Politics of Fear[ing Political Cartoons]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080714/pl_politico/11719
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The Obama campaign is upset about the cover of an upcoming issue of the New Yorker, which shows caricatures of Barack and Michelle Obama in terrorist garb, burning the American flag, with a picture of Osama Bin Laden above their fire place.

So, in turn, the McCain campaign expressed its sentiments of disappointment with the magazine's cover as well (if for no other reason than to seem sensitive to the issue so as not to have it used against them later in the campaign).

For Christ sakes, this is satire, people!

These kind of cartoons have been around forever and have always had the intent of pushing people's buttons. And there are entire websites dedicated solely to cartoons ridiculing George W. Bush.

Example: http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworstpresidenthistory.htm

So it's acceptable to poke fun at the current President for mental retardation, but not the Democratic nominee for religious beliefs because the latter is an issue that might actually jeopardize Barack's chances of being the President?

My understanding is that Obama himself has not made an official statement about the magazine cover, but I'm guessing he shares the sentiments of his campaign (or else he would have asked them not to make it an issue).

Dear Mr. Obama, if this irritates you, I suggest you pray to God (or perhaps Allah) that you do NOT win the election, as you will only be scrutinized, satirized, and made fun of even more than you currently are. I know you haven't been in politics for that long, but surely you were around to see the cartoons making fun of John Kerry during the 2004 campaign... Just because you're only the nominee does not mean that you are not subject to the same kind of parodies as every other pundit involved in the government.

So get over yourself.

"The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: 'On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in ‘The Politics of Fear,’ artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.'"

Sad that even when the magazine explains satire, it's still not enough.

'Thank You For Smoking' and the idea of placing a skull and crossbones on cigarette packs come to mind.

The 'Politics of Fear' issue of the New Yorker goes on sale Monday, July 21, 2008.

I'm going to buy a copy and frame it, before its distribution is banned.

I may buy a second copy and mail it to Ray Bradbury with a note attached reading, "You were right, Ray."

Something wicked this way comes...

xO