Nightline's Daily Line

The last time I checked, we still had freedom of speech and freedom of expression in this country. If the Obama robots don't like it, they can find another country to hoodwink...America needs to wake up now! Obama is a fraud. No matter how much of a feel-good or novel choice he may be, he is the WRONG person at the WRONG time!

Well, it is inappropriate. The picture above the mantle should have been Ahmadinejad, not Osama. Silly New Yorker.

BHO just can't shake the terrorist connection. And, for good reason. The roots just run too deep!

This goes to the Rove tactic of blowing smoke. Tell outlandish stories as way of brainwashing people. It doesn't matter that they make no sense. The message is inside the story: example "birth certificate" means "not one of us", as does "Hussein Obama". "Wh*tey Tape" means "untrustworthy", as does "under the bus ".

Repeated like a mantra, the messages soak in - how else can you explain the chorus of "THAT'S HIM!!!" in response to the New Yorker cover?

Enough smoke and people believe in the fire. In military parlance, it's called 'preparing the battlefield'. When the Swift Boats arrive, they swallow every drop.

BTW - my last (10:39) post is quoting myself on the current 'Image' thread. I copied and pasted because I think it's relevant here.

Snarxon

Boy do you ramble! What are you drinking tonight?

The cartoon doesn't work as satire because it isn't over the top enough to be obviously satirical and feeds into the ugly lies that have been spread about this candidate. It is also too much to expect or hope that the kind of person who is likely to buy into the smears and also has limited critical thinking skills would get the "joke."

your asses at abc know it not spam its your way of censorship, maybe i need to contact the aclu

yes we do have freedom of speech but that cover was wrong there were other ways to use satire the fact is a lot of people still think obama is muslim AND HES NOT thanks to fox news karl rove oh and lets not forget drug addict limbaugh we can thank them but you know what true obama supporters know who he is and the cover of new yorker is definatley not him

On the one hand, I see the satirical work in the cover. This, of course is my "idealistic" hand, that believes that people see this for what it is. Satire. As in NOT TRUE.

On my other hand, my "rational" hand, I believe that is extremely offensive and only perpetuates the notion that is founded in many low info voters. My point is actually validated in some of the comments found on this board and others.

OH Dear, is Obama whining and complaining that the New Yorker cover is grossly misrepresenting him? Hmmmm.... considering how he misrepresents other people, he really shouldn't be complaining. He misrepresented Bill Clinton, one of the best recent presidents, someone who advanced the cause of minorities tremendously......Obama made Bill to be a racist. So, how does it feel, Obama, to be misrepresented? You can dish it, but you can't take it, can you? Sorry, I have no sympathy for Obama. He tosses the race card when someone stands in his way, but he whines if he is made to look negative. This is called....divine justice. Deal with it, BHO.

DOUBLE STANDARD
for your information he is not whining he has made no comment about it his camp has the media has as well as his supporters do you not watch tv and as far as obama making bill clinton a racisit i belive bill made himself look that way remember the sc and jesse jackson statement come to think of it i wouldnt put a past bill or hill being behind this cover of new yorker

BHO should stay out of the kitchen if he cant take the heat. Who does he think he is? POTUS? Lol.

Aston: You're a paid stooge. Admit it.

Aston: A smoke-blower, you are. Traitor.

angie -- kindly tell me how comparing Obama to Jesse Jackson, who proclaims himself to be a good friend of Obama's, as racist???? THAT, my dear, is the race card, calling something racist, when there is none. Bill has done so much for all minorities, he is the least racist person around. And Obama and his campaign IS whining about this cover. Deal with it, you can't take the heat, get out of politics. It is very witty satire, and that cover will be a collector's item.

Now now now ... Barak Hussein Obama should run for the presidency of Iran, not the USA. The picture depicts him and Ms Hussein Obama in the Iranian oval office. You see, over here we pray to God and the Bible, not allah and the ignorant koran. By the way ... all of this must be president Bush's fault, as usual. In GOD we trust.

