Obama camp calls New Yorker cover 'tasteless and offensive'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/14/art.cover.ny.jpg
caption="The New Yorker magazine says its latest cover is just satire."]
(CNN) - Barack Obama's campaign has sharply criticized The New Yorker magazine over the publication's latest cover illustration that appears to portray the Illinois senator and his wife, Michelle, as terrorist enemies of the United States.
Specifically, the cover, published Sunday, shows Obama in the Oval Office dressed in traditional Muslim attire and Michelle with an "Afro" hairstyle carrying a machine gun. An American flag can also be seen burning in the fire place and a picture of Osama bin Laden hangs on the wall.
Watch: Journalists debate the New Yorker Cover
"The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.
"But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."
John McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said he agreed with Burton's sentiment.
iReport.com: Satire or slander? Share your thoughts
Obama himself refused to comment on the illustration Sunday.
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This doesn't highlight the crap out there – it plays into it. Too many believe that Obama is a Muslim terrorist (witness all the emails being forwarded) and New Yorker put this is all that will be remembered. I am appalled and ashamed. If anybody believes that Obama (born in US) is not an American they should look at McCain who wasn't born in US. Obama spent most of his life in the US – Hawaii from age of 9-10 and then mainland – what is this 1/2 his life spent outside the US. I hate lies and lack of integrity – which is what the New Yorker has done.
Obama was not my choice – Hillary was but I will support Obama now that he will be the nominee.
Best,
Vi
Well, if it's not fear mongering, but just to highlight the ignorance out there, why don't they next have a satire of a pediphile in an act with a 10 yr old and say we just wanted to create a discussion!
Foolish racists who think this satire will help me with $5/gal gas and my mental recession!
IT IS FOR THIS REASON I HAD STOP FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE PRIMARY WITH HILLARY REALLY DRAINED ME AND NOW THIS...WELL BACK TO READING MY BOOKS.
I myself find this cover very unpatriotic .As an Obama supporter I would not even like to see this about McBush either. I don't think this is satire, only a black eye on the New Yorker. I believe Obama does not need to comment on this he has bigger things to worry about economy, war and the nations banks going down the drain. Everyone in America should be commenting on it though, we had nine soldiers die over this weekend, we had fifteen injured.We have lost over four thousand , with thousands disabled and they show an American flag being burnt in a fireplace. Barack Hussein obama 08
Connie"Hussein"Sturgeon from Indiana
And you wonder why other countries see us as a joke. "If you can't beat him in the election, portray them as someone you fear the most"
Remember the commerical" never let them see you sweat" time to change the deodorant, your brand is not working.
Good!! It's about time the dirt gets shown on this arrogan liar. Him and his wife have a lot to prove to the American people if they even want to consider taking the moving van to the white house. We do not want un-patriotic people representing us nor running this country. America is everything the obama's are not.
He would be more comfortable in Chicago, not the white house
Obama thinks he is untouchable! Get over yourself, BHO!
Obama overload – The presidential seal was not used, it was changed to fit the needs of the campaign...IE different seal...
secondly it does not compare to this cover, not even close...
I think one of the definitions of humor is that it makes people laugh, and certainly some people will laugh at this thinly disguised attack. Some people laugh when a person sets a cat on fire or pulls the wings off of a butterfly, however I don't think must people consider that particularly funny. I think there is a parallel here. Just because the people at The New Yorker label this cover as satire and think it is funny does not make it so. The question becomes if these individuals are smart enough to see the humor in their satire are we to believe that they did not see the harm in it as well?
Pitiful, tasteless, most of America will probably never read the article and will only except the cover art as a reality statement. Perhaps it's better that the cover is on The New Yorker and not Mad magazine after all.
I agree. I sent a letter to the New Yorker pointing out two cartoons that I felt were anti-semitic and stereotypical and I have never heard back from them. I think the New Yorker feels they are above criticism, but this cover may actually get them to look more closely at their smugness.
you know what, as an African American this is just one more example of how white America just does not get it.
America will never progress with these kinds of hatred. Satire? No one will believe it is a satire. New Yorker magazine should apologize to the Obama family, or even better idea for the Obama campaign to launch a lawsuit againt the maagize. That should teach them a lesson. .
The New Yorker has fully embraced the "dung" journalism pioneered by Fox News.
This is the same guy that tried the pre-emptive strike. He warned us all about the right wing racists (white wing) coming after him. Sounds a little like Hillary with a twist- A Great White Wng Cnspiracy. Obama stop your subtle whinning and get back to what you do best, flip flopping
McCain 08
My consumer relationship with The New Yorker has ended- and I am not making this decision as a supporter of any one Presidential candidate. "Tasteless and offensive"?- You bet I agree.
I think if you are gonna vote in Mcshame, you should first enlist in the military, so your butts can support his wars to come
When will this end,everyone talks about one America,yet we display this hateful image for the world to see. What direction are we taking this country,HOW can we go to a country to fight for equal rights when we have such division right here in our own back yard...
This ok. The cartoon say it all. Thanks N.Y.
Who would believe such a depiction?
I am offended. You can barely see my picture.
Looks just like the Obama's – What seems to be the problem????
AHA !!
It took a New Yorker to lay the facts bare.
The truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Go figure, Tim(an obvious obama supporter) takes a shot at McCain's wife, when the McCain campaign supports obama on denouncing this cover. what the heck is going on that people feel the need to criticise him even when he makes a move in solidarity with your canidate. Grow a pair and say thank you Mr. and Mrs. McCain for supporting our canidate. McCain has basically said that spouses are off limits, so has Obama. Just because she's been a sucessful business woman you don't have to be bitter. Oh wait only people who are religious or own guns are bitter.
I didn't know the republicans owned the New Yorker!
WOW....I love it.