The Politics of Fear

New Yorker cartoon cover w/Obamas, originally uploaded by scriptingnews.

I guess I'm in the minority, Left & Right, because I see that cover as making fun of those folks who insist on stressing Obama's middle name & linking him to terrorists-- You know... Conservatives...

That the left (including Obama's campaign) is whining about this picture--& the right is celebrating it as though there is a shred of truth in it, (and as though the illustrator isn't pretty much calling the folks on the right who engage in these things idiots to their faces)--absolutely mystifies me...

The illustration is called "The Politics of Fear," people... ...& I think it hits the mark quite well. The fact that the very folks it's aimed at are the ones spreading it around most vociferously, is just icing on a very ironic cake.

At least I'm not the only one who sees it that way...

"I think the New Yorker is poking fun at the fantasies of the rabid right…

To be skewered and not even notice it takes a deft blade."

- alphie on July 13, 2008 at 7:59 PM

More here:
TheImproper.com: Barry Blitt Defends New Yorker Cover

TheImproper.com: Obama Camp Bashes 'Tasteless' New Yorker Cover

UPDATE: A blogger at Mother Jones gets to the heart of the problem with this satire not being understood by target & audience alike, and offers a possible solution.

"The current cover doesn't satirize the attacks on the Obamas so much as it merely combines them, and the real target of the supposed satire (Fox News?) is left unspoken. But here's how it could have worked: the exact same drawing, except with John and Cindy McCain in place of the Obamas."

-- The Riff: Holy Fist Bumps: New Yorker Obama Cover Features Turban, Afro, Flag Burning, bin Laden, Complete Lack of Concern for Humanity