he is doing what all politicians do"... didn't that get through to you? He knew Obama for 20 YEARS!

[John Dyke]

Woot! Running out to get a copy now :). Framing it and hanging it up in my room, lol. This will be a classic!

[Monk]

This "satire" is nothing but fuel for FAUX news and all the nascar watching white trash who kneel at the altar of rupert murdoch.

[semtex111]

its a good time for obama to educate us on satire,seems the obama camp thinks most of us are not stupid to get it.would there be all this outrage if the picture had mccain and his wife in it.where do i sign up for a subscription?

[Little Old Lady from Pasadena]

The New Yorker's humor has never been everyone's national cup of tea. Many Americans just don't get it, similar to their reaction to Woody Allen's movies. Americans have never been very good with satire or irony (to the extent that the British, who are champions at it, don't believe we understand the concept). Then, of course, most Americans don't read, if they ever have.

Reaction to the cover is a good litmus test of the individuals looking at it: I can imagine another New Yorker cover showing their various levels, from motionless slugs with glazed eyes to stereotypical New Yorker readers, consumed with delighted laughter and wearing the T-shirts that say "So Many Books, So Little Time."

[Storm]

You know we American's should be able to look at the picture and say yes its a satire. Personnaly I think it is funny that they captured almost every poke at Obama. And obviously those that say thank you for telling the truth does not realize its a satire which do not hold truths but is meant to show how ridiculous something is. I don't care what religion obama is. What I care about is can he lead our country. From looking at his voting record and experience the answer is NO. He is exactly what he claims not to be. At least McCain is honest. He said he did not know much about the economy. Yeah someone who tells the truth but at the same time he went out and found the people who could help find resolutions to help the economy.

[Chris Laz]

Dude this is so funny. If Obama cant be a man and laugh then this cover must be true or else it would not offend him. Its ok for everybody to make jokes and poke fun at any republican but oh when someone does it to a democrat then its all of a sudden "Tasteless and offensive". Grow up people its just a joke. Laugh, it makes the world a better place rather than complaining.

[widollar]

Lets see the same artist do one of McCain and his wife Cindy on the next cover of the magazine!

[Bill Richardson]

If it aids and abets the enemy, is it satire? Whose side is the so-called liberal New Yorker on?

[joey64]

THE NEW YORKER DID DRESS UP IDIOT GEORGE AS CESAR, BUT THAT WAS CLOSER TO THE TRUTH, THIS IS NOT, sad day for the new york mag.

[Jeep Helm]

Do the New Yorker editors live in such a bubble that they don't know how much of our country is not going to understand the satire? Count me among those who see the cover as inappropriate and not funny.

[Malick]

I have a great sense of humor and believe me this wasn't funny! To fabricate an image that epitomizes the worst America has to offer, is insuring that it will be used for propaganda around the net, which was the true intent of the New Yorker. Barry Blitt, the cartoonist, has smeared Sen. Obama and his beautiful wife and an apology wouldn't work because the artwork is out. However, Sen. Obama, a Champion, will still win!

[Hosea]

After 9/11, I find it unbelievable any clear thinking American would consider it satire. The most fitting and truthful word would be blasphemy. The front cover of the mag devalues the lives of all Americans. The hand bumping (dap) depicted as counter American is a huge lie. White American soldiers died in Vietnam in the arms of Afro-Americans: tears, daps
then taps. Flag draped coffin then flew home to mama.

[Rhonda]

I don't have a problem "getting" satire, but this is such a sensitive subject, and the New Yorker has fallen woefully short of their intended message. As evidenced by some readers' comments on this blog and others, there are too many ignorant people that take it literally, and it only stokes their ignorance. Very poor judgment on the part of The New Yorker.

[GWPDA]

Amazing.

Somewhere Harold Ross is laughing himself silly, James Thurber is astounded and Charles Addams is chuckling, mordantly.

[Kathy]

Am I to believe that every cartoon of Bush being made to look like a monkey was actually satire aimed at the left for suspecting that he's not terribly bright?

[Kate]

I'm glad some magazine in the MSM has decided that Obama is 'fair game', just as the President of the U.S. has always been fodder for blasphemy.

What is wrong with Americans all of a sudden? WHY can't Obama be critiqued like all the other candidates have been and continue to be?

All of this whining from the pro-Obama clan is just downright insulting to Americans (and there are millions of us), who are sitting here wondering what the heck is going on -- all of a sudden, the N word is okay to be used by only ONE group of Americans (and they even market it in their songs and comedy routines, publicly and nationally), all of a sudden, long-time Democrats who have fought for years for Equal Rights, are being condemned as being Racists, all of a sudden, the MSM is terrifed to even mention anything truthful about Obama if it isn't complimentary to him, so of course, anything truthful about Obama that is NOT complimentary to him, is avoided like the plague.

Congratulations, New Yorker -- I applaud your ability to treat ALL candidates the same -- isn't that what Civil Rights was all about?

Now, if we could either erase the N word from everyone's lips, or add it to our politically correct vocabulary for ALL Americans, we would be on the right track for equal rights for all of us.

[Doug E.]

I like these 2 people so much I thought the cartoon was a very funny inside joke. Remember The New Yorker put Obama and Hillary in bed together reaching for the 3 AM phone call on their cover just a few months ago.

[Norman Hall]

Clearly satire.
Clearly tasteless.
I can't wait for the cover showing the worldwide Jewish conspiracy that controls the media...
Clearly pathetic. They need an adult to decide cover material.

[David Paris]

Reminds me of he the great 1970's National Lampoon covers...
too bad everyone is too darn thin skinned and PC nowdays to appreciate fine prankster humour.

I will be they will do John McCain in the same tough style manner - as a wacked out vietnam vet a la Rambo... eye patch with a big knife chasing civilians?
or how about in a Navy jet doing a combat strafing on My Lai ...

[James Bailey]

When is a racist slur a satirical joke? When the left-wing press uses it to sell magazines, etc And how are they able to excuse themselves for their racism? By blaming the right-wing.

[KETURAH]

re- FINALLY SOMEBODY GOT IT.... WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T ,MAKE FUN OF OBAMA... CONTRARY TO SOME PEOPLE OPINION... HE IS NOT THE MESSIAH.

Posted by: Margarita | July 14, 2008 at 12:01 AM
444444444444444444444444444444444444444
U
R
RIGHT!

he aint but his daughta iis
OBAMA is a politician a businessman a great husband and a humble dutiful father

the mag cover
is
outrageous art
if anybody changes their mind
to not vote for him based on this sillyness
well they still not ready for this country and the world to heal
YES! MYLANTA 4US ALL!!!
cause this country thrives feeds on chaos
hatred
toxic bloated bellys
TSUNAMI SEA-SON!!!

obama just go on madtv
or saturday night live and give this joke its formidable in ya face skit
but let it be brillant
bring back chevy chase and dan akroyd and eddie murphy and jane curtan to be his cabinet members
give it shine
bill clinton breaks out with the sax
hillary comes in wearing a chefs hat planning the bar-b-que cook out menu

come on folks
bring the troops home
cause thats real
lets heal cause mothernature just mirroring
pain

[James of Indiana]

A Black columnist who may or may not support Obama thought the cover was satire. Obviously that makes it OK. I guess the implication is that the columnist has special credibility because he is black. Additionally, using the comment must mean that since one black thought it was OK then all blacks should see the cover the same way. Of course it misses the even bigger point that most of Obama's supporter are white and that most of Obama's supporters are not supporting him because of his race.

The fact that race factors into the justification for the cover proves that there is an editorial bias not so well hidden in the cover.