Controversial "political" cartoon...

Just saw this on MSN...wow. At first glance before you read the article...what does this look like to you? I can't for one..believe they allowed this to be printed !

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29263781/

However, if you stop and ask why the editor would have run this cartoon, given that it kinda sucks, given that monkeys are equated with racial slurs in the minds of a LOT of americans...

you might recall that the parent company that owns the NY Post (News Corp) lost $6.4 Billion Dollars in the most recent quarter....

and you might suppose that the word might come down from on high that they need to make something happen to get more eyeballs looking at their papers and news outlets...

bingo.

Re #38: Yeah, that was kind of my point. The same as hanging the Confederate Flag to honor the confederate dead doesn't make you a racist, but you don't do it because you know it hurts people.

She was constantly ridiculed and referred to in very unflattering terms.  Here is one that I've been hearing about on this radio station.  In addition, Michael Steele, former Lt Gov of MD and now the head of the GOP was called "not black enough" and had Oreo Cookies thrown at him.  I think that there is a bit of a double standard here, and I also think that this was referring to Congress and that a bunch of monkeys must have written the bill because it doesn't make sense.  Nowhere in that cartoon does it refer to Obama as a monkey but I do think that it was put in there deliberately to cause a controversy.

Michael Steele, former Lt. Gov. of Maryland is the RNC chairman now

it's the same guy

Original Post by coffincritter:

Original Post by kathygator:

Agree nomo, hence the above comment about G-Dubb being compared to a monkey.

Am certain Tom's way of thinking is best - if he doesn't get why it's offensive, that's great - perhaps the kids on the board who feel the same way is indicative of color-blindness - probably also a good thing.

 

If one is personally color-blind themselves that's good, but do you really need to practice or have experienced racism to be aware of it, it's historical context, and how it works? I mean, I get that there are and have been a long history of people likening black people to monkeys, even if I myself don't think that way. This sort of racism and it's effects were covered in high school social studies.

 Maybe they should stop teaching racism in high school social studies and should start teaching racial tolerance instead.

Original Post by nomoreexcuses:

Michael Steele, former Lt. Gov. of Maryland is the RNC chairman now

it's the same guy

 Type.  I fixed it.

Double posting...don't know what I did.

Original Post by caverlady:

She was constantly ridiculed and referred to in very unflattering terms.  Here is one that I've been hearing about on this radio station.  In addition, Michael Steele, former Lt Gov of MD and not the head of the GOP was called "not black enough" and had Oreo Cookies thrown at him.  I think that there is a bit of a double standard here, and I also think that this was referring to Congress and that a bunch of monkeys must have written the bill because it doesn't make sense.  Nowhere in that cartoon does it refer to Obama as a monkey but I do think that it was put in there deliberately to cause a controversy.

see #39 to address the Rice cartoon

As for being called not black enough, Obama was called not black enough at the beginning of his campaign.

And besides calling Obama or Rice a monkey is not the same as calling black people monkeys.  imo.

"A lot of cartoonists have done that, yes, but I don't recall this one doing so. Do you have a link to that?"

I read that in this thread but maybe I misunderstood cartoonists for this cartoonist but I don't see how it's relevant. It is common in cartoons to refer to someone as an animal if you think their ideas are silly.

If there were another animal that is thought of as being stupid that is not associated with racial slurs, you could call Obama that animal and achieve the same intention as calling Bush a chimp.

Call him an Ass, after all he is a democrat.

ok, an ass

my objection to the cartoon is that no matter what animal is laying there, the implication that politicians ought to be or would be shot by police officers, is disturbing

that applies to bush, obama, congresspeople, judges and other officials

imo

If the cartoon read..."Looks like they'll have to find a new governor for Illinois" it would have been just as stupid, but less offensive by a mile - and would not have generated any controversy - or additional revenue.

I guess the violence doesn't bother me because I know the circumstances of the chimp's death. When an animal goes nuts, sometimes you got to put it down.

okay i keep reading the same thing.... the cartoon doesnt mention Obama.... but it no more mentions congress than it does Obama... and if it were referring to Congress, then wouldnt it make more sense for a "bunch" of monkeys being shot down.... in fact how about a bunch of monkeys hanging from trees.... wouldnt this be more fitting.... would you still not see the racial significance..... OH GOD... i'm so upset!

Original Post by yellagirljay:

 but it no more mentions congress than it does Obama... and if it were referring to Congress, then wouldnt it make more sense for a "bunch" of monkeys being shot down....

 I think it's because Congress wrote the bill, not Obama.

Additional revenue? I think most of us read this mess for free. 

edit: Y-Girl: Aw honey, don't let it upset you. I think some people are talking about things that have very little to do with this particular cartoon.

At some point, I think, people try to stop feeling guilty about our history of racism, and sometimes the way they choose to do that is to decide that what shouldn't give offense, doesn't give offense.

Original Post by bagga:

Additional revenue? I think most of us read this mess for free. 

 Yeah. Am assuming the controversy would have sold papers, but maybe not.

There was another one that I remember discussing but this is all I can find about it.  This was in the New York Times. I sincerely doubt that the cartoonist will get fired.  The Post might say something about it being in poor taste, but I think that will be it because all the while they're gleefully rubbing their hands together thinking about all the extra paper sales it generated.

EDITED TO ADD:

I think that I would see it more as a slap to Obama if they had given the monkey extra large ears or something else that would be related to him.  I have seen pictures of him with Dumbo ears, but I don't think that's considered a racial thing.