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New Yorker - Satirizing or Perpetuating Obama's Muslim Association?
July 16, 2008 8:17 AM
The uproar over this week's New Yorker cover depicting Barack and Michelle Obama in Muslim and terrorist garb respectively, has resulted in condemnation from both sides of the aisle. The very few that defend the satirical nature of the magazine's cover this week say that the cartoon sheds light on the perception that the Obamas are Muslim extremists.
Shortly after Insight Magazine broke the Madrassa story in January of last year, reporting that Obama had attended a Muslim Extremist school as a child (which was later debunked here), there was a marked increase in the association between the Muslim religion and searches on Barack Obama's name. Since then, from the perspective of U.S. Internet searches, that association has waned significantly. If we look at the top ten searches containing "Barack Obama" for the four weeks ending July 5, 2008, only one term among the top ten Obama searches directly addresses the association, with one term referencing his middle name "Hussein" and one query seeking information on his religion.
Top Ten Searches Containing "Barack Obama" Four Weeks Ending July 5, 2008
1. Barack Obama
2. how old is Barack Obama
3. Barack Obama biography
4. Barack Obama young
5. Barack Obama website
6. Barack Hussein Obama
7. Barack Obama Muslim
8. Barack Obama t-shirts
9. Barack Obama's religion
10. Barack Obama blog
We'll check back with Obama search terms next week (our search data updates weekly) which I expect will show that the New Yorker rather than satarize the issue will have succeeded in giving the story new life.
July 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (10)
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How is it possible that people still think that Obama is a Secret Muslim? I'm seriously starting to think that this whole "everyone's allowed to vote in a democracy" thing is a bad idea. Maybe ballots should be accompanied with a brief IQ test, and everyone that doesn't make, oh, i dunno, how about the 120 mark, is ignored. Oh, the Utopian possibilities...
Posted by: grrr | Jul 16, 2008 10:16:28 AM
I think it's great if it gets people interested in finding out more about Obama. Maybe even read his books, which explain everything. Generally, the more people get to know the guy, the more they like him.
Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 16, 2008 10:40:33 AM
At least people are trying to verify!
Posted by: Daisy Whitney | Jul 16, 2008 2:27:39 PM
Why would you say that grr, what happens if you fail the IQ test
Posted by: t | Jul 16, 2008 2:48:38 PM
...then you're just not smart enough to handle the responsibility of voting for the next leader of the free world, t...
Posted by: Jazz | Jul 16, 2008 3:48:17 PM
With Obamas war against America in full swing, and escalating, there isn't a whole lot of humor going around about his presidential dreams these days. Being Americas greatest enemy from the inside isn't anything anyone can find a happy future in. And America is only beginning to pay the price for his life in Washington DC that is still only speculation at best.
Posted by: Freedom_Road | Jul 16, 2008 4:13:49 PM
That's a good story there. I do think the New Yorker might actually help people become more curious in finding the right from wrong. Its amazing how misconceptions can live on. Pls visit WHYOBAMA08.ORG!!! GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: Kevin Word | Jul 16, 2008 4:38:09 PM
Freedom_Road - I understand that you may think that Obama will be a bad politician. I haven't quite decided myself. However, to accuse him of being America's greatest enemy and waging a war against America, is less akin to a political viewpoint than it is to the confabulations of an individual suffering from advanced dementia. A friend's grandfather suffered from this. He would arbitrarily claim that celebrities were trying to kill him or take over the world. I suggest you seek the help of a neurologist.
Posted by: grr | Jul 17, 2008 9:16:04 AM
With Obamas war against America in full swing, and escalating, there isn't a whole lot of humor going around about his presidential dreams these days. Being Americas greatest enemy from the inside isn't anything anyone can find a happy future in. And America is only beginning to pay the price for his life in Washington DC that is still only speculation at best.
Posted by: Freedom_Road
********************************************
Better pull the covers back up over your head before the boogey man gets you. BOO!
Posted by: Truth Matters | Jul 19, 2008 12:54:35 AM
obamma is a muslem i heard him say my muslem faith obammas family in kenya are muslems he went to kenya to help his cousin who is a muslen and has killed thousands look up the kenya killing fields i believe all those bbc reports before i believe the reports here the bbc has no intrest in our politics
Posted by: david | Sep 25, 2008 2:20:24 PM
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