Obama and the New Yorker Cover

The July 2, 2008 New Yorker magazine cover will go down in history because of the controversy it has sparked. It may also become a historically important cover because of its sharp satirical humor that apparently only a very few intellectuals are capable of understanding in this day and age.

The cover as you all know by now, was drawn by Barry Blit for The New Yorker, a publication known for both its liberal leanings and for its cartoons. As a matter of fact, I used to know folks that would buy the magazine just for the cartoons. It depicts Obama in a robe, turban and sandals, his wife Michelle in camouflage and sporting an assault rifle over her shoulder. There is a flag burning in the Oval Office fireplace and a portrait of Bin Laden. They are giving each other the now infamous "fist bump."

The Obama campaign called The New Yorker for an explanation. Well I have been on both sides of that particular ilk of phone call and I'm sure the conversation was more than a tad testy. Obama's campaign calls the cover "tasteless and offensive." His opponent John McCain apparently agrees. The New Yorker calls it satire.

Satire, according to the trusty Encarta Dictionary that my computer possesses, is a noun meaning, "the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults." The magazine issued a statement to the press basically stating that the intention of the cover is satirical and meant to point out the absurdity of the attacks that have been hurled at the Obamas. I guess they assume that their audience is sophisticated enough to recognize how over the top the cartoon cover is and realize that it is meant to show the extreme right-wing critics who have spewed their hate and prejudice for the Obamas for the what they are - absurd. No one is getting the joke and it's made me wonder if the art of satire has been lost along with so many others.

Internet blogs are heated up over this cover. The attention it's getting is almost surreal. Do I agree that the cartoon cover is outlandish? Of course I do. But that is what it was intended to be, wasn't it? From what I have always understood, satire is meant to shock. When done well, satire is supposed to teach, enlighten and shock all at the same time. The title of this cartoon cover is The Politics of Fear which to me is evidence that it is intended as simple satire. So why the hullabaloo? It's most likely that Obama's people are afraid that the masses won't get it. All the more reason for not stirring the pot by publicly criticizing it. McCain's people are probably just afraid, knowing they too will come under the knife, er paintbrush.

There is no need to defend the the cover with the first amendment here or freedom of the press. Both wings of politics in this country are well aware of their right to free speech and exercise it daily and sometimes not so nicely. The only thing up for question here in my mind is why neither political party "got" the humor in this cartoon. Where is their appreciation for the ironic and absurd? Both political candidates for the Presidency should point out to their spokes people and other constituents that this is what prejudice looks like and urge them to get the point. That won't happen, unfortunately. But more than likely thanks to all the notoriety and free publicity, The New Yorker will sell so many of this week's issue that they won't be silenced or discouraged and will continue their brand of humor for those of us who not only "get it" but appreciate it as well.