Words Fail Me

Filed in National by on February 18, 2009

This just in from the NY Post.

02182009

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  1. Done — Down With Absolutes! | February 19, 2009
  1. pandora says:

    I am so sick of this crap, and anyone attempting to defend this had better think twice. I’m in no mood.

  2. anonone says:

    Revolting.

  3. John Feroce says:

    Maybe it’s just me, but I found all references to joking about the incident with the chimp unfunny.

    I mean a woman is in critical condition with her face ripped off. I don’t get the humor in any of it.

  4. pandora says:

    John, that’s because the incident with the chimp was the excuse the NY Post hid behind to deflect criticism from what everyone knows they’re really saying.

    This cartoon is vile on so many levels. Race. Assassination. Authority figures.

  5. wow.

    If they had real balls, they have done a picture of Mohammed shot dead and see the reaction.

  6. Murdoch owns the Post right?

  7. FSP says:

    Plus, it’s the NY Post, so people have to be thinking about Amadou Diallo. That’s the first thing that popped into my mind.

  8. anon says:

    This cartoon is just one example of what is happening in wingnut land. You cannot imagine the distress they are currently experiencing. Something sick and bad is happening out there.

    It started when Obama was elected, and some kind of peak occurred yesterday as the bill was signed. I work in a place where management is mostly Republican, and the tension was thick. People I think of as nice guys were spouting off the most acrimonious crap about Obama all day long. They are used to being Masters Of The Universe and they feel entitled to executive power. Now they feel so powerless. Imagine the day the Supreme Court ruled in Bush’s favor over Florida and you realized Bush would take office.

    Or imagine hypothetically that Bush had signed a tax cut eliminating all capital gains tax and cutting tax for the top 1% to zero. That is how Republicans feel this week.

  9. nemski says:

    Yeah FSP, Diallo wrote the fucking stimulus bill.

  10. anon says:

    Or imagine hypothetically that Bush had signed a tax cut eliminating all capital gains tax and cutting tax for the top 1% to zero. That is how Republicans feel this week.

    I meant of course imagine how YOU would feel…

  11. FSP says:

    You really are a complete dickhead, aren’t you, Nemski?

  12. pandora says:

    Diallo is a reach, FSP. I’m embarrassed to admit I had to google the name to jar my memory.

  13. Suzanne says:

    this is so effin disgusting and wrong on so many levels. I agree Pandora – absolutely vile!

  14. cassandra_m says:

    Now they feel so powerless.

    Which is apparently why they can only occupy themselves demonstrating how little they know about ACORN, the difference between GOTV and canvassing and how the latter two get paid for.

    But hey. They are who we always thought they were.

  15. FSP says:

    “Diallo is a reach, FSP. I’m embarrassed to admit I had to google the name to jar my memory.”

    It won’t be for New Yorkers, and it’ll be the bridge to the race angle. What a stupid thing for the Post to do. Plus, the whole thing really makes no sense.

  16. nemski says:

    I might be a dickhead but you’re a goat lover. 😉

    Dude, the first thing that came to your mind was Diallo? If you said you were being snarky, that’s one thing, but to lie like that is another.

  17. FSP says:

    “Which is apparently why they can only occupy themselves demonstrating how little they know about ACORN, the difference between GOTV and canvassing and how the latter two get paid for.”

    Are you saying that they don’t do GOTV work for money?

  18. John Feroce says:

    “Which is apparently why they can only occupy themselves demonstrating how little they know about ACORN, the difference between GOTV and canvassing and how the latter two get paid for.”

    I’m starting to think you’re a real instigator. Why would you try and inject that thread here?

  19. pandora says:

    This cartoon needs no bridge to the race angle. It started and ended with race.

  20. FSP says:

    “Dude, the first thing that came to your mind was Diallo? If you said you were being snarky, that’s one thing, but to lie like that is another.”

    The first thing I thought was “what does a chimp have to do with the stimulus?” Then, I thought “when New Yorkers see police shooting at a chimp, they’re going to think about Diallo.”

  21. nemski says:

    Okay, I’m wrong.

