Obama: These are not the cartoons I thought I knew
posted at 12:00 pm on July 16, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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But what I love about political cartoonists – at least, what I’ll love about them until I open up the paper and see a drawing of my big ears accompanied by something that came out of my big mouth – is that they cut through the conventional wisdom and just tell it like it is. People like Herblock and Tony Auth and others can jolt us awake from our political cynicism with a few ingenious images and a clever phrase that can often speak more truth than a thousand words. And this is the kind of wake-up call our politics needs today more than ever.
I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead. But, you know, that was their editorial judgment. And as I said, ultimately, it’s a cartoon, it’s not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about.
Uh-huh. Cartoons awaken us from our political cynicism except when they explicitly try to point out that cynicism — and then we have to ignore the satire and take them at the most superficial level? Sounds like someone wants to play a victim card a little too enthusiastically here, and on national television, no less.
It got worse. Obama tried playing the victim-by-proxy card as well on Larry King’s show:
“You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things,” the presidential candidate told CNN’s Larry King. “And for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it’s not what America’s all about.”
Did Barack Obama just accuse the New Yorker of editorial profiling? Does Obama really think that the New Yorker cartoon meant to skewer him rather than the Right? How clueless is Barack Obama, anyway?
Let’s try to explain this in small words so even the laughless Left understands it. The New Yorker meant to satirize (sorry — make fun of) what they saw as conservative smear campaigns against Obama. They did not mean to imply that there was anything wrong with wearing a dishdasha or being Muslim. The New Yorker could have provided more context for the gag, but anyone with a lick of common sense can deduce its meaning — which may be why the Left finds itself in such a lather over it.
Michelle reminds us of some truly offensive cartoons, in case Obama wants to know the difference. (via Jim Geraghty and HA reader Yakwill83)
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Throwing cartoons under the bus!?!??!!
carbon_footprint on July 16, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I did not know he said that in 2005.
Under Obama presidency, what’s been printed, published online will ALL have been aproved by ‘Fairness’ Czar!
Sir Napsalot on July 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Words, just words. Cartoons, just cartoons.
Buford Gooch on July 16, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Muslims or sure sensitive about cartoons.
.
If Obama say’s that “there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country,” WHY is he so offended by this cartoon? I Wonder?
abinitioadinfinitum on July 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Interesting….
Obama himself thinks that Moslems are terrorists… and it shows in his talking points…
Think about it… there is no Koran in this cartoon, just a guy in an African Ethnic outfit, a picture of Bin L, a wife NOT IN A BURKHA with a gun…. this is trying to get across he is a TERRORIST…
Its Obama and the PRESS that then equates TERRORISTS with Islam…
Interesting how the mind works isn’t it… when they constantly say ISLAM is not the issue, yet when they see a Terrorist, they automaticly think Moslem?
Romeo13 on July 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM
ummm…I know, Fake but Accurate!
mr_oni on July 16, 2008 at 12:17 PM
“Beware of the man who cannot laugh at himself.”
-G. B. Shaw.
Or the Messiah without even one funnybone.
The Audacity of Dope.
profitsbeard on July 16, 2008 at 12:18 PM
BUT OBAMA, TERRORISTS AREN’T REAL MUSLIMS!!!!11!!1!
Sir Andrew on July 16, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Good link to Michelle’s page. Liberals are such hypocrites!
HawaiiLwyr on July 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Even my 16 year old thinks the New Yorker actually got it right when they were actually trying to pull a funny. That’s what has got the Left’s panties in a twist, too close to the truth.
I saved that cover shot as my desktop background.
Alden Pyle on July 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Muslims should be offended by the lunatics who actually dress up like the cartoon figures and kill innocent people. If they’re offended by the cartoon, then tough s _ _ t. This is America and I’m sick of this PC crap and the politicians who apologize for what someone else does or says. Maybe if Muslims stop burning U.S. flags and dancing in the streets every time an American is killed, then maybe I’ll care one way or another.
Obama is a coward and a typical politician. He’ll say anything to get the power. He could care less about America or Americans.
orlandocajun on July 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
It’s more than a little funny to see Obama decrying a cartoon on behalf of Muslims. Someone needs to pull off an Islamic Rage Boy/Obama Photoshop job.
Dr. Manhattan on July 16, 2008 at 12:21 PM
You live by irony, you can die by it too.
mymanpotsandpans on July 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Why are all Muslims insulted by cartoons?
faraway on July 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM
chuckles
upinak on July 16, 2008 at 12:24 PM
The problem is the turban fits and the truth hurts.
elduende on July 16, 2008 at 12:24 PM
This was a last gasp from a Clintonista. That’s all. And of course it’s all the ‘right’s’ fault. Of course.
