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[Mongrel]

Yeah, my main beef is that it's presnted as something that the average intelligent individual will 'get', when the quality of public debate has long since fallen way way farther than that. It's enourmously depressing but there ARE a significant number of peopple who will see that image out of context and take it at face value. And those people even vote sometimes.

The people who believe the "OBAMA IS A SECRET MUSLIM" chains do not read The New Yorker.  So whose fault is this, The New Yorker, or everybody else who's making a big goddamn deal out of it?  (Not an either-or proposition.)

They may not read it, but they can sure make hay out of images circulated without their context. Didn't say that was the New Yorker's fault, because it's not. Just saying that there were smarter ways to make that point - ones that don't put ammunition directly in the hands of those you're trying to criticise.

As Constantine just said (and I said previously), the real problem in practical terms is the Democratic reaction. My opinion of the New Yorker's editorial staff is piffling, minor stuff.

[Brentai]

White Hole.

[François]

But instead of focusing on that, we get the left declaring (which is the only side I've heard so far) declaring that it's bad art, distasteful, and crass.  When did we lose our sense of humor?

It is widely known internationally that the American sense of humor was stored in a vault in the World Trade Center.

[Royal☭]

NEVER FORGET!

[Arc]

Where's that "I don't care" image macro, damn it?

[Thad]

The people who believe the "OBAMA IS A SECRET MUSLIM" chains do not read The New Yorker.  So whose fault is this, The New Yorker, or everybody else who's making a big goddamn deal out of it?  (Not an either-or proposition.)

[...]

As Constantine just said (and I said previously), the real problem in practical terms is the Democratic reaction. My opinion of the New Yorker's editorial staff is piffling, minor stuff.

Right, that's pretty much my point in asking the question, too.  So we're all on the same page.

...That's boring.  WHERE'S GUILD?

[Mongrel]

It is widely known internationally that the American sense of humor was stored in a vault in the World Trade Center.

I wish we had signatures, because that line would defintely be making its way there for a while.

[Brentai]

Obama: Iraq war's a distraction from the real threat.

Why am I so happy to hear the man state the incredibly obvious?

[Ted Belmont]

Didn't they crucify Kerry for saying basically the same thing?

[Zaratustra]

AND LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED

they're even trying to make obama a flip-flopper

will americans fall for the same trick twice

stay tuned

[Cannon]

Well, history repeats itse oh god i dont want to be in this country anymore

[Thad]

AND LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED

they're even trying to make obama a flip-flopper

And he's not helping, what with the flip-flopping.

[Brentai]

Which is like kicking the dog for making a doo-doo right next to the giant tyrannosaurus heap.

I understand that this is exactly the RED team's MO, yes.

[Thad]

NY Daily News: looks like Obama's responding more or less sensibly to the New Yorker cover:

"I know it was The New Yorker's attempt at satire. I don't think they were entirely successful with it," Obama said. "But you know what? It's a cartoon ... and that's why we've got the First Amendment."

[...]

"Ultimately, it's a cartoon, it's not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about."

Obama has spent the better part of the past 18 months debunking false Internet rumors that he's Muslim and defending his patriotism. He's Christian, but Obama said he's been derelict in pointing out how hurtful these attacks are to Muslim Americans.

These fallacious e-mails and The New Yorker cartoon are "actually an insult against Muslim Americans," he said. There are "wonderful Muslim Americans" across the country, Obama said, and "for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate."

I haven't changed my opinion -- the New Yorker cover is obviously satire, and the only people too dumb to tell would never have seen it if not for a ridiculous liberal hue and cry about it -- but, that aside, he makes a good point.  It's not that big a damn deal, and anyway, just because he's not a Muslim doesn't mean there's anything wrong with being a Muslim.  I was frankly bothered by the story the other week about his campaign aides shooing a woman in a head scarf away from a photo op with him.

It's been a tough fucking 7 years for anyone who looks even remotely Muslim or middle-eastern (and they didn't exactly have it easy before then), and while Obama needs to respond to the absurd rumors circulating about him, he should also damn-well use his bully pulpit to stand up for the American Muslim population.

[Mongrel]

Not only was I thinking the same thing, but I read an editorial just this morning where the writer called on Obama to make that exact response.

 

[Zaratustra]

THAT CLEARLY SHOWS HE IS A PUPPET OF THE MEDIA

[Kazz]

It doesn't matter what Obama says or does; a significant portion of the media (and the population) is committed to hating everything about him.

This is anecdotal, but the harshest criticism I've heard of Obama's actual character (just overhearing old New Hampshire Republicans) is that he has promised too much and they are not sure that he can deliver.  That's right; even if you want everything he wants and agree with everything he says, you can still dislike him for aiming too high.

[Cthulhu-chan]

Shoot for the stars!  No, no, the closer ones.

[Thad]

Bush's approval rating is still at, what, 25%?  Those people are never going to vote Obama.

The "He's a politician, like anybody else" criticism is perfectly valid, and Obama's done a pretty good job of hammering that home in recent weeks.

This week's Tom Tomorrow strip is relevant.

[Brentai]

Tomorrow's angry rhetoric usually gets on my nerves, but I have to admit that one's pretty even-handed.  Plus comparing the FISA vote to dark gravity is awesome.