The Power of Images

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  • Posted By: LuLuBelle @ 07/15/2008 12:20:28 PM

    People understand that the picture is meant to be satire.

    But the fact is there is an element of truth in all of it and that is why Obama is offended. He is the one responsible for people having these perceptions of him.

    He is the one who says he won't salute our flag because it is a "symbol of oppression", hence the flag burning (oh, yeah , and it has ALWAYS been against the law to desecrate our flag bout Obama voted to make it NOT illegal to burn the flag.) Obama stayed in the Rev Wright church for 20 years where they preached hatred of America. Now we are supposed to believe that he didn't feel the same way as the Rev. Wright, his mentor and friend?

    For EVERYTHING in this picture Obama has done something that made upeople see him this way. So he can just take his lumps. Why should we all overlook his connections to terrorists like Bill Ayers and Louis Farrakhan? Why should we pretend like he didn't make deals with Tony Rezko?

    There is not one piece of this picture that Obama did not create!

    And for those of you who say it doesn't matter if he is Muslim - you are OBVIOUSLY ignorant of the Muslim religion or you would know that the Jihad is the call to all Muslims to fight a war in which every non-believer is wiped off the face of the earth. And you better believe that they are serious.

    If you don't believe me you better study up on this religion.

    • Posted By: mhopgood123 @ 07/15/2008 1:31:10 PM

      Obama has done nothing to deserve this smears that circulate around. Your party, the GOP is dirty and sleazy and lacks the guts to take Obama on issues. They are running scared, hence the smear campaign.McCain is a very weak candidate. ALl the GOP has is to throw mud without conscience and without consequences. This time the voters will not listen.

    • Posted By: spunja @ 07/15/2008 1:28:23 PM

      listen coo-coo lulu, although I support senator McCain, I have to disagree w/ ur argument "you are OBVIOUSLY ignorant of the Muslim religion or you would know that the Jihad is the call to all Muslims to fight a war in which every non-believer is wiped off the face of the earth. And you better believe that they are serious."
      I study theology & that's the most ignorant comment I've ever heard. You've just interpreted from the news what terrorist define "Jihad." There are many Muslims in the world & we shouldn't judge their religion & culture based on what we see & hear from terrorists. Even my five yr old girl can tell you that. If you are true Christian or have any faith in your religion, then you would follow Bible & shouldn???t be judging others.
      In fact, few nut case Christians want to kill everyone that supports abortion, would I associate their view to entire religion?

      It is the same logic, just as the New Yorkers image of Obama doesn't define what they wrote about him in the article. In fact, New Yorker was pointing out ignorant people like you. Please read!!!!

    • Posted By: flamingo123 @ 07/15/2008 1:22:35 PM

      Comment: To LuLuBelle, I agree with you 100%.

    • Posted By: Johnny at Work @ 07/15/2008 12:24:55 PM

      Spot on comment... I concur wholeheartedly.

      There are things you left out, like Obamas relationship with William "The Flag Burning Bomber" Ayers. But, you are right on. Obamas own actions and relationships are what have imbeded the New Yorkers image into our brains.

      He has no one to fault but himself.

  • Posted By: sebr01stl @ 07/15/2008 1:30:08 PM

    Obama Crama, newsweek is mostly for Obama? Have you read any of Andrew Romano's Stumpers? Please be informed before you post.
    daveinboca, do you receive newsletters from that lying Larry Sinclair or something?
    johnny at work and Obama Drama, no one's paying any attention to your hoax e-mail garbage. Been there, done that already. "... a Catholic school where he had to study Islam..." Do you know of any Catholic schools that teach anything other than Catholicism? "What, no fond memories of Catholic or Christian prayers?" Is that why he was in Trinity UCC for 20+ years? You're such a joke. nuff said.

  • Posted By: FatKat66 @ 07/15/2008 10:59:27 AM

    The Obamas' conduct has fueled these fires. My question is why such an overreaction to a cartoon? Obviously many people believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with the messiah, including his campaign. If there were no truth to any of this, it should have been ignored by Obama just as the vile depictions of Bush were ignored by him.