  22. FSP says:

    I was listening to Bruce Springsteen’s Greatest Hits this morning, so maybe it was in there rattling around.

  23. Delaware Dem says:

    FSP and John… Stop it.

    You are bending and spinning in such ways that it makes ME ashamed for you. ME! Feeling sorry and bad. FOR YOU!

    The reference to stimulus ELIMINATES any other possible explanation. So fucking stop it.

    The chimp is Obama. And the NY Post, a right wing paper owned by the same person who owns Fox News, just published a cartoon about the assasination of the President of the United States.

    Stop defending it. Stop excusing it.

  24. Dorian Gray says:

    When is someone just going to tell Burris and Feroce to go fuck themselves. Don’t those two cunts have their own piece of shit blog. See, I am under no delusion of grandeur about civility and not cursing. I take this forum at face value. Stay the fuck on FSP you fucking pricks.

  25. FSP says:

    “Stop defending it. Stop excusing it.”

    Whaaaa? Nobody here is defending it or excusing it. Learn to read.

  26. John Feroce says:

    “FSP and John… Stop it. ”

    What are you talking about? What have I said? Some of you all are hellbent on just starting trouble.

  27. FSP says:

    DG — I think you hurt my feelings.

    Wait, no. That’s gas. Definitely gas.

  28. John Feroce says:

    And Dorian…read my Fucking posts before you comment.

  29. Dorian Gray says:

    Dude, to paraphase Omar Little. You ain’t man enough to meet Dorian on the street. With your little fucking nerdy snarky comment about farts… you fucking sissy… You don’t know me dude…

  30. John Feroce says:

    “Stop defending it. Stop excusing it.”

    What? What are you talking about? read my posts above and tell me where i did that? Thought so

  31. FSP says:

    I’ll meet you anywhere, any time. Please. I beg you.

    “You don’t know me dude…”

    I don’t think you get the irony in that statement.

  32. cassandra_m says:

    I’m starting to think you’re a real instigator. Why would you try and inject that thread here?

    I made that observation in response to a comment that a previous commenter made. A comment you excised from my post. I’m pretty sure most of the other readers here understood that. But your sensitivity to it is noted.

  33. Dorian Gray says:

    Man, I read your garbage here regularly. Your a fucking want-to-be, ex military faux tough guy who thinks he’s really swell provoking the liberals… you a balding middled age fucking pussy.

  34. FSP says:

    And you talk awful tough for a guy who’s too scared to use his name.

  35. Dorian Gray says:

    Talk to DV or Nemski… but you have to come up to civilization I don’t go south of the canal.

  36. John Feroce says:

    “Man, I read your garbage here regularly. Your a fucking want-to-be, ex military faux tough guy who thinks he’s really swell provoking the liberals… you a balding middled age fucking pussy.”

    Ok Dorian, I gave you more than one opportunity to read my post above and retract.

    Are you still serious about your first and last comments specific to me?

  37. Unstable Isotope says:

    OMG, I can not believe this. FSP and JF are pretending that they had absolutely no idea this comic is referring to Obama. What more is there to say?

  38. anonone says:

    Actually, FSP, Diallo came to mind for me, too.

    I remember standing in front of a line of police in D.C. at a protest, and we all pulled out our wallets and held them over our head while chanting “this is not a gun.”

  39. h. says:

    I can see the tears in your(collective) eyes.

  40. FSP says:

    You’re out of your mind.

    John said no one should be joking about the chimp at all.

    I said that New Yorkers will jump quickly to the chimp as a black man because they remember the cops shooting Diallo.

    Both statements lend credence to the chimp-as-Obama argument, not the other way around.

  41. John Feroce says:

    “OMG, I can not believe this. FSP and JF are pretending that they had absolutely no idea this comic is referring to Obama.”

    Where did I say anything? Please point it out.

  42. h. says:

    Aren’t these the same people who referred to the former president as chimpy mc somethin’ ?

  43. Truth Teller says:

    Shocked shocked that a rag like this would be against our president seem to me they are pushing Assassination. the nuts down here in Lower slower Delaware love this as they commented on the talk shows this morning.

