The Obama campaign calls it “offensive”. The New Yorker calls its July 21, 2008 cover art (above) “political satire”. We call it “funny”.Wait—we are all right!
As Jerry Falwell learned from the infamous Hustler Magazine ad satirizing him—and the United States Supreme Court decision affirming that the cover was constitutionally protected satire—the Obamas are public figures and the New Yorker has an absolute right to publish cover art satirizing them—no matter how “offensive”. So get over it.
Besides, this is the funniest cover satire since the short-lived Ted Kennedy- Chappaquiddick satirizing mock VW ad published by the National Lampoon.
The Obamas are not immune from being poked fun at because Barack happens to be the presumptive Democratic Nominee. Far from it. It is precisely their new found, voluntarily sought, status as public figures that makes them fodder for humor and political satire—no matter how tasteless or offensive.
No comments:
Post a Comment