    • Posted By: J.Richter @ 07/15/2008 11:12:44 AM

      Just like Kerry ignored the Swiftboat vets, eh?
      He thought - "No sane person would believe a twenty something year old allowed himeself injured on purpose three times so he could get two purple hearts and a silver star, so he could one day contest for presidency"

      But then, your comments emanate from a position of hate. If he ignores it, you blieve it, he cant dispute it, it must be true. If he doesnt, he complains too much, there must be truth to it, he should have ignored it.

      This whole thing should have been about policies and truths and about getting ourselves the best next four years (and remedying our silly choices that gave us a devalued country - who though our dollar will be less than the canadian, now most people can swoop in and buy our devlaued assets such as Budweiser and even China is beginning to buy us up - but our own hate will not let us choose on issues).

      • Posted By: glm2u @ 07/15/2008 12:20:24 PM

        The problem with Kerry's record is that he was "injured" (Purple Heart) 3 times in 3 months with barely anytime out of combat. Even before Swiftboat I was skeptical. There is nothing wrong with a politically ambitious young man trying to beef up his resume with a tour of combat -- that's been done for 1000s of years. At issue is the laughable suggestion that a scratch equals an injury, that ??? at best -- a walking wounded injury equals a Purple Heart. Add the "Gengis Khan" remarks when he comes back and add his "I was in Cambodia and heard President Nixon on the radio" remark -- his version of Hillary's "sniper fire" and you see why the Swiftboat attack was so effective.

        • Posted By: J.Richter @ 07/15/2008 1:28:44 PM

          How many scratches do you have from war?

          Been there alone is hard enough (America lost 300,000 young men). Their lives were really at risk several times in a month (talk less of three months). HE WAS PART OF A RIVER PATROL.

          But again this does not automatically make a president but there is no point criticising it either.

      • Posted By: glm2u @ 07/15/2008 12:18:05 PM

        The problem with Kerry's record is that he was "injured" (Purple Heart) 3 times in 3 months with barely anyime out of combat. Even before Swiftboat I was skeptical. There is nothing wrong with a politically ambitious young man trying to beef up his resume with a tour of combat -- that's been done for 1000s of years. At issue is the laughable suggestion that a scratch equals an injury, that a walking wounded injury equals a Purple Heart. Add the "Gengis Khan" remarks when he comes back and add his "I was in Cambodia and heard President Nixon on the radio" remark -- his version of Hillary's "sniper fire" and you see why the Swiftboat attack was so effictive.

  • Posted By: tkd61 @ 07/15/2008 12:25:39 PM

    That Newsweek cover of Obama praying hurt him too. It made me feel like throwing up. The mag went straight into the garbage where it belongs.

    • Posted By: mhopgood123 @ 07/15/2008 1:28:17 PM

      I throw up all the time Busjh comes out and gives another false hope speech. I throw up everytime I see people losing their homes on account of the GOP policies. I throw up at the fact that more than 4,000 soldiers have died in a war that was not needed, started by a president who knowingly lied to his people.

  • Posted By: Johnny at Work @ 07/15/2008 11:46:04 AM

    The Indonesian Government "requires" (mandates, forces) islamic study at all schools, including the Catholic school Obama attended. Nice people those Islamists.

    And, just how did those forced studies influence Obama? He calls the Islamic "Call to Prayer" the "prettiest sound on earth". ..... nuf said!

    • Posted By: J.Richter @ 07/15/2008 12:22:27 PM

      According to your arguments below, the Catholic schools are also really Islamic schools. So having his parents live in thea country - he be damned by you. Muslim for life. You really believe that your focus on the wrong issues are not a waste of everyone's time bound to give us 4 more negative growth years like the last eight. You dont relaly think you need to reexamine personal issues that give rise to this thinking rather than giving expressions to them online. And not everyone agrees with Barack - not even liberals, most are just focused on truth, real and substantial matters that really affect our lives and country.