DOUBLE STANDARD
once again obama is not whining the campaign is even mccain said how distasteful it was as far as bill clinton is concerned the statement he made when obama won the sc primary about jesse jackson winning there was racisit but it was ok when hillary was whining sexism right it was wrong didnt see any of her supporters telling her if she couldnt iake the heat get out of the kitchen you hillary supporters are such hipocrites

As I lifelong Republican, I find this cover not even close to freedom of speech...Just offensive!

A picture is worth a 1,000 words and, unfortunately, the words inside the New Yorker will not be what people remember.

As a Liberal, let me say that this cartoon is OUTRAGEOUS!!

How dare you portray the Messiah in this manner!

Sure, millions of Bush as a Chimp, Hitler, Saddam Hussein are ALL GOOD!

Sure, millions of Cheney as the Penguin, as a shadowy evil oil baron...that's ALL GOOD!

but how dare you create one cartoon about the Messiah!

The Islamo-fascists had it right regarding the Danish cartoons...the creator of this cartoon should be lynched!

Obama '08!!!

I think you need to get over it.
If it had been a joke about McCain, or Bush, you'd all be laughing without a let up. Its just a joke. Nothing more.
It would be nice to think we still have "Free Speech" here in America.
But sadly, we are losing it, little by little.
God help us!

At best, the New Yorker showed incredible naiveté and political stupidity with its ridiculous cover on the Obamas. To say it is satire is a poor rationalization of a highly dubious act. Fact is: there is nothing funny about the cover. It was completely irresponsible, not funny, disgusting.

There is a very simple test of whether the July 21st Barry Blitt cover was simply designed to provoke thought, controversy, debate: Would The New Yorker run a comparable cover targeted at Joseph Lieberman or John McCain.

The answer is a resounding no. The New Yorker cover is racist and targeted at the one group that The New Yorker thought it could get away with treating with bias -- Muslims.

Revoltingly, many of the comments on this site already illustrate just how many racists the cover is appealing to.

phuckalqaeda: Smoke-blower. Traitor.

I find the cartoon totally offensive no matter what politcal preference you might have. There is nothing funny about terrorism!

Offensive smear

This cover was truly hurtful and it did nothing positive for this election campaign. Why would anyone think this kind of satire is humorous? It even opens a comparison of Michelle Obama to Angela Davis of the Black Panthers of decades past. And everyone knows she is nothing like that. How sad. I thought the New Yorker had more class and sophistication than that!

1 cartoon about the Messiah Obama = WRONG!

Millions of cartoons about Bush as a Chimp, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein = WE LOVE IT!!

Obama '08!!!

Senator Obama, Michelle,

Congratulations. After taking some time to ponder this New Yorker cover, you have now had a taste of what it feels like to be President George W. Bush and endure the ignorant visceral hatred he faces every day from your political allies.

Do you think you can deal with it as graciously as President Bush does?

The New Yorker cover is doing great harm to Obama. It is satire to those "sophisticated" readers of the New Yorker, but truth to so many more.
The last time I checked, readers of the New Yorker could not elect a President. In this instance, the "sophisticated" publishers, writers, and artists at the New Yorker should have checked with the mainstream before circulating such a cover.

I think that people need to open up there eyes and really take this photo for what it is. Basically soo what if he is muslim and im glad they would put this type of photo out there so the american people can see how small and limited there thinking is. I of course diagree with the photo over the mantel i do not stand behind a terrorist but in general i think the people need to get over themselves and think outside the box

The sketch on the NEW YORKER is neither funny nor a smear. It represents the actual fact.

ImATrueLiberal: Funny, you sound like a smoke-blower.

1 cartoon about the Messiah Obama = WRONG!

Millions of cartoons about Bush as a Chimp, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein = WE LOVE IT!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal Hypocrite!

Obama '08!!!

The new media is reporting just really "Stupid Stuff".
What the media is doing these days along with all the rags is just showing how stupid we Ameicans have become.

I have given up on American news.

The media has lost their edge in my view point years ago.

We, as Ameicans need to grow up and go back to our roots. And regain our morals.

