Watch New Yorker editor David Remnick defend the magazines controversial cover.
(CNN) – Amid widespread criticism over The New Yorker cover illustration that portrays Barack Obama in Muslim garb and wife Michelle Obama as a gun-toting militant, the publication's editor told CNN Monday he doesn't regret approving the use of the controversial image.
Watch: Remnick on The Situation Room
David Remnick, the longtime editor of the highly-regarded publication, said he believes the ironic intent of the illustration will be clear to most Americans.
"The idea is to attack lies and misconceptions and distortions about the Obamas, and their background and their politics. We've heard all of this nonsense about how they're supposedly insufficiently patriotic, or soft on terrorism," he said. "That somehow the fist bump is something that it's not. And we try to put all of these images in one cover, and to satirize and shine a really harsh light on something that could be incredibly damaging."
The cover - which shows the pair in the Oval Office, with an American flag burning and a picture of Osama bin Laden - has been widely criticized by Republicans and Democrats alike. On Sunday evening Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton called it "tasteless and offensive." John McCain said Monday it is "totally inappropriate."
Bernard Parks, a California city council member and supporter of Barack Obama, told CNN he is calling for a boycott of the liberal-leaning magazine.
From CNN Politics
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The republicans should create campaign size posters and use them in the small bitter gun touting religious small towns in the south and swing states....LOL too funny.
Now obama will take some heat from the media he soon will know how Hillary was treated. Its not the cakewalk he had in Jan/Feb
When it was clinton (either), bush (either), displayed as redkneck it was fine... it is fine now too.
Where is the free speech?
He defends HIS racist attitudes....... not the cover..... this is why McCain doesn't have to run ads against Obama, he has enough racist in the MEDIA to HELP HIM WIN.
If the idea is "to attack lies and misconceptions", why are they helping to spread them?
I understand what they were trying to do, but the message was totally lost with that cover. They could have had a much better cover that still hit the points without giving an audience to those that believe this nonsense.
You knew he was a white man! Where's the picture of McCain in his devil uniform, kiling babies and smacking on woman calling them bad words while gambling with U.S. dollars?
Someone name me one New York cover that ever depicted a politican in this manner and I won't call him a racist.
Good Job!
Obama has to be more specific on his policies and his upbringing.
Millions of Americans still think he's a Muslim.
They think he is a Christian now, but they think that the Muslims think he's a Muslim because his father was.
Apparently, once a Muslim, always a Muslim.
Obama should talk about his Dad being a Muslim and he might clear the air.
I've read so many posts saying this was done by the GOP... I just laughed... this is a very liberal magazine... and they make fun of everyone. Those that are mad about it missed the point I think.
A poke in the eye with a sharp stick to the politics of misinformation and innuendo. Bravo to the New Yorker. Well done.
I tried to purchase the New Yorker Magazine of Obama.
Guy at Barnes & Noble says all New Yorkers sold out LOL
really looks like the liberal wishes for them to go out of business, well are incorrect as usual.
Obama needs to lighten up. If he's smart as people made him out to be he'd realize that the cover is actually meant to help him and portrays him as a victim of fear-mongering by the Republicans.
Why not run a magizne cover with screaming and flesh burning women and children with Mcwar singing in his jet, dropping Napalm. He could be singing bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. This would be an outrage to the GOP right wing rethuglicans.
i get it but you still missed the mark. there are so many STUPID people who will see this and try to run with it...most of whom could not read the article any way. in the cartoon there should have been a drawing of the IDEOT who thinks the things the cover represents
I too feel it is out of line, but in the country it is freedom of speech and the press. It works for all not just when we pick and choose.
The article was designed to attack the misconceptions, but the cover is what you see first and it leaves a very different impression.
Its who they are .....terrific...fine job New Yorker
Both Sen. McCain, Sen. Obama and their spouses deserve respects from the media and American people. This is no excuse, The New Yorker.
Oh and this is no Colbert! And Carville's title as a Democratic strategist should be used loosely. He's still upset about Clinton's loss.
I will never read the New Yorker again.
What they did was disgusting.
We keep waiting to find out what Obama's made of – maybe it all amounts to that Pegg Lee song – is that all there is? I find it interesting that after the Wright controversy, the Mrs. Obama statement revealing herself as partiotically-impaired, the flag pin flap and the lack of hand over heart during the pledge, the images of Obama and his wife find expression through an anti-American satire. The theme persists. The shadow cast. The questions linger.
Hey, Obamites. It's satire. Get a sense of humor. Oops, you do. Your candidate is the joke, right?
Who cares, most of the people who read the New Yorker are intelligent enough to know it's satire.
But Democratic strategist and CNN contributor James Carville defended the magazine's cover choice as satire in its "ultimate form."
"I don't know what the big deal is," he said.
Oh, ok Carville – and if this was a 'satire' of Hillary Clinton, would it not be a big deal to you? You'd be screaming bloody murder!
At least James Carville is smart enough to know what this is. I have been to 4 different Barnes & Nobles and 2 Borders here in California and I have not been able to find one copy of this magazine. All of the New Yorkers have been sold out.. Looks like this magazine was a hit.
What Americans are you talking about? The 26% who believe he is Muslim. Do you honestly believe they would listen to you? No way. Your cover only reinforces these peoples crazy beliefs. Next time use better judgment.
ginger