      I think you should take this debate against he Indonesian government's policies and mandates to an Indonesian election discussion website or discuss it with yourself. Really.

      • Posted By: Johnny at Work @ 07/15/2008 12:47:55 PM

        Obama went to a Government sponsored Islamic school, and a Catholic School where he still had to study Islam.

        How did his study of Islam affect him? Obama calls Islamic prayer "the prettiest sound on earth".

        What, no fond memories of Catholic or Christian prayer? ...... nuf said.....

        It's not that he was once a Muslim, it's that he now denies it.

        • Posted By: J.Richter @ 07/15/2008 1:26:09 PM

          Where?

          In your head. I promise you. Search hard for this denia anywhere and you wont find it (dont go to hate sites that contain information that yourself cound havd simply created). Where he claimed Indonesian public school do not include islamic religious study.

          Again really, this is an issue you should be working out privately. Serious and sincere folks are criticising or agree with him or analyzing him on stuff of facts: taxes, energy, FISA - things that WILL affect our future as serously as the last 8 years. But you stay preoccupied on racial and made up religious contentions.

  • Posted By: therealmarie @ 07/15/2008 1:12:53 PM

    The article was ment to hurt Obama. What's questionable about that? Will it suceed? Probably with the low info voters, who do not or can't read. That was the design goal of the cover. McCain can stop wasting money on ads attacking Obama. He's got the media to do it for him.

  • Posted By: changospirit@gmail.com @ 07/14/2008 11:30:39 PM

    I get it and I am glad I was voting for John all along.. Obama has to go to the Middle East with Hagel and Reed holding his little hand. And of course he knows the difference between shia and sunnis... Do I really have to say why..THOSE R HIS PEOPLE... He better know the difference.

    • Posted By: sjpersonal @ 07/15/2008 1:07:21 PM

      Great you and Sharenews can be friends. Bomb any Mosque or burn any crosses lately I am sure that both of you dream about it. Let's talk about the inbred illiterate rednecks who R YOUR PEOPLE!!!

    • Posted By: melvin68 @ 07/15/2008 12:48:44 AM

      I think you have Senator Obama mixed up with Senator Mccain. Everytime Senator McCain travels overseas, he has Senators Lieberman and Graham along to hold his hand. Especially Senator Graham, who really likes holding hands with other men.

      • Posted By: sharenews @ 07/15/2008 3:01:02 AM

        That is not even the REAL question at hand. The real issue I have is why did it take the prodding of Senator McCain to continually goad him to go to IRAQ to meet with the US generals, et al on the ground before he actually made arrangements to make this trip! That doesnt sound like Obama having foresight to have done this on his own to find out the real deal on this war on terrorists in IRAQ and where things stand.

  • Posted By: fjstratford @ 07/15/2008 12:10:44 AM

    OH PLEASE! Where are all of you when Obama suporters and Republicans were selling Hillary Nutcrackers? That was worse than this magazine cover!

    • Posted By: ChristineATL @ 07/15/2008 11:34:19 AM

      Some of us protested the nutcrackers and monkey t-shirts at the same time because we believed both are offensive. You appear to be more selective. Were you among those protesting the muslim smear emails put out by Clinton's staffers?

      • Posted By: sjpersonal @ 07/15/2008 1:04:08 PM

        Thank you, these people cry and scream about how beastly, they actually used this word, Clinton was treated, they made her cry, they raped her. Yet they are permitted to say anything they choose about Obama. Clinton made comments alluding to and the Republican woman made a joke about him being assisnated but to them that's all good. And let's not forget the racism that was thrown at Obama.

        Both side said things but nothing said about Clinton has ever been close to the insults and threats thrown at Obama.