  44. RSmitty says:

    I get it, neither John nor Dave even attempted to defend this, not even an iota, but because who THEY ARE, YOU painted them as racists who can do nothing but defend it. You all are opportunistic shits for even using THIS to go to that conclusion.

    The cartoon is pathetic and horrible and I’d love to hear how they attempt to defend it. Even if it was literal ignorance, it’s indefensible on every level.

    Whatever the case, though, don’t let that get in the way of you calling J and D as being racists. That’s fucking piggish in the name of your own agenda…and you used THIS to do it!

  45. Even if FSP did think it was Diallo it shows you how out of Touch he and his party is.

    Again, the party that thinks the magic negro sign is acceptible and lovely.

  46. RSmitty says:

    DV, anon1 AGREED with FSP. While that is a huge shocker in itself, I do think it says something.

  47. FSP says:

    “Even if FSP did think it was Diallo it shows you how out of Touch he and his party is.”

    I didn’t say it WAS Diallo.

    “Again, the party that thinks the magic negro sign is acceptible and lovely.”

    The guy who sent the CD with the Magic Negro song got NO votes in his race for the GOP Chairmanship.

  48. anonone says:

    Look, I am not one ever to defend FSP, but it reminded me of the Diallo shooting when I first saw it, too.

    When the first thing you see are NYC cops and bullet holes, for me, it is hard not to remember Diallo.

    As well we should.

  49. Unstable Isotope says:

    I’m scared about what’s happening with the nuts in this country. I just saw a picture today with Michelle Malkin smiling next to a man carrying a sign that had Obama’s name and a swastika on it. There was a story on Daily Kos yesterday about a woman at a Whole Foods store in VA screaming at a store employee and store manager because there were magazines with Obama’s face on it on the newsstands.

    Yeah, h., please show me a cartoon that showed Bush being assassinated in an American newspaper.

  50. anon says:

    It is Obama Derangement Syndrome.

  51. Delaware Dem says:

    John….

    You weren’t excusing it. My apologies. FSP was attempting to present an explanation for it, in that it was so kind of reference to a black man shot something like 100 times up in Harlem many many years ago. You said it was the first thing that occurred to you when you were wondering what the cartoon was in reference to.

    I took it as you excusing the cartoon, or spinning an illogical explanation for it, but whatever. It is obvious to anyone watching the news and up on current events that this is a reference to killing Obama. The reference to the stimulus bill eliminates all other possibilities. So if the 41 shots guys was the first thing that popped into your mind, it is time for me to buy you a subscription to a newspaper of some kind.

    And not the NY Post.

  52. pandora says:

    I hesitate venturing back into this thread, but… here goes. I really don’t think anyone here (other than h) is in disagreement about the vile cartoon. What I think people reacted to in John and FSP’s comments was the absence of any reference to Obama.

    Wasn’t this really our point of contention? And isn’t there a better way to make our feelings known without immediately heading into a spiral of death?

    John and Dave may not have said what “we” wanted them to say, but they didn’t make any attempt to justify or excuse the cartoon. Surely there comes a point when the benefit of the doubt is warranted?

    Now, go ahead, have at me.

  53. FSP says:

    The active verb “write” eliminated all doubt.

    What they want people to think is that they meant the chimp to be the federal government, that the federal government is a 200-lb gorilla running uncontrollably in the streets like the chimp did before it was shot dead. But they used the word “write” which makes it personal to Obama, in my opinion. I didn’t know I needed to say that.

    Plus, like John said, any joke that references the chimp is in poor taste to begin with.

    My reference to Diallo was that the whole “police shooting a black guy” wasn’t much of a reach. Plus, like A1 said, the image of NYC Cops shooting at an unarmed victim will cause NYC-ers to think about Diallo.

  54. liberalgeek says:

    I thought it was a reference to the old monkeys typing Shakespeare line. Personally, I can see where people are coming from, but this thread says more about how frayed our edges are becoming in blog-world.

