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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So much for the first amendment. I guess anything making fun of liberal or talk radio is worth censorship.
Liberal democrats are the closest thing the US has to fascists.
Though the objective was to attack lies and misconceptions, the Obama's as radical leftists matches very closely to their history.
Obamabots won't like it, but then they never fancy the truth.
This New Yorker Magazine is as lower than trash!!!
Obama is not the first public figure to be presented in this manner. The reaction to this cover by the campaign concerns me more than the cover. This is sattire for pete's sake. It makes me question his ability to be president even more. What is an Obama's presidency going to look like if he is reacting like this to the free speech of the media?
BHO can dish it out, but he can't take it.
McKinney '08!!
Can someone go back and do a history of African Americans, particularly women depicted on the New Yorker. Are there any positive images, probably not.
Obama and Michelle, inspite of racists.
were these the OBAMA costumes at a costume party?
no they would be scared of rifles.
I agree with Janet from WV. This type of garbage just reinforces lies and slander.
The big picture is lost in the front cover. Wrong decision.
Unfortunately there are millions of idiots out there who will panic after seein the cover and vote for McBush.
Then there is such a thing called "subliminal message" and this cover provides exactly that! It will get on the back of other millions of idiots who are not so idiots but will act as an idiot by voting McBush.
After all these idiots and the not-so-idiots bought the idiotic idea that Iraq, and not Afghanistan, was the harbinger of terrorist and should be attacked. This idiocy has costed over 4,000 american lives and Bin Ladin is still free.
The New Yorker is trash.
Obviously, the NEW YORKER has been talking to the producers of Saturday Night Live.
How the mighty have fallen.
THE COVER CARICATURE IS NOT FUNNY AND INDEED TASTELESS AND OFFENSIVE.
There are more important things for Americans to be worried about.
This flare-up here is just non-sense, a no-nothing news item which concerns nobody really.
The guy or whom ever can up with this they need to have sleepless night the New Yorker Magazine was reinforcing fear in the minds of people who thinks Obama is a Muslim. This New Yorker Magazine is very Low than Low how Low will the New Yorker Magazine go!! So dumb New Yorker Magazine.
Keep the caricature in the headlines just in case anybody missed it.
Good job Brownie....or good job Davy-NOT.
They are probably in the "red" and needed something to bring attention to their magazine.
It is funny but as in all satire there is a grain of truth implied!
The arrogant, obfuscating Obama is increasingly seen as untrustworthy so the satire plays to what are already legitimate fears!
Obama needs to be concerned but he will lose regardless!
He can't defend it, it's trash.
The New Yorker should change it's name to the New Garbage Can.
Some advice for the New Yorker (not original): "Whenever I find myself in a hole... I stop digging..."
May just want to think about that one a little bit...
This is another example of the right wing, neocon dominated press led by Fox News in a blatant attempt to defame Bara....
Wait, did you say the New Yorker? Why it must be a phish job by the GOP b/c that magazine and its newspaper cousins, have always been for our well informed (dare I say liberal) thinking friends here in NY and everywhere else that matters, well New York anyway.
I confused and a little hurt.
So this is why Hillary is hanging on, apparently she knows that racism is alive and well in the halls of the New Yorker.
This one will go down in history as a big media backfire gaffe. Funny how everyone around Obama finds him/herself in trouble. I haven't quite figured out why yet. Maybe too many people are trying to find ways to toss R-Bombs ("Racist!") and some of them are blowing up in their faces. Or maybe it's just "What goes around, comes around..."
DEBATE!!
Truly tasteless New Yorker. You should be issuing an apology to the Obamas. Instead you are behaving like a spoiled teenager. Time to grow up!!