  • Posted By: old scout @ 07/15/2008 12:56:48 PM

    The trouble with the cover is that it was poorly done. It falsely characterizes the victims of the slurs and not the perpetrators. There is nothing on the cover but the title to tell the reader that the target is the slur campaign and not the Obamas. And the title is ambiguous. "Politics of Fear" is not clear enough to indicate to most people that the fearmongers are the target, and many may not even see the title over the impact of the drawing itself. It needed something added to make the intent easier to gleen. Bottom line, a poor political cartoon.

  • Posted By: 5interiors5 @ 07/15/2008 12:52:48 PM

    So we are to take Obama's relationship with Resko as boneheaded and dismiss that he has no relationship with the Daly politics. Then Jonahtan doesnt know Chicago politics. There are many of us who are not affected by the cover, but we have listened to Obama, and his arrogant smirks, his searching for words which sometimes end is his dismissing of the topic on which he was speaking (remindful fo GWB) are what we are using to judge Obama. And that picture "aint pretty". If you haven't made up your mind about Obama by now, I do not believe you ever will. He has given a person enough fodder (even though he tries to be evasive) to see that his is not to be trusted or has the experience to be president. If the media would just keep posting the clips where he denies running in 2008 and that he needs more experience before he runs (words from his own mouth) you can see what a liar he is.

  • Posted By: valwayne @ 07/15/2008 10:28:47 AM

    First off if the New Yorker had portrayed...say Ronald Reagan or George Bush in the same way it would have obviously been satire and its very doubtful it would have created much of a dust up. So why is it that Johnathon Alter thinks that these images are so powerful. Could it be that Obama was wrong on the surge in Iraq, clearly wrong about declaring defeat in the face of victory, week on the war with Terrorist, Week in his dealing with the rogue regime in Iran, week in his approach toward N. Korea, way to willing to negotiate American rights and interests to foreign power so they will like us etc etc etc. He's also the man that sat in Rev Wright's church for 20 years listening to hate, and who's wife has never been proud of her country until he ran for President. Could it be that the reason Obama and his supporters seem so terrified of these pictures is because they are an exteme version of the legitimate fears the American people have about Obama. And he Jonathon Alter isn't it your job as a journalist to ask and explore some of these questions rather than act as a hired public image consultant for Obama. Your article reads like a point by point rebuttal from the Obama campaign. Is that your job or theirs?

    • Posted By: VAChris@FC @ 07/15/2008 11:42:47 AM

      valwayne, your rant is so parochial it doesn't deserve a reply but for the erroneous content. First off, try using spellcheck, it's free of charge, second, a little , just a little, very minimal, effortless research would have exposed your ignorance. John Mccain himself and on FOUR different interview occasions said that HE WAS NEVER PROUD OF AMERICA UNTIL HE WAS DEPRIVED OF HER COMPANY. And you know what, a few of those utterances were on your friendly parochial network FOX with your friend, Hannitty. Now, to N.Korea, if you know anything about that then you ought to know that Obama's diplomatic ploy suggestions were used to TALK to them before they acquiesced. This, after the administration had labeled the country axis of evil and refused to TALK to them. On Iran the joint chief of staff echoed the Obama suggestion for dialogue as opposed to the Mccain full force strategy. On Iraq, Senator Obama had it right from the start by OPPOSING the war as a dumb war, and with the surge we simply supplied the insurgents with fresh soldiers to kill still without the achievement of a key thing - political reconciliation. And about declaring defeat in the face of victory - whatever that means, the sovereign Iraqi government wants us OUT, GONE. Like I said earlier your piece is full of so much inaccuracies and crap it does not deserve a response, but I just wanted to expose your COMPLETE IGNORANCE of the facts. Hit me back if you wish and I will expose your lack of knowledge of the issues some more - but do a little research to help expand your closeted small mind.
      Almost forgot, on al queida, which you didn't mention Senator Obama had long said that if there was actionable intelligence about a key figure hiding out in Pakistan, and the government there refuses to act, we should. He was roundly criticized, then 4 months later the Bush administration did the same exact thing, and have since repeated that twice more. Solid JUDGMENT is the hallmark of Senator Obama, what's Senator Mccains???? I thought so!