  55. anonone says:

    OFF TOPIC to pandora,

    This is actually me. Thanks for speaking up. Identity theft sucks, particularly when somebody starts making veiled threats using my name. And I think that it is now more than 1 person. I only posted #6, 14 and 17.

  56. John Feroce says:

    “John….

    You weren’t excusing it. My apologies.”

    Thanks DelDem

  57. Unstable Isotope says:

    I apologize to both Dave and John. I misinterpreted what they wrote as excusing the cartoon by trying to say it wasn’t Obama, but represented something else. The best I can say is that blog writing often lacks nuance. I think the topic of the cartoon evokes strong emotions in all of us.

  58. Von Cracker says:

    You can’t spin this cartoon!

    Omar Little would definitely take that punk-bitch cartoonist out!

    👿

  59. John Feroce says:

    “I apologize to both Dave and John. ”

    Thanks UI.

  60. FSP says:

    Yes. Thank you to DD and UI.

  61. Rich Boucher says:

    I saw this about 20 mins. ago.

    And I wrote this and promptly sent it off to the
    Post’s “Letters” page:

    To Whom It May Concern,

    Let me just say that I am disgusted by the racism explicit in the cartoon drawn by New York Post “cartoonist” Sean Delonas and published on Wednesday in the Post. Further, it is horrifying that the editorial staff at the New York Post has exhibited a complete lack of good, adult judgment in deciding to share such rot with the world. What you could have possibly been thinking? Were you actually setting out to deliberately hurt people? The world awaits your sincere apology for this.

    Rich Boucher

  62. Von Cracker says:

    Spot on, Rich.

  63. Susan Regis Collins says:

    Well done, Mr. Boucher.

  64. Rich Boucher says:

    Von and Susan – Thank you.

  65. First, let me say that the cartoon is in poor taste while there is a woman fighting to recover from the actual attack. It should not have run for that reason.

    After eight years of liberal references to the President of the United States as “Chimpy McHitlerburton” and the like, I see no problem with this cartoon even if it does refer to Obama (which I do not think, since the stimulus package was written on Capitol Hill by House and Senate Democrats and not by Obama or his administration).

    And listening to you guys howl, perhaps the time has come for conservatives to start referring to President Obama as Chimpy al-Hussein bin-Osama or something similar.

    Reap what you sow, liberals!

  66. liz says:

    Rupert Murdoch and the loonies who write for that paper….are nothing but violent rascists. This is why we must call these freaks the “lunatic fringe”. Wait till the international papers reprint this garbage, what a wonderful image to send around the world. Shame, shame, shame.

  67. Rich Boucher says:

    Rhymes with Right said: “First, let me say that the cartoon is in poor taste while there is a woman fighting to recover from the actual attack. It should not have run for that reason.”

    So, Rhymes, let me ask you: are you saying that the attack on the woman is the ONLY reason the cartoon should not have been published?

    Rhymes with Right also said: “And listening to you guys howl, perhaps the time has come for conservatives to start referring to President Obama as Chimpy al-Hussein bin-Osama or something similar.”

    Are you going on record, here and now on this blog, as suggesting that it is appropriate to call an African-American man (let alone the President) a “chimp”?

    What is your answer? Yes, or no?

  68. Rupert Murdoch and the loonies who write for that paper….are nothing but violent rascists.

    Please point to an act of violence by any of these individuals. Indeed, point to actual racism, not “I disagree with it so call it racist” racism.

  69. cassandra_m says:

    Well done on your LTE, Rich.

  70. 1) Yes, that is the only reason I believe it should not have been published.

    2) Are you going to go on record here and now condemning the last eight years of “chimp” rhetoric directed against President George W. Bush inappropriate?

  71. Rich Boucher says:

    Thank you, Cassandra.

  72. 3) When are you on the Left going to treat Barack Obama as a President of the United States who happens to be black rather than as the African-American President of the United States, thereby allowing him be treated like any other US President?

  73. Rich Boucher says:

    For Rhymes with Right:

    1) Yes, that is the only reason I believe it should not have been published.

    Well, Rhymes, what can I say? Congratulations to you for demonstrating sensitivity to a woman who was attacked, and, also, SHAME on you for disingenuously pronouncing her attack as the ONLY thing to have against this cartoon.