Griz on July 16, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Herb Block’s cartoons combined ugly lines with far left stodginess to produce inamusing drivel. Tony Auth is hateful and juvenile in the extreme. That Hussein thinks that these two are good examples of anti-cynical cartoonists is just more evidence that his words (”Words? Just words?!”) are even less well-considered than we might have imagined.
Akzed on July 16, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Yippee!
The Islamic Rage-Boy, finally identified.
franksalterego on July 16, 2008 at 12:28 PM
If Barack Hussein Obama wasn’t, as he claims a Muslim, then how does he know the New Yorker cartoon offended Muslims???
byteshredder on July 16, 2008 at 12:31 PM
This is the Obama we know.
Urban Infidel on July 16, 2008 at 12:37 PM
What? America isn’t about feeling free to tease any individual or group? Since when?
Also, why in the world would it offend muslims more to see a cartoon of Obama dressed in traditional garb than to see an entire official Obama website declaring that he is not muslim?
fight the SMEARS says:
The SMEAR: Barack Obama is secretly muslim
Is that less offensive to muslims than a cartoon? Please.
MayBee on July 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
orrrr….
If the Turbin fits… he must… uh… quit?
Romeo13 on July 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
We’re workin’ on it…
Rough Draft
franksalterego on July 16, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Big ears? Because of cartoon like this, Dubya should tell BHO “Welcome to the club.”
Bigfoot on July 16, 2008 at 12:43 PM
HE EVEN FLIP-FLOPS ON CARTOONS!
What is it with Muslims and cartoons? Is there a fatwah in Qur’an about cartoons?
IntheNet on July 16, 2008 at 12:46 PM
It has to do with basic free speech.
Governments have a hard time defending cartoons… they have a difficulty equating cartoons with the much larger issue of defending Free Speech…
They just don’t take cartoons seriously?
Romeo13 on July 16, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Why are all Muslims insulted by cartoons?
faraway on July 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM
It’s not just cartoons – They’re insulted by EVERYTHING !
LODGE4 on July 16, 2008 at 12:54 PM
If Obama has a problem with people KNOWING he was once a muslim, he has only himself to blame.
On page 154 of “Dreams From My Father,” Obama writes:
And on page 204 of “The Audacity of Hope,” Obama has a slightly different recollection, writing:
The words “Muslim school” are Obama’s. Muslim school’s required “Koranic studies”
abinitioadinfinitum on July 16, 2008 at 12:56 PM
You got a hearty guffaw from me on that one, Ed.
Bob's Kid on July 16, 2008 at 1:01 PM
You’re brilliant. Your future is very bright. Buy sunglasses.
The Race Card on July 16, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Obama just doesn’t want people, especially Democrats, reading the New Yorker articles about him. They lay bare his endless scheming opportunism.
Obama continually complains about distractions – and continually creates distractions.
Another example. Should immigrants learn English? (but actually their kids usually do.) Obama: Think instead about our kids learning other languages (but they usually do in school, just not often very well.)
ForNow on July 16, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Obama should be careful what he wishes for when it comes to being offended. While he and his staff obviously think the candidate’s race allows them to declare anything they don’t like to be off-limits, his ability with the national media to be the “ultimate moral authority” (to borrow MoDo’s phrase about Cindy Sheehan), once you legitimize the idea that any group’s concerns about being offended by anything, and then you happen to be elected president, then any foreign group or individual who doesn’t like something about your policies can claim to be “offended” by some aspect of what you’re doing and use that as an excuse to justify their actions.
Obama may be trying to use the New Yorker cartoon depicting him as a Muslim as another step to make any criticism of him off-limits, but suppose it’s 2009 and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad doesn’t want to listen to the Obama Administration’s plan for the Middle East because he’s offended that Barack isn’t a Muslim despite having a Muslim father. Throwing the “Oh yea? Well, I’m offended even more” card back at Ahmadinejad isn’t going to do anything to curtail the Iran nuclear program.
jon1979 on July 16, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Is this the 3rd news cycle on this bit of fun at the expense of the vast right-wing conspiracy? Methinks they do protest too much.
Come to think of it, my college buddy had that New Yorker with her but didn’t show it to me…she knows I’m no longer in the liberal club and haven’t been for a long time.
It seems to me that this cartoon takes the focus on the real problems with the O-bomb-us campaign. Is there any wonder that the Iraqis in the know want a retired fighter pilot instead of Barry Whosane NObama? It’s a Nobrainer.
Christine on July 16, 2008 at 1:32 PM
This is the editorial cartoon in my local San Diego newspaper today…
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/breen/archive/20080716_breen.gif
*sigh*
SilverStar830 on July 16, 2008 at 1:33 PM
“takes the focus” OFF, not “on”! Duh.
Christine on July 16, 2008 at 1:34 PM
In reaction to the cartoon linked by silverstar: next there should be a cartoon of 2 liberals smiling and high-5ing over the dumb hick’s response. Perhaps that was the intention.