      • Posted By: sjpersonal @ 07/15/2008 12:50:41 PM

        Great Post VaChris, thank you

  • Posted By: boulevardofdef @ 07/15/2008 12:48:20 PM

    Jonathan Alter writes: "But it is indisputably harmful to the Obama campaign, which is why, though Obama himself wouldn't comment, his spokesman called the cartoon 'tasteless and offensive.'" I am, right now, disputing that the cover is harmful to the Obama campaign, and therefore this statement is indisputably inaccurate. I await your correction.

  • Posted By: pmalone @ 07/15/2008 11:09:44 AM

    As a African-American woman I am deeply sadden by The New Yorker Magazine who decided to depict our future president in attire who we know as the emeny. What do this tell the American people. This show how distasteful the New Yorker can be an it is very disturbing that they find any HUMOR in this situation at all. WHen you think that we are on our way to a positve future we are remined of the past. STEROTYPING, They found humor in lynching my ancestors by degrading their character and at the same time sleeping and father children by AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN. Something is wrong with this type of HUMOR

    • Posted By: LuLuBelle @ 07/15/2008 12:10:41 PM

      You are saddened by the picture but not by what Obama has done to make people have these "perceptions" of him? If I were in your shoes I would be saddened that a man who has spent 20 years in a racist, hating church is even in position to run for president. It is an insult to black Americans just as it is to all other races.

      By the way - he is not our "future" president. He has not won the election so you should STOP calling him that. If you want to puff him up call him the "possible" future president.

      • Posted By: sjpersonal @ 07/15/2008 12:45:34 PM

        Oh no Obama has done nothing to make "people" have these perceptions of him. "PEOPLE" such as you live for this BS, you have an outlet for your hate and racism. You and others like him have been on this tirade since he announced his candidacy. His Name, His Religion, His Marriage, His Wife, His Children, His Level of Intelligence, Anyone that has been in the same room with himand let's not forget when those such as you really get comfortable in their anonymity tnen you really get happy with the N*ggers, Black Apes etc.

        But not in my lifetime have I ever experienced another politician being treated in such a way. So do not waste my time saying that it isn't racial because in your heart you know exactly what type of person you are.

        By the way NEWS FLASH CLINTON LOST. OBAMA IS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE YOU GET OVER IT AND LEARN TO LOVE IT.

  • Posted By: daveinboca @ 07/15/2008 12:26:58 PM

    There are a lot of little problems Jonny Alterboy glossed over [like "out of context" for his wife], but that's par for this agitpreppie of the left. And what about the three Church members murdered execution style who were in the Rev Wright choir at Obama's Church. All gay & now all dead within the last year. Hmmm........

    • Posted By: Johnny at Work @ 07/15/2008 12:33:26 PM

      Yep.... see details here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/video/?slug=chi-071225young-dead-wn

  • Posted By: Obama Drama @ 07/15/2008 12:22:43 PM

    "JUST WORDS" " JUST A PICTURE"

  • Posted By: Obama Drama @ 07/15/2008 12:21:25 PM

    "Just Words" "Just a Picture"

  • Posted By: goodnuff @ 07/15/2008 12:14:27 PM

    Thank you for keeping the conversation lively. The alternative is to read and hear only the rehtoric the political campaigns put out for consumption. I have and maintain the greatest respect and admiration for the New Yorker magazine.

  • Posted By: Johnny at Work @ 07/15/2008 12:14:08 PM

    The only thing silly is the Obot's in denial of who Obama really is.

  • Posted By: Obama Drama @ 07/15/2008 12:11:12 PM

    Obama fans making mountains over molehill. Please - I can not wait to put that cover in a frame. It is the best cartoon yet. Nobody said anything about Hillary cartoons and how they damaged her. Any little thing about or said of Obama is yelled about. Please - he is not the golden boy. I wonder what took the New Yorker so long to get the same things Jackson wants of Obama?

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