    2) Are you going to go on record here and now condemning the last eight years of “chimp” rhetoric directed against President George W. Bush inappropriate?

    Since I have lots of problems with the former President as a person, it would be disingenuous of me to pretend or lie and say I’ve never said a bad thing about the man. I can say, without lying, that I’ve never “dehumanized” him in a commentary. It is also unwise of you to act as though the word “chimp” is not an insult with a racial component to it.

    Admit that the “artist” who drew this, Sean Delonas, committed an act of racism.

  74. a. price says:

    The lunatic right was using monkeys and chimps to mock Obama the entire election cycle… It is well known Murdoch is a right wing “sympathizer” at best. I want those who are posting with Republican leanings to really think long and hard about those in your party, or those who may have voted the same way you did who are true racists with true violent wishes towards our president for no other reason that he is black. You KNOW they are out there and you can’t deny even for a second that this type of stuff empowers them. I’m sure they feel the same way about the new chairman of your party…
    yes, we mocked bush for his apparent lack of intelligence, but i challenge you to present proof that mainstream liberal media outlets were calling for his assassination at all, let alone 1 month into his presidency.

  75. 1) Since I don’t believe the cartoon to have referred to Obama, I don’t “admit” that anyone committed an act of racism.

    2) Since I view Obama as a man rather than as a black man, I would not find portraying Obama as a chimp as any more inappropriate than the last eight years of “chimp” insults directed at George W. Bush.

  76. a. price says:

    do you deny the references to Obama by your party last year? the curious george dolls?

  77. Which mainstream media outlet has called for the assassination of Barack Obama? This cartoon does not — and your attempt to claim that it does is disingenuous at best.

    And since yours is the party with a Kluxer in the US Senate…

  78. The GOP had no connection to the Curious George dolls.

    By the way, do you condemn the Curious George cartoons of George W. Bush?

  79. a. price says:

    and of those who screamed “terrorist” and “kill him” at sarah palin rallies?

  80. a. price says:

    do you have no memory of american history? the monkey has been used for over 100 years as a way to dehumanize black people.

  81. The GOP had no connection to the shirt, either, liberal geek.

  82. a. price: The Secret Service says those incidents did not happen. I’ll take their word for it.

  83. liberalgeek says:

    And I am sure that Michael Steele didn’t have anything to do with the cartoon. Not really the point.

  84. a. price says:

    maybe not the GOP, but i bet they were republicans…. the GOP DID have a connection… nay were FUCKING RESPONSIBLE for the Barack the Magic Negro christmas card…… They are disgusting people who worship Rush… be they GOP or registered Arian Nation voters, these people are dangerous

  85. pandora says:

    The Democratic Party had no connection with calling Bush a “chimp.”

    See? I can play this game too. Ridiculous.

  86. a. price says:

    no i just saw tapes of them on national TV with clear audio

  87. a. price says:

    Let me just clarify, I am not calling anyone on this post a racist.

  88. I’ll ask my other question differently — Does Barack Obama get treated like every other president, or does is he entitled to special treatment because of his race?

  89. Actually, a liberal black columnist for the LA Times was responsible for the whole Barack the Magic Negro thing, which was parodied as absurd in the satirical song.

  90. a. price says:

    I think he should be treated as any other president, sadly, he has already been mocked just based on his race.. T’m not asking you to answer for or defend the Magic Negro tape, but you cant deny it.
    because he is a person who’s people are hated by small shit-stain terrorist groups of americans so much so that they would commit the most horrific of acts because of his race, it changes the situation. I applaud your resolve to be colorblind (really) but admit that those with similar political leanings to yours simply cannot.

  91. a. price says:

    it was sent around by a man running for chair of the RNC!

  92. liberalgeek says:

    Let me ask you this. If a pet goat had gone crazy and was shot by police after goring a woman, would the cartoon make sense with a goat with two bullet holes in it?

  93. A man who never had a significant chance — and who sent an entire album of satirical music, not the one song alone.

    And are there racist scumbags who vote Republican? Yep — but there are also racist scumbags who vote Democrat. The difference is that we reject them while your party embraces them as “authentic” minority voices.

