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Washington: This week's New Yorker magazine pokes fun at smears directed at Barack Obama, but the US Democratic presidential candidate isn't laughing.
The cover portrays the Illinois senator in a turban and robe bumping fists with wife Michelle, who sports an Afro, a rifle and military garb. In the background, an American flag burns in the fireplace.
The left-leaning magazine's cover summarises several smears that have surfaced this year: that Obama is a "secret Muslim" who hates America and his wife harbours a Black Panthers-style enmity toward white society.
Even the fist bump, the modern version of the high five, was described as a "terrorist fist jab" by a Fox News anchor, who later apologised.
The Obama campaign, which has taken aggressive measures to knock down these perceptions, is not amused with the magazine cover.
"The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree," spokesman Bill Burton said in a prepared statement.
Republican candidate John McCain agreed with his rival for the November election.
"I just saw a picture of it on television," McCain told reporters in Phoenix. "I think it's totally inappropriate and frankly, I understand if Senator Obama and his supporters would find it offensive."
Your comments
Now maybe they come to understand why muslims all over the world were upset from offensive profit Mohammed's cartoons in the danish news papers?
Ahmed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 15, 2008, 14:34
This is a smear campaign against Barack Obama from leftists and neo-conservatives who have so far failed to get any real negative attributions. Obama will 'change' US policies and high on the list is, its policies towards the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. America is about to elect a man with clear objectives and one who possess the right caliber and charisma. No wonder Obama enjoys a strong support not only in America, but worldwide.
Abdulwahab
MUSCAT,Oman
Posted: July 15, 2008, 13:42
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