The Power of Images

The New Yorker did one thing right, it has caused us to think and talk about the rumors. Unfortunately, we continue to fail in truly looking at the man as determined by his past instead of the man as promoted by his speech writers.

Look at his past voting record, look at his church, look at his family and friends, look at his business associates. Listen to what he has said. (there are 50 American States, and 57 Islamic states) Then ask yourself honestly, is this the man worthy of the rock star worship he has been getting from the media. If he didn???t consider himself in the same category as Spears and Hilton, then why did he change the convention site to a stadium worthy of a rock star?

What's wrong with a satire if it says what needs to be said and what it said is that you have a man whose
like a little boy, maybe a half-white boy, yes but there's one very aggressive woman at his side and she's the 'by any means necessary' type if you know what I mean. So you've really got to thank the New Yorker's team of artists for coming up with that insightful illustration because as they say, a picture's worth a thousand words.

This week the New Yorker editor responded to the controversy, and although I think "he gets it" somewhat, I think he is missing the boat too. See http://gregsandell.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-yorker-editor-responds.html.

Obama's over-reaction to a Cartoon is suprising like the standard Radical Muslim's reaction to cartoons in Europe and elsewhere.

Maybe he would be more comfortable in Europe... I know I would be more comfortable with him in Europe instead of having him running our Country!!!

Obama's Radical Muslim over-reaction to a Cartoon... he really should be happier in Europe instead of running our Country

i i feelfeel there wasn't anything wrong with t

My apologies for the triple post. I didn't do it to be emphatic--or annoying. I'm having problems with my connection.

Am I the only person who is more disturbed by the Newsweek cover of a praying Obama? The New Yorker cartoon was satire. People who believe that he's a Muslim with ties to bin Laden and she's a gun-toting radical ain't gonna vote for him anyway. End of story! But the NW cover is different. This is supposed to be a TRUE image of him. I've had enough of Christian-in-Chief presidents!

Am I the only person who is more disturbed by the Newsweek cover of a praying Obama? The New Yorker cartoon was satire. People who believe that he's a Muslim with ties to bin Laden and she's a gun-toting radical ain't gonna vote for him anyway. End of story! But the NW cover is different. This is supposed to be a TRUE image of him. I've had enough of Christian-in-Chief presidents!

Am I the only person who is more disturbed by the Newsweek cover of a praying Obama? The New Yorker cartoon was satire. People who believe that he's a Muslim with ties to bin Laden and she's a gun-toting radical ain't gonna vote for him anyway. End of story! But the NW cover is different. This is supposed to be a TRUE image of him. I've had enough of Christian-in-Chief presidents!

This is a cartoon, a satire - and really, I think that making "the subtle gossip visible", it takes some of the poison out of it.
And I, for one, don´t for a minute believe that Michelle is a terrorist, nor that Barack is Muslim.

That said, I do think that cartoonists doing work like that are quite intuitive, and good at picking up sides of the more subtle expressions in a personality - or what is happening around the person(s).
There is a strike of warrior in Michelle, and she does seem like the "masculine part" in the marriage - and that´s why she has been given the gun; she does speak with a "I´m on the barriers" approach - and the "finally proud of my country" and civil rights are drawn into this, in a way that it wouldn´t have with any other ("white") politician.
The Obamas has pulled race into this, which was inevitable.

I really don´t see that taking the race fight into the White House does anyone any good, nor Obamas campaign - it takes the attention away from the politics and the politician.....and that work both ways.

I look forward to the day we can just listen to the political agenda, and who is better at the job, what experience they have and what they have accomplished in their political life.
I´d like a debate between just two politician and humans, both covered equally in the media; McCain and Obama.

Still...I think we let the best go; Hillary. May she, next time she hopefully runs, be judged on political skills and experience, and the one she´s running against compared on those things as well, so it´s not down to a popularity contest again.

This is an excellent article. The New Yorker cover is despicable. It feeds into fear and racial divisiveness. This does not merely hurt the Obama campaign, it hurts America. The challenges we are all faced with are magnificent. And certainly if we are divided, we are conquered. The New Yorker editors should have known this image reflects what too many people believe. It does not dispel the untruths that are paramount. An illustration of a bumbling President Bush does not mean that he is intelligent??? or an old McCain does not mean he is young. So why would an image of a Muslim Obama mean he is Christian? It may be a joke who knows better, but the point is not everyone does. Instead it promotes the lies.

As to the comments about Michelle, her comments were taken out of context. As a black woman, slightly older than Michelle, I too was blown away and am really proud by the Iowan voters and the Obama campaign that was able to overcome racial divides, in a way we have never witnessed in our life times!! -- from a mass, grass-root standpoint. We were not adults when Martin Luther King bought America together for civil rights, and were not adults when Kennedy was President. There has been no President or leader that has succeeded in bringing America together based on hope, mutual respect and common purpose. The Clintons have progressive ideas, but they did not mobilize the people, and were stuck in power plays and gridlock. Economic prosperity at the time was due to the post-industrial, technological revolution. Not via a movement of people lead by Clinton bring us together to solve our problems and ensure our future.

Martin Luther King and the Kennedy's bought us together -- by providing moral authority as well as advancing progressive ideas. We are inspired by those voters in Iowa, and the Obama campaign that demonstrates that together Americans can effect positive change. We can learn to respect each other, despite our diversity. There is enough resources for all human beings in the world to have food, shelter, health care and a college education. But, the road ahead is extremely tough. Yes We Can do it, if we all do our part to build a bright future. We need a president with moral authority to encourage our youth to strive to excel, to reverse negative thinking and not glorify thugs as is promoted in the media and the record industry, that is derogatory toward women and weaken the family structure. Compromises must be made or Obama will simply be engaged in gridlock, and the movement will fail.

Anyone who speaks against comments to challenge black fathers to be more responsible is doing us more harm than good! We must question their motives. Thank God Barack Obama has a strong beautiful woman behind him. He needs the support, he needs the understanding he needs the encouragement at home, and so do we! Thank you Michelle for making this day possible! You are highly appreciated and respected.

I thought the cover was hilarious and thought provoking at the same time. The mass media who annointed Obama many months ago may make fun of the fears of Americans regarding the Senator's values, religious beliefs and positions, however the fact remains that we the people are still not sure who this man is. All we know is what the media tells us which isn't all that much. And when confronted with questions regarding his and his wife's past, we are accused of being racist or "unfair". It is these concerns that will be the downfall of the Senator in November. I believe that the last few weeks have shown that the "gloss" is off and as more is revealed, his negatives and that of his wife's will increase. Why else would he remove her from the campaign. As for the power of images, have you taken a look at your own publication. Every picture of Obama is one of him smiling in that arrogant, supercilious way or deep in prayer... As for McCain, he has a look of anger on his face or the picture was taken out of context.....

If the Obama campaign does not view the cover of the New Yorker as satire, they have no business expecting Americans to support Obama.

Obama tells his followers that anyone who opposes his is a Republican and/or a racist and that they are lying. I am so tired of that Bla, bla, bla.

Obama is hiding his lack of qualifications and his corruption behind his minority status at the expense of all legitimate minority efforts for equality.

Shame on you, Barack Obama!

Michelle's comment was not taken out of context. It was the exclamation point to that part of her speech. This otherwise excellent column is somewhat diminished by being dishonest on that one point.

Michelle's comment was not taken out of context. It was, in fact, the exclamation point to that part of her speech. This otherwise excellent column is somewhat diminished by being dishonest on that one point.