In Defense of The New Yorker Magazine

Let me begin by saying that I cannot believe I am defending The New Yorker. But I must.

As you probably know by now the latest cover of The New Yorker has Barack Obama dressed up like a Muslim terrorist and Michelle Obama dressed up like a gun toting radical while standing in the Oval Office with a picture of Osama bin Laden on the wall. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-te.magazine15jul15,0,4906395.story) The Obama campaign has denounced the cartoon as has the McCain camp (which politically speaking was pretty much obliged to follow suit).

But does anyone seriously believe The New Yorker actually thinks the Obamas are terrorists? I see nothing defamatory here. As a subscriber to The New Yorker, I can attest no magazine has been more critical of the Bush Administration and conservatism in general. If any magazine editorial board wants Obama to win this is surely it.

In a world where cartoonists can be subject to harrassment, intimidation, imprisonment and assassination plots for offending the Prophet Muhammad the last thing America needs to do go down a road where one cannot lampoon our elected officials.

Besides if Obama is elected this November he better to get used to it. Frankly, there are going to be far more unflattering depictions of him.

Dennis Miller is right. Conservatives don't object to the color of his skin. They object to its thinness.