Christine on July 16, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Criticism through words. Out of Bounds
Criticism through pictures. Out of Bounds
Criticism through associates. Out of Bounds
Criticism through inference. Out of Bounds
Criticism through parody. Out of Bounds
Criticism through jokes. Out of Bounds
Sensitive little Momma’s boy, isn’t he?
Ooh, Ooh, please don’t make fun of my ears Maureen, I don’t want to cry and wet my pants. That was our first warning of how insecure this dope is.
fogw on July 16, 2008 at 1:41 PM
It took me all of about 60 seconds to find this close approximation… or maybe it’s a bullseye?
http://www.cagle.com/working/080715/cagle00.gif
The chips are down!
SilverStar830 on July 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Did I say that Obama is trying to distract from the New Yorker articles? Maybe he’s meant to punish the New Yorker for those articles.
“Inside the cover story: Controversy adds to ad woes at the New Yorker” by Keith J. Kelly, New York Post, July 16, 2008.
It’s one thing to punish them for the cover if that’s what it’s really about. But it’s a sly bank shot to do it for the articles. Well, the New Yorker walked right into it. There’s more meta-discussion – discussion about discussion (or, more generally, expression about expression), in this presidential campaign than I recall seeing in others. Obama somehow turns everything into questions of whether it’s okay to say something. Only a PC expert like Obama can skillfully negotiate the maze of speech hazards and multiple standards which Obama keeps evoking. Obama likes it that way. Everybody should just be quiet and let the Great Telepromptee teach us our lines.
ForNow on July 16, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Maybe some young up and coming investigative reporter looking for that Big Story could do a study into some other things B.O. said in 2005, and compare them to some of the things that he is saying right now. I am sure the end report would be truly fascinating reading, especially for some superdelegates who may be starting to wonder if jumping on this guy’s bandwagon was really that hot of an idea.
pilamaye on July 16, 2008 at 1:58 PM
The ass-hat Liberals sure are full of themselves, aren’t they.
franksalterego on July 16, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Hey Barry (Don’t imply I’m a Muslim, but so what if I was?!) Obama… Guess what? You don’t have to go after the Muslim vote. You had them at “Hussein.”
max1 on July 16, 2008 at 2:08 PM
If Barack Hussein keeps whining and crying about Muslims, he’s gonna need a diaper on his butt AND on his head.
He’d REALLY hate the comics I draw. Here’s one of mine called “Bluto: American Taliban”, dedicated to Theo Van Gogh…
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.listAll&friendID=87284673&startID=332912499&StartPostedDate=2007-11-28%2014:10:00&next=1&page=1&Mytoken=756E67A1-551E-4F27-B8EF5333A45F8613172727620
Spanglemaker on July 16, 2008 at 2:32 PM
The cartoon was TRYING to make fun of conservatives. It is painful to the left because the cartoonist hit the maximum liklihood Obama square on the head.
Alec on July 16, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Why does Barry want go near the offensive cartoons to Islam thing? Being Obamessiah as a political strategy is annoying enough…at lease you can satirize it. But does our political Man of the Year really have to set himself up as an uncartoonable “Obamohammed” too?
Our Ex-Islamic Rage Boy needs to chill or he will set himself up for even better satire as he makes these connections to help us define him.
http://blog.bretttrout.com/uploaded_images/irb-man-of-year-736061.JPG
econavenger on July 16, 2008 at 2:36 PM
We’re getting clowned.
The Race Card on July 16, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Help me here. How is depicting the Senator as a Muslim an insult to Muslims?
Is the goofball channeling the wrong Marx? Groucho instead of Karl?
Stoo Pid on July 16, 2008 at 3:26 PM
The entire reason this doesn’t work as satire is because that thing that they’re attempting to satire (conservatives try to portray BO is a muslim, america-hater) doesn’t exist in reality.
mattshu on July 16, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Barack HUSSEIN Obama (PBUH)(SAW)(SWT), the new Messiah!
Dale in Atlanta on July 16, 2008 at 4:24 PM
It’s fun watching BHO start to meltdown. Not too fast ’cause we need you to survive your own convention. Then you will be sacrificed on the political altar of identity politics.
Mojave Mark on July 16, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Bingo. We need to follow “Operation Chaos” now with “Operation Prom King”. We have to get this dude across the finish line in August, and then whack him hard in November!
We sure as hell don’t want to end up facing Hillary “The Comeback Kid”, who will have the whole Demo-acade-media-tainment sector knocking themselves out to make up for ever doubting her, and trying to explain how the Republicans are to blame for the riots.
drunyan8315 on July 16, 2008 at 4:54 PM
You fail at using words that the “laughless left” understands.
No, not conservative. Rethuglican.
OneGyT on July 16, 2008 at 8:25 PM
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