Guest Commentary: New Yorker Stoops to Journalistic Low

by Anh Lê, 2008-07-17

The New Yorker magazine's July 21st edition's front cover depicting Senator Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, stoops to a new journalistic low and should be condemned for what it is: blatantly racist, anti-black, and anti-Muslim.

The cartoon depicts Senator Obama wearing a turban and long robe, Ms. Obama with an AK-47 rifle slung over her shoulder, and the couple giving each other a fist bump. They are shown standing next to a fireplace, where an American flag is burning. Above the fireplace is a large framed picture of Osama Bin Laden. The New Yorker enjoys a well deserved reputation for one-of-a kind cartoons, oftentimes satirical or whimsical in nature. But this particular cartoon is simply "tasteless and offensive," as the Obama campaign's spokesperson stated.

One would think that the New Yorker would not need to stoop to such lack of journalistic integrity on its front cover to sell its magazine this July.

The New Yorker editor's continuing and lame defense of the cartoon shows that neither he, David Remmick, nor his magazine, "get it." Remmick's words are nothing more than a convenient rationalization for his and his magazine's despicable editorial judgment in even allowing the cartoon to be printed.

To Mr. Remmick and the New Yorker: Try printing an analagous cartoon as the July 21st one, depicting any presidential candidate or office holder who is not of the same racial and ethnic backgrounds as Senator Barack Obama and Ms. Michelle Obama.

The problem with editors like Mr. Remmick and media like the New Yorker is that racist, anti-black, and anti-Muslim individuals and the institutions and corporations they represent don't see themselves as perpetuating racism and hatred against African Americans and Muslims. They would rather feel smug in claiming themselves to be "liberal" and "progressive"-minded individuals, institutions, and corporations.