New Yorker cover is an insulting hit job on Obama

Joe Conason of the New York Observer gave a feverish defense of the New Yorker for the magazine's depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as terrorists and black supremacists. Like many other apologists, Mr. Conason failed to actually analyze the caricature to back up his point. The evidence does not support his assertions and the cover should be viewed as a hit piece.

New Yorker Editor David Remnick also defended the periodical on NPR by stating that the cover was intended to demonstrate the lies and innuendos of Right Wingers who have attempted to portray Senator and Ms. Obama as radicals who do not represent most Americans. He explained the fuss as a misunderstanding between progressives and maybe a bit of hyper-sensitivity from the Obama camp.

Mr. Remnick and Mr. Conason fail to point out is that the cover illustration fails to depict any indication that the joke is on the conservatives. There is no depiction of Karl Rove with puppet strings or McCain cronies as magicians. The illustration only shows the manifestation of the hypocrisy and lies that have been put forth to oppose Senator Obama. This oversight is either the product of incompetence,which is not the likely behavior of such a sophisticated magazine or, more likely, a failed attempt to prop up the McCain campaign that backfired.

If the New Yorker is going to take sides on an issue, at least they should have the guts to own up to their actions.