    And I repeat — you folks are the one with the Kluxer in the Senate. Oh, yeah — and Joe Biden.

  94. If it had gotten the sort of coverage as the chimp, yes it would have.

  95. liberalgeek says:

    Because a goat would have written the stimulus bill???

  96. a. price says:

    this is my true ignorance, but who are you referring to as the “kluxer?”

  97. a. price says:

    and how is joe biden a racist?

  98. liberalgeek says:

    Robert Byrd was in the Klan. Joe Biden said that you had to be Indian to own a 7-11.

    Just explaining what the argument is, not validating.

  99. The Kluxer? Try Robert Byrd.

    And Biden? Given his history of racist and racially insensitive remarks, I’m surprised by your ignorance. You aren’t from Delaware, are you?

  100. a. price says:

    did not know about Bryd I thought you may have meant david duke. he ran as both. I assume Sen Bryd has by now renounced his affiliation to the Klan… Duke has not. As for Joe, i was expecting the Clean and Articulate comment.. he suffers from verbal shit-spew and I don’t deny it.

  101. Unstable Isotope says:

    He’s probably referring to Robert Byrd who was in the Klan as a young man. He has, of course, apologized. Did Strom Thurmond ever apologize? He never acknowledged his daughter, that’s for sure.

  102. a. price says:

    are you calling joe biden a racist? are YOU from delaware and aware of his publicly stated regret for drug laws he helped pass BECAUSE it pretty much targeted black youths?

  103. Why is it I’m finding myself agreeing with Rhymes with Right on this? Sorry, there should be very few (if any) sacred cows now that Obama is president.

  104. Not to mention, the linking of the chimp in the image to any kind of racial motivations is specious at best.

  105. liberalgeek says:

    Weight loss is addling your brain.

  106. liberalgeek says:

    Bullshit, Mike. Please see Cassandras post on the subject.

  107. FSP says:

    It’s important to note once again that Chip Saltsman, who sent the CD that had the Magic Negro song on it, got exactly ZERO support in his bid for Chairman of the RNC. Not one vote.

  108. pandora says:

    Obama’s not a sacred cow. Draw a cartoon making fun of his ears, draw them like Dumbo for all I care. That’s fair game. This cartoon crosses a line.

  109. LG,

    I can’t find a post by cassandra on the topic. I see one from DelDem.

  110. My problem is I find “the line” to be arbitrary and whipped out way too often. I’ve said it before: We live in a society in which people get offended far too easily. This is the part of my liberalism that I’ve renounced. That overly politically-correct bullshit that liberals own so well.

    Like I tell anonone over on my blog. Time to “get over it.” I am willing to believe that the cartoonist was simply tying together the chimp’s recent death and not comparing Obama to a monkey. I suppose I’m just not as reactionary as some. I’m guessing even Obama is sitting back laughing and saying that the outrage is bullshit.

  111. liberalgeek says:

    Mike, would it be funny if the pet in question was a goat? Or a kangaroo?

  112. No, because a goat wasn’t in the news as being shot. Perhaps a kangaroo would be funny because of the Australian fires.

    All I’m saying is that political cartoons are always up for multiple interpretations. I learned this in a political writing class in college. When I saw the ad, my take on it was how it related to the chimp that was shot down the other day. It shouldn’t be the cartoonist’s fault because a bunch of obsessed, namby-pamby, politically correct liberals choose to interpret it in a way the artist didn’t intend.

  113. pandora says:

    Bet Michelle’s not laughing, Mike.

    Of course, it wouldn’t have been funny with a goat or kangaroo. Hell, it wouldn’t have been funny with a lion.

  114. liberalgeek says:

    no, if a pet kangaroo had been shot it just would have made even less sense. If there is no Obama/chimp comparison, there is no joke.

  115. Well then all I’m saying is you need to “get over it.” Even if the artist did mean the chimp to represent Obama, oh well. Get over it. This feigned outrage over a silly cartoon is almost as ridiculous as the Muslims who got all outraged because a cartoonist put a bomb on Allah’s head. The outrage (and death threats) were ridiculous then and the outrage is ridiculous now.