No, I'm not voting for Sen. Obama. But the cover of The New Yorker is absolutely in bad taste, and the Senator doesn't deserve what the 'cartoon' implies.

The cover is completely inappropriate, thoughtless and tasteless. It made me lose complete respect for the New Yorker magazine. Schmucks!

I love satire! The New Yorker cover is at it's best for satire. The problem is that too many actually beleive the ridiculous claims that he is and/or has ever been Muslim.

By the way, I forgot to mention, that I am a "angry white women" From Penna. with a gun, in one hand, and a bible in the other.
Be afraid, Be very afraid.....

A picture is worth a 1,000 words and, unfortunately, the words inside the New Yorker are not what people will remember.

As a Chicagoan and a loyal Obama supporter, I find the cartoon so over-the-top, so outrageous in its suggestions that it is obviously satire. It manages to reflect and send up every ridiculous element in the hate-filled anti-Obama emails circulating the web. In exchange for its funny little stunt, The New Yorker is getting the last laugh on those who bought into its joke and in turn gets just what it wanted: publicity!

New Yorker - You, sir, are not Mad Magazine!

Obama should not be portrayed in this VILE manner!

However, bring on more Bush = a Chimp or Hitler cartoons...we Liberals can't get enough!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypocrite!

Obama '08!!!

I think the Obama campaign doesn't want anything that shares Obamas true self to be shared they are consistenly feeding Americans with....1st black president...1st this and that and the truth is yea it will be a 1st....but not black. This thing with Bill and Hill lets leave them alone their not even the issue can't we just look at what the real thing is here or when it comes to Obama supporters do they always have to cover his faults with someone elses faults...He wears enough deguises without any more covering up.

Punkie: Smoke-blower.

Hanan: Smoke-blower.

This cartoon is an example of sabotage, not satire. If this were a cartoon of McCain in a senior citizens home with George Bush as his puppet master, everyone would be upset. This is America, and free speech is a poor excuse for this sort of hatred. It's one thing to dislike a candidate, but to try and connect him to terrorist like Bin Laden is insulting.

It's true that's why he found it so offensive.

I thought liberals were all about "FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!!" guess not....

The cover was rather tactless, but - ironically - was meant to expose the idiocy of the neo-conservative and republican supporters among us, who actually trade this kind of garbage among themselves and, worse, actually believe it. And - sure enough - they're here, on the ABC message boards, telling us to fear Obama. An impartial observer would have to conclude that Americans are among the least well-educated, least intelligent, and most gullible and easily manipulated people on the planet. I'm not a supporter of Obama, by the way, nor McCain, nor any of the other folks offered up by our corrupt political system.

No, it is not funny. It is satire.

Since there is a faction of the American public that is so stupid as to believe the things being spoken of in the cartoon, do you really think they understand the concept of satire? Those who do not even know what the New Yorker magazine is about will see it as a confirmation of their beliefs and only help perpetuate this stupidity. Do you think they will go beyond the front cover? For that reason alone, I think the magazine has crossed a line. It has helped to fuel a fire that should be put out.

New Yorker Way Out Of Line
at a time like this when america is involved in two wars with islamic radicals this is no time to be joking .

The New Yorker never should have published this cover. Somethings are out of bounds for satire. What part is funny? That some people think that Obama is a Muslim, or that some people think that all Muslims are terrorists? Satire is for things that we can change. What would have made the cartoon satire is a bunch of ill-informed people in the cartoon trying to make a connection between Obama and militant Muslims. But Obama himself cannot change his parentage, and no one gets to make fun of any part of ourselves that we cannot change, even when the implied joke is on the unseen audience.

I suppose it’s as funny as millions thought Orson Welles was on October 30th 1938 broadcase of War of the Worlds was when they found out it was a hoax. As funny as now the historic pictures of a black man being hung while children and their parents had picnics around the event. Are maybe as funny as a Charles Manson party where they raided a home and killed the inhabitants. There are some things in life no matter how you draw them; it’s just not funny. I know some of the points I'm making are extreme; however the satire was extremely not funny.

