A Chicagoan's take on New Yorker Cartoon

As a black man who grew up minutes from where Sen. Barack Obama made his mark as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago— as someone who has gotten a haircut in the barber shop that Obama has frequented for years, I am not offended by the editorial political cartoon in the New Yorker.

If a reader/viewer is brash and reacts solely on emotions to the jarring nature of the illustration he or she has simply missed the point.

Obama dressed in "Muslim" garb, his wife, Michelle Obama, as a rifle toting rebel, an American flag burning in the nearby fireplace and their so-called "terrorist fist jab" illustrate the extremist caricature of the Obamas that SOME in the Republican party are hoping to draw up in hopes of leading to Obama's political demise during the 2008 presidential election.

I listen to the conservative talk radio hosts and I watch a certain news station to hear and understand the thoughts of journalists that are touted by Republicans. You have to have a varied perspective so you to understand political commentary. Some people, most people don't care that much to acquire this understanding and they have the right not to care.

But here is the deal on the New Yorker cover:

Does this editorial political cartoon mean the New Yorker supports this view?
NO. Upon closer look the magazine leans in the opposite direction.

Does the New Yorker have the First Amendment right to use this depiction?
ABSOLUTELY, YES.

Again, everyone is not going to understand this editorial political cartoon. If the Obama campaign is expressing their dismay because they are not sure that voters are going to comprehend the New Yorker cover then I can see their angle. They may want to appear proactive in their "Fighting the Smears," effort I can see that logic.

But if the Obama campaign is disturbed by this for any other reason then in my opinion they are off base.