Jul/08©Chris Farley
Obama and the The New Yorker Cover
Oh, this was so predictable. In fact, I’d be surprised if The New Yorker didn’t use this cover on purpose – they wanted this battle. For any visually impaired readers, the cover portrays Barack and Michelle Obama in the Oval Office with Obama in Muslim garb and Michelle dressed in camouflage pants (would’ve been funnier if it was a pantsuit) with a machine gun over her shoulder. A portrait of Osama bin Laden hands on the wall, an America flag burns in the fireplace, and they’re giving each other what Fox News calls a “terrorist fist jab” and I call an odd social procedure often observed to show familiarity between friends and to replace handshakes among a less formal audience.
To the person who wants to see something objectionable, The New Yorker is suggesting that the Obamas are terrorists. Those people have, apparently, failed to think this through. The Obamas are clearly not terrorists and The New Yorker would have no reason to suggest that they are. Those people have also forgotten that The New Yorker often publishes humorous cartoons on its cover. The articles are also humorous! It’s obvious to me, but apparently not obvious to the McCain and Obama campaigns, that The New Yorker is not suggesting Obama has terrorist ties, but is pointing to the obsurdity of the claims that he does.
Think about it: A friendly fist gesture, while I admit it is bizzare, is construed to be related to terrorism. Rumors are circulated about Obama being a (gasp) Muslim. His middle name is Hussein, he must be related to Saddam Hussein. I think the humor is self explanatory. The New Yorker is mocking, and rightly so, the sheer stupidity of those who believe these rumors, as well as those who spread them maliciously.
There is, however, a debate surrounding this cover that’s taking place at a level significantly higher than that of the ignorant people spreading false rumors and that of those attacking The New Yorker for their decision to publish it. Should The New Yorker have published the cover or should they have withheld it, anticipating the misinterpretation of its meaning?
One of the guests on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer this evening, a sociologist, seemed to think that because the cover was so controversial, the humorous effect was lost. Agreed. But he also seemed to think that the loss of humor was enough reason to not publish. I don’t agree because this should be about showing people the humor, not hoping they get it and shying away from controversy.
What do you all think?
7:00 am on July 15th, 2008
I thought it was funny. But I do have some people in my family who won't vote for him because his middle name is hussein. I remind this family member that there are parts of the USA where being I- talian is BAD!! But she does not get it!!!
4:47 pm on July 15th, 2008
That's really too bad. It constantly amazes me how pervasive racism is, even today.
CF
3:31 pm on July 16th, 2008
Two questions for you, Chris: 1) Do you think that the New Yorker is saying this to be funny or to make a point? and 2) Do you think that they did this maliciously or just for the laughs?
7:03 pm on July 16th, 2008
Dear Chris, I have recently been turned on to your Blog and I have found it hugely entertaining and informative. I think you are right on the money with your observations and I have added your site to my short list of favorites. I hope I can disagree with you some day so I can add a pertinent or cogent comment. Perhaps you are the true "Catcher (of thoughts) in RYE.
9:02 am on July 17th, 2008
I am absolutely sure that The New Yorkeris saying this to be funny AND make a point at the same time. That's the brilliance of The New Yorker. Theabsurdityof these rumors and remarks about Obama are comic, so The New Yorkeris trying to make light of that.
To answer your second question, it's not at all malicious. They're making a point and I think Obama's campaign knows that it wasn't supposed to target them. This is just one cover of one magazine that's been blown out of proportion.
Chris Farley
9:44 pm on July 29th, 2008
I agree with you 100%. If this cover does anything, it holds a mirror up to the ignorant people in the US that believe these absurd rumors, and subsequently make false prejudices. Hussein is a popular name in the world, and what do you know, Obama was born before 9/11- what a shocker!! I mean, its like assuming that treating anyone with the last name Capone like they are in organized crime, because of Al Capone. Ridiculous. And you haven't seen lots of people making a huge deal because "McCain" rhymes with "Hussein". But for reasons that most don't understand yet back up, there is a ton of controversy because "Obama" rhymes with "Osama" and because of his middle name. Grow up, America.