What I'd like to day to the New Yorker:

"How could you print such a "cartoon"? It was so so UNfunny! Don’t you know that your cover just confirms what at least ½ of the US population believes? . . . In showing Obama as a Muslim you have confirmed this unfounded belief. Showing Michelle Obama as a terrorist just made their day…and Bin Laden on the wall?????? You have played right into the hands of the ignorant right- wingers that gave us Bush for 8 years.

Are you so lost in the canyons of NYC that you are oblivious to the fearful and misinformed rest of the country?"

I literally gasped when I saw the “cartoon” on TV….All I could think was:
”The new Yorker??? What is going on? How could they be so stupid????”

So I still ask:…."How could they be so stupid and . . . so out of touch ...and so not not funny....?? Carl Rove has nothing on them!"

Peggy
Baltimore, MD

What I'd like to day to the New Yorker:

"How could you print such a "cartoon"? It was so so UNfunny! Don’t you know that your cover just confirms what at least ½ of the US population believes? . . . In showing Obama as a Muslim you have confirmed this unfounded belief. Showing Michelle Obama as a terrorist just made their day…and Bin Laden on the wall?????? You have played right into the hands of the ignorant right- wingers that gave us Bush for 8 years.

Are you so lost in the canyons of NYC that you are oblivious to the fearful and misinformed rest of the country?"

I literally gasped when I saw the “cartoon” on TV….All I could think was:
”The new Yorker??? What is going on? How could they be so stupid????”

So I still ask:…."How could they be so stupid and . . . so out of touch ...and so not not funny....?? Carl Rove has nothing on them!"

Peggy
Baltimore, MD

One Obama cartoon = DESPICABLE!!

However, I implore you to Google:

"Bush Chimp" = 1,680,000 hits
"Bush Hitler" = 645,000 hits

That's what we Liberals love!!!

Obama '08!!!

It is shocking to see that such a notable recognized magazine in an American city and not just any American city but a multicultural diverse city like none other in the US, the city of New York would stoop to such a low level of racism. What kind of example are we to the rest of the world? I see this kind of ignorance is just what will cause a race war in this good old innocent do no evil America. Guess what? The Black Americans have been hated on, terrorized by fire bombs thrown into houses, burning crosses, hung in nooses on trees, raped, dragged behind trucks and constant unnecessary police brutality, and the list could go on, even In this enlightened year of our Lord 2008. I am a 54 year old Black American female that is TIRED AND FED UP WITH ALL THE RACIAL CRAP THAT I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH ALL MY LIFE. Pam in Houston,Texas

I have one word for it: disrespectful. Yes, we have free speech but that magazine and other news outlets do not respect people anymore. This shows where our society has gone in the last 50 years which is down the drain. This is what happens to a society of less God and more freedom to do whatever you want.

Why all of a sudden is it racial? America has allowed this to go on since its birth. It's called
"Freedom of Speech". Most Presidents and Presidential Candidates have to put up with this type of joking. What makes Obama any different?
If we really want racial equality then we cannot opress white Preseidents or Presidential candidates
by making them subjects of the tabloid, while it is tabu for African American candidates. Also lets quit chipping away at freedom of speech, OK?

Why all of a sudden is it racial? America has allowed this to go on since its birth. It's called
"Freedom of Speech". Most Presidents and Presidential Candidates have to put up with this type of joking. What makes Obama any different?
If we really want racial equality then we cannot opress white Preseidents or Presidential candidates
by making them subjects of the tabloid, while it is tabu for African American candidates. Also lets quit chipping away at freedom of speech, OK?

We do have freedom of speech in this country, but... Satires are supposed to be funny. This is as funny as falsly screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theatre, or threatening an airplane full of people with a bomb. The New Yorker didn't think this cover idea through.

If Obama wants to be president he better develop a thicker skin and get a sense of humor. This type of satire is a regular event for political figures. Are we going to have a new form of censorship according to what is OK with him? What a cry baby! This pathetic attempt at sympathy is just to take the attention off of his FISA vote and other recent flip-flops.

