February 22, 200917 yr Cartoon said to link Obama to dead chimp This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six on Wednesday. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called the cartoon "troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys." In a statement, Post Editor-in-Chief Col Allan said: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."
February 22, 200917 yr Very unfortunate. I certainly don't think that was the intent of the cartoon, but it is an unfortunate connection to past racist comments.
February 22, 200917 yr Yeah... I'm about as conservative as you can get... But I can understand how some could get offended.
February 22, 200917 yr I wasn't offended and didn't see it that way until my wife pointed it out to me the first time she saw it (before the malestrom). Looking at it again I was reminded of that clip from Remember the Titans when they faced the racist coach who called Boone a Monkey. When he refused to shake hands with Denzel Washington after the game, he threw the shrew a banana. Recalling that made me change my views a little and realize that while not the intent of this cartoonist, it was very naive on his part to not see the image as others with a more expansive history do.
February 22, 200917 yr Lets say maybe he could have done a better job by just staying away from the whole idea. Very sad, and I'd be writing letters to the editor.
February 22, 200917 yr I wasn't offended and didn't see it that way until my wife pointed it out to me the first time she saw it (before the malestrom). Looking at it again I was reminded of that clip from Remember the Titans when they faced the racist coach who called Boone a Monkey. When he refused to shake hands with Denzel Washington after the game, he threw the shrew a banana. Recalling that made me change my views a little and realize that while not the intent of this cartoonist, it was very naive on his part to not see the image as others with a more expansive history do. Remember the Titans was the first thing that I thought of, too. I told RTS that when I saw the thread title, I was hoping for some kind of funny "six degrees of separation" type of connection. You know...Obama's third grade teacher's cousin worked for a woman that is the aunt of a man that used to care for the chimp when he was first born. Okay...that's not so funny either, now that I think of it!
February 23, 200917 yr How do you explain this away as not being racist? Its either racist or the cartoonist should simply be fired for making no sense and not being funny.
February 23, 200917 yr Author Yeah, pretty hard to defend, even though Obama isn't the one that penned the StimuLESS bill. Like I said, you can't make this stuff up. :lol: Then again, you just know that Big Al is just chomping at the bit for things like this...
February 23, 200917 yr How do you explain this away as not being racist? Its either racist or the cartoonist should simply be fired for making no sense and not being funny. I agree. How can you take it any other than way than the cartoonist calling Obama a monkey. Disgusting, and I believe the cartoonist should be fired, and the newspaper offer an apology.
February 23, 200917 yr Author I agree. How can you take it any other than way than the cartoonist calling Obama a monkey. Disgusting, and I believe the cartoonist should be fired, and the newspaper offer an apology.In all fairness to the cartoonist, Obama didn't pen the bill.
February 23, 200917 yr How do you explain this away as not being racist? Its either racist or the cartoonist should simply be fired for making no sense and not being funny. Well, if our president that is supporting the stimulus plan was not black, then there would be no racial connection. Additionally, if perhaps it had been a goat that had attacked someone and had to be shot by police, then it probably wouldn't have had any racial connotation to it at all. I'm sure that it is entirely funny if you think that the stimulus plan won't actually stimulate the economy and that it must have not been written by someone with any understanding of economics...thus, written by an animal.
February 23, 200917 yr I agree. How can you take it any other than way than the cartoonist calling Obama a monkey. Disgusting, and I believe the cartoonist should be fired, and the newspaper offer an apology. I at first didn't take it that way. I originally took it to be that he had made a Monkey out of himself. After that thought is when it hit. The cartoonist could not possibly be that naive. With history as a reference I agree it was in poor taste.
February 23, 200917 yr Well, if our president that is supporting the stimulus plan was not black, then there would be no racial connection. Additionally, if perhaps it had been a goat that had attacked someone and had to be shot by police, then it probably wouldn't have had any racial connotation to it at all. I'm sure that it is entirely funny if you think that the stimulus plan won't actually stimulate the economy and that it must have not been written by someone with any understanding of economics...thus, written by an animal. Well, I sure hope that's the explanation they use. I'd then have to ask the cartoonist if he's ever read a history book.
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