In satirical payback, Obama camp denies New Yorker writer plane seat

There's probably no connection whatsoever.

But the New Yorker writer Ryan Lizza, whose long, long article on Barack Obama's early political days in Chicago's ward politics (available here) was the reason for the magazine's controversial cover by Barry Blitt depicting Obama as a Muslim, has been barred from traveling with Obama on his foreign field trip this week.

The elitist magazine claimed the cover's depiction was satirical of a Muslim Obama fist-bumping with a militant wife Michelle armed with an AK-47 beneath a portrait of Osama bin Laden while they burn a U.S. flag -- in the Oval Office.

Initially, the Obama campaign and John McCain's spokesman denounced the cover.

Later, a cooler Obama dismissed it as a weak attempt at satire amid much more important things to discuss.

More than 200 media folks applied to fly in Europe with the freshman senator. But, alas, the Obama campaign said it simply was not able to find a seat for Lizza. (Overdue hat tip to Mike Allen at Politico.com)

Now, that's Chicago politics.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[idjk]

I wonder how many of the pro Obama comments I see here and everywhere are in fact posted by paid Obama staffers.
I don't know about you folks but ! have seen stories about blogs and e-mail being marked as 'spam' if the seem to be against Obama and ending up in spam trash folders, this has happened to me,the lady I work with and my mother-in-law on different content stories and or cartoons--check your spam folders/logs people!

[Jason]

With all of Obama's rhetoric claiming to be a uniter, he could have taken this opportunity to rise above petty squabbles and invited this reporter along for the ride. Not so. It seems the cover bruised his ego a little deeper than he let on. Wow. And this guy thinks he's ready to be POTUS? With that thin of skin, how would he survive one day let alone 4 years? Think back on all that President Bush has endured, and even if you despise him, you have to admit he's handled criticism pretty well. Like water off a ducks back.

To: Sage. What evidence do you have that McCain has punished any reporter for not playing along?

[John Reece]

The problem is Obama is so full of himself he figures he'll not only be the first black president, but the first president exempt from mockery and satire.

Finally, do any of the Obamafans whining about the New Yorker cover remember this howler?

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworry2.htm

[Chip]

A) Ronald Reagan received 95% negative media coverage throughout his presidency. How is that media manipulation?

B) Reagan was not a wackjob. Since his policies porved to work, the media has been forced to acknowledge that his presidency was a success. Far from the 'amiable dunce' they hoped he was, it turns out Mr. Reagan was far more sagacious than the media would allow in their perception of him.

and C) How the hell is John McCain manipulating the media? He can barely get them to pay attention to his campaign amid all the Obama kool-aid drinkers at the national networks. You know, I get a tingle down my leg every time I see Chris Matthews talk about Obama.

So before we start falsely accusing Republicans of media manipulation, we may want to look at those who have had a sweetheart ride from the MSM for so many years...

[Yogi]

How dare the press ever do anything but praise The One.

[Wally]

This is a minor transgression by Obama. There are many, many more serious reasons why he is UNFIT to be President. We all know what they are.

[len roessler]

Who is Andrew Malcolm and how much money did his parents waste on his education?

[MG Young]

JUST SAY NO TO "B.O"

[Reich Winger's NightMare]

I see that the Reich's trolls are out in force this morning. Those bed wetters really need to get regular jobs.

Well, coffee break's over. Back to work...

[Ted]

How funny that an "elitist" newspaper writer calls a magazine "elitist."

[joey big time]

Serious right wingers contributing here: Stalinist? Bubba the Rapist? Mind-control? Appeasement One?

After 8 years of W, don't you feel it would be fair to just go away for awhile and let responsible adults clean up the mess your votes made?

[S.]

Alexies you have some valid questions for answers what need to be discovered!!! Send them to Rush Limbaugh and let him figure it out.

OF COURSE there is a direct connection. Suppression of Dissent is what the Iranians do when it comes to not allowing a The New Yorker journalist on the plane. !!!! NOW we're getting somewhere!

[Vink]

I guess Obama really is a smug, arrogant, turd sandwich.

[payback]

Funny thing for all you goobers, Obama will be elected President of the United States. The End.

[butai]

The comment by"Joe" as to the fact that an obama/leftist administration would manipulate the press is such a laughable accusation. The facts are that ALL administrations have tried and will try to manipulate the press; the difference is that the right ALWAYS lies about their intentions, what they do, and what they did. I'd rather have an administration that tries to help the citizenry than one that constantly screws them and lies to them. Take your right wing crap and move to a country where they love your types. There are plenty of undemocratic countries around. But as a patriot I am sick and tired of these lying right wing nuts!

[Double Dee]

C'mon ... if it were Chicago politics, he would have invited the writer on the plane, THEN thrown him out somewhere over the Atlantic.

Stop insulting the Daleys.

[s leblanc]

How petty can you get? Is Obama afraid of a little free speech? So much for free speech if this inexperienced radical (Obama) gets elected.

[royzer]

A classic example ofwhat being a liberal is all about....Revenge. It is great to see the OB future policies played out in such a trivial manner. Can you imagine world policies with this party in gov't? Keep it up, you are your own worst enemy.

[Chris]

This is a bit of a stupid article, because it fails to mention how many of the two-hundred reporters were given seats on the plane. Were 199 of them seated, or were only 50? It makes a huge difference as to the meaning of her denial, if any.

[James Wilson]

Hey Andrew, quit bashing the New Yorker. It's been the most successful journalistic outlet in coverage of the Iraq war, with three major stories being broken by Seymour Hersch. That is more than I can say of your publication.

Also, it's not an elitist magazine, that is a schtick that has existed for a long time. In fact, it's about the cheapest weekly magazine for sale anyhere, at $30/year!

If you don't get the cartoons it's not because the magazine is elitist.

[Buzz]

"Funny thing for all you goobers, Obama will be elected President of the United States. The End."

Wow! You can see into the future! This is amazing! Why
aren't you on Television? Why isn't your name in all the
papers? Oh, wait a minute.... your just a dumb ass.

[EricTheEqualizer]

To Chip and its fellow travelers who still insist that Ronald "CAPTAIN ALZHEIMER'S" McReagan was a competent president:
Just remember that, without Ol' Corpsie, there would have been no 9/11 and no Iraq war b/c the Soviets would have wiped out the Bush klan's friends, the Taliban. The Stinger missiles fired at our troops today? Old Man Nap Time sold them to them.

[Peter]

Wow! This news certainly brought out the mentally difficult folks who bother not to check facts before spouting venom.

It is naive to think that denying Lizza a seat was NOT payback for the tasteless cover that was appropriate only in the minds of some other mentally difficult folks.

[Mike]

Here in the south we call that squashing free speech.

[Jackcann]

MAYBE Ryan Lizza will get a spot on appeasement one to go to some of the 57 states that Rockbama has already been too!!!