PUMA!

the can see that there is still fear and descrimination in this country and I say shame on you yes shame on the USA that is the land of the free and home of the brave this was not what this country is about your freedom of speech is gone to far shame on you
Now I'll vote for Obama, and I will pray for your ignorants. Obama is not Muslim. shame on you ...

1 Obama cartoon = Utterly OUTRAGEOUS!!!

1 million "Bush is a Chimp" cartoons = EXCELLENT!!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypoctite!

Obama '08!!

ImATrueLiberal: Smoke-blower.

bill, well said.

1 Obama cartoon = Utterly OUTRAGEOUS!!!

1 million "Bush is a Chimp" cartoons = EXCELLENT!!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypoctite!

Obama '08!!

i find all of these comments to have a string of truth in them. even though i am not a huge fan of obama's, and have yet to determine if i really trust him, i do feel that he is the better candidate. i think freedom of speech or not, that this cover is incendiary and does not approach satire very well at all. particularly at this point in time. the world is whack enough and the editors of the new yorker are either completely naive to what they are helping to create, or just very greedy, knowing it will sell millions. they have used very poor judgement indeed. i personally feel that the united states will experience a state of marshal law (republican coupe if barack wins) in late november/early december. another "terrorist" attack, maybe??

stopobama: Right, because we all know that freedom of speech applies to everything; even when one yells 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre. Give me a break.

In response to Chad Olsen:

Obama was raised/exposed during part of his childhood to the Muslim religion, with his stepfather in Indonesian. I guess that is why he said in his bio his hometown was in Indonesia.

However, he converted 20 years ago and became Christian. I don't think he nor his mother's family was really any religion before that from what I understand of what he says.

The New Yorker magazine is owned by Samuel,Donald and Theodore Neuhaus, aka Newhouse, zionist, pro israel jews who want to drive a wedge between white voters and Obama. A win by McCain will result in further deaths of US military in Iraq protecting Israel. The cartoon is racist, zionist and slanderous.Would a similar cartoon be seen in a jew owned magazine if the subjects were jews? NO.

The reason people really think these sort of things is because of his name and nationality. It's not ignorance when someone with a Middle Eastern name is running for President 7 years after those with the same decent attacked and killed thousands of our citizens. Maybe he's not of the muslim faith, but by name he is of the muslim decent, and its only normal for Americans to be weary. Maybe he is Christian and loves America and this and that-but are we to believe everything a politican says as fact? Everyone is acting like those who believe otherwise are ignorant, racist, and hateful-but maybe those who blindly believe something on the basis of what one politican says as fact-mind you with zero track record-are the ones who are ignorant. Lets just hope you left wings are all right-on his patriotism anyways-I know you're not on policy.

Snarxon = ain't got a damn clue how hypocritical Liberals seem on this issue.

It's sad...and pathetic.

It might be funny, it might be satire, but it just MIGHT BE THE TRUTH. If it is the truth,it will be too late for Americans when we find out. Islam is brilliant when it comes to a surprise attack. What a way for Islam to take over America.

1 Obama cartoon = Utterly OUTRAGEOUS!!!

1 million "Bush is a Chimp" cartoons = EXCELLENT!!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypoctite!

Obama '08!!

The economy is in a mess, joblessness, foreclosures, bank failures and the cost of living, i.e., food; gas etc. going through the roof. Afghanistan is blowing up and the Iraqi's are asking us to leave! What a mess!
Those who cannot understand that desperate times call for desperate measures have no clue about the hope that some of us see in Obama. Yes the cover is offensive, but by tomorrow it will be old news. I have never seen so many who want to keep riding the same horse after having been kicked off and kicked in the teeth. Enough is enough. The day after the Presidential election we will all still be Americans, regardless who wins.

It's disgusting in these times of crisis in the U.S. all The New Yorker can think of is to put a drawing of our democratic nominee and his wife on the cover that undermines all the good things that they stand for.It is not a humorous or intellectual cover , it is in the worst taste and shows a lack of respect for your readership. Needless to say I hope everyone that has been offended will cancel their subscription. It seems the only way to show our indignation these days is to hit them in the where it hurts,show them no more money.

