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.

Again, Obama didn't pen the bill.

Again, Obama didn't pen the bill.

 

True, RTS. He's not Muslim either, but that didn't stop the mis-informed from believing that he was, thus giving some of them reason to be against him, as opposed to looking at the issues at hand.

 

I wouldn't support the firing of the cartoonist. I think it was an unintentional connection. I would support an apology from the newspaper though.

Again, Obama didn't pen the bill.

 

So your saying it rather made reference to Congress than O.

True, RTS. He's not Muslim either, but that didn't stop the mis-informed from believing that he was, thus giving some of them reason to be against him, as opposed to looking at the issues at hand.

 

I wouldn't support the firing of the cartoonist. I think it was an unintentional connection. I would support an apology from the newspaper though.

I agree, sounds reasonable to me.

So your saying it rather made reference to Congress than O.

I would say so, yes.

I would say so, yes.

 

Hadn't really thought about it like that but it does make sense.

Again, Obama didn't pen the bill.

 

You honestly think the cartoonist was calling Congress a monkey?

 

Obama may not have physically written it, but the perception is that the bill is Obama's. I could find 1000 newspaper headlines linking Obama and "his" stimulus plan. Perception is reality.

 

I'm with LRCW, I don't see how anyone can see it any other way than Obama being called a monkey.

I think the cartoon is absurd and inappropriate. I consider myself a politically savy individual and if there was some other message, it was beyond me.

 

I do agree that Al Sharpton is an attention junkie though and is pretty ridiculous in his own right half the time. This time however, he has a legitimate beef.

In light of this website that has been existence since 2000 and the widely emailed pictures, is the stupidity of the cartoon mitigated?

In light of this website that has been existence since 2000 and the widely emailed pictures, is the stupidity of the cartoon mitigated?

Not an apologist for either man, but I can make the distinction. Simply put, there have been years of racist connections between chimps and African-Americans. I think both are stupid, but I do think connecting a black man with a chimp is on a different level than Bush with a chimp.

You honestly think the cartoonist was calling Congress a monkey?

 

Obama may not have physically written it, but the perception is that the bill is Obama's. I could find 1000 newspaper headlines linking Obama and "his" stimulus plan. Perception is reality.

 

I'm with LRCW, I don't see how anyone can see it any other way than Obama being called a monkey.

 

:thumb: It is a poor cartoon on its face. The racial factor should have been obvious (if it were unintentional). I'm surprised it made it to publication.

Again, Obama didn't pen the bill.

 

For the record, RTS, many of us know that the President didn't pen the bill.

 

If that actually mattered, would we be having this debate?

Did anyone see the story about the woman who had the pet chimp that went crazy and attacked the owners friend. The chimp was put down. This cartoon was suppose to poke fun at the stimulus bill by impling that that chimp wrote it.

 

It did not go over well for obvious reasons.

In light of this website that has been existence since 2000 and the widely emailed pictures, is the stupidity of the cartoon mitigated?

 

Unless I'm in the vast minority and am one of the very few that know of the site you reference, no.

 

Could it be the impetus for the cartoon? Yes. However, it would be a serious mistake on the cartoonist's part since very few would get the reference.

When I read about the negative response this cartoon had gotten, the first thought I had was that there were several cartoonists who endowed George W. Bush with monkey-like characteristics over the past 8 years. One who came to mind was Mike Luckovich. I don't think this cartoon was intended as a racial slur, but I can see how some might say it was. I'm surprised it made it to print.

 

Most editorial cartoonists draw a caricature of their subject, and the content is meant to lampoon or criticize. Since Barack Obama is our first black president, what will be acceptable? Will any caricature or exaggeration of features or characteristics be acceptable? Or will everything offend? Just a question.