1 Obama cartoon = Utterly OUTRAGEOUS!!!

1 million "Bush is a Chimp" cartoons = EXCELLENT!!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypocrite!

Obama '08!!

Obama, as any presidential contestant, is a big boy and can handle smear or satire, deserved or not. What is repulsive in this cartoon is another scene of our flag being burned and this time by a US senator. How far do we need to go in the name of humor? Where is the respect for our country and its process of democracy?

Again we have people exploiting the ambiguity of "freedom of speech". David Walker wrote of the injustices associated with the mistreatment of Negroes, but was not afforded the ability to exercise the same freedoms. So it would appear as though time has changed, but things have not.

We live in a country where people generally stick with their own kind. We may shout 'I AM AN AMERICAN" on the mountain top, but the lack of unity and lack of respect for one another is the very reason that people tag themselves as AFRICAN-american. Harsh communication such as this, does send a message to blacks, that totally trusting EUROPEAN-Americans is something to strongly consider.

I must say one more thing. Vote for the candidate that will best protect us from the evil people out there that want to get the US. Obama wants to negotiate with them which will never work and has never worked in history. One person comes to mind, Neville Chamberlain. He had a signed peace agreement that was broken by the Nazi's shortly thereafter. McCain will protect us better than Obama. Obama is too weak on foreigh affairs. His words are worthless. Look at his stances and platform for what he really stands for. He will bring the wrong change to the presidential office.

The cover is tasteless. That is what is wrong in this country, the news can say and do anything and when people complain they shout "Freedom of Speech". I think it's time for them to stop hiding behind the Constitution. I tired of only hearing the negative about both candidates. What happened to impartiality. This is why we have G.Bush in the White House now.

That cover of the new yorker is offensive. First of all, obama is depicted in arab garb not muslim garb. I'm sick of hearing muslim=middle east...it doesn't! there are thousands of muslims around the world, not just situated in the middle east! just because obama's father was a muslim doesn't mean he was a terrorist. MUSLIM DOES NOT = TERRORIST. second, every one of us has a part of history in our genes and it does not mean we are that person. what if you had a bit of german in you, does it mean you're a nazi? wouldn't you find that offensive because it does not stand for your morals and beliefs. I am a Muslim and just because I am does not mean i'm a terrorist. Whatever point the new yorker was trying to make missed the spot instead they smeared obama's good name and for muslims who are trying to lead honorable lives in america.

Shame on you New Yorker Magazine!!
Your cover is disgusting.

the fact of it is alot of people belive this senator obama or his wife dont deserve this the cover on that magazine is not who they are its like the new yorker is feeding into all the smears and false information just think if their daughters see this or other children say to their daughters your mom and dad are terriost sad sad the newyorker owes them an apology!!!!!!!!

The New Yorker drawing "Fear of Politics" is simply bigotry, because it is an attempt to impair Senator Obama's chances of winning the election. Displaying such caricatures before the election will only reinforce the misinformation of people who are gullible.

How dare the New Yorker disgrace Obama in this VILE Manner!

They disrespect him and his office!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way...bring on more BUSH = A CHIMP and BUSH = HITLER cartoons!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypocrite!

Obama '08!!

can hear the republican slime machine laughing...saying "and we didn't even have to pay for it!" Or did they? new yorker, you overestimate the intelligence of the american people.

Angie,

You are so wrong. I didn't hear Hillary complain about sexism. That was me complaining and many like me when we heard Obama say those things. If he is not a sexist (or misogynist) he sure seemed like it to get the male vote that doesn't consider women equal. By the way, the worst sexists are the women sexists who have no self respect or pride to pass on to their daughters.

1 Obama cartoon = Utterly OUTRAGEOUS!!!

1 million "Bush is a Chimp" cartoons = EXCELLENT!!!

I'm a dumb@$$ Liberal hypocrite!

Obama '08!!