  116. I bet Michelle’s enjoying her photoshoots with Vanity Fair too much to give a damn, pandora.

  117. Rich Boucher says:

    I saw the cartoon.

    And, when I saw it, in all honesty,
    I was outraged.

    And I was not “feigning” or “pretending”
    to be outraged.

  118. liberalgeek says:

    Mike you are being purposely obtuse.

    Yeah, Michelle is way more interested in Vanity Fair than the safety of her husband.

  119. pandora says:

    You do realize, Mike, that no outrage is just as bad as all outrage?

  120. cassandra_m says:

    Good political cartoons are very sharp, with a specific message. As was this one.

    My problem is I find “the line” to be arbitrary and whipped out way too often.

    Your problem is that you’ve no knowledge of the history or pervasiveness of images like this pointed at people not like you. Your problem is that you’ve no way to put yourself in the shoes of others who are looking at this through that history. It is very interesting that you left out of your analysis of your reaction to this cartoon, its real punch line. Which was the bit that the cop has to say.

    It is not political correctness to ask people for enough respect to not indulge in the old games and images. Just because you don’t care is not a reason to pretend that other people don’t have real concerns about this kind of crap.

    And the pictures I added to DDs post is what LG referred to.

  121. One thing I find particularly interesting is that all you “sensitive liberals” are more concerned about Barack Obama’s dignity than the well-being of the woman seriously injured by the chimp in this case. Guess i know where your priorities are.

    Also, I suppose it shows something about your own psyches. It never crossed my mind that the monkey represented Obama — or that there was a racial angle to it. You folks immediately leaped to those things. I’m not saying that you are racist — merely hyper conscious of race in a manner that borders on unhealthy.

    I leave you with a favorite (and probably apocryphal) quote from Sigmund Freud that I hope you will contemplate — “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

  122. liberalgeek says:

    And where did anyone say anything about the woman in this post? And I assume that you can’t read, that is the only way that I could see you not making the connection.

  123. Unstable Isotope says:

    What a specious argument, Right. Nice one. Your caring for that woman is indeed touching.

    Well said, Cassandra and LG. The chimp/Obama/black man link is clear to most of us, and I find it extremely offensive. It is additionally offensive because it depicts an assassination.

  124. Unless, of course, it doesn’t depict an assassination. That may all be in your head as well.

  125. liberalgeek says:

    I get it, WHITE rhymes with RIGHT.

  126. And for the record, not one of you has said anything about the woman.

    Which, in my opinion, is more offensive than the cartoon AND the racism you allegedly see in it.

    The fate of a seriously wounded woman is more significant than a possible slight to the dignity of a politician.

  127. liberalgeek says:

    Why isn’t she depicted in the cartoon?

  128. Actually, my unusually spelled last name (four letters, with the only vowel being the first letter) rhymes with right.

    My handle and the title of my blog come from the phrase i use to teach my students how to pronounce it.

  129. Your problem is that you’ve no knowledge of the history or pervasiveness of images like this pointed at people not like you.

    Cassandra, you’ve absolutely NO right to presume you have any damn clue about where I’m coming from. I shouldn’t have even involved myself in this thread. I really shouldn’t have because I predicted it would devolve into this. Again, I’ll repeat. You have no business making the above accusation against me. We can talk more about this offline, but this shit is just ridiculous at this point.

    My patience are slowly wearing thin with the rhetoric and dialogue being engaged by several ideologues on this site. I consider myself a liberal. Hardcore liberal. I consider my ideologies to be liberal, however, I don’t condone the tactics used here to go after the “opponent” or those with whom I disagree politically.

    I imagine you all can sit back, laugh and simply proclaim you’ve earned “the capital” you have because you’ve become Delaware’s top political blog (kinda reminds me of the capital Bush said he earned after the 04 election), but it doesn’t excuse the arguments and tactics you (plural) use against those with whom you disagree.

    Like I said, Cassandra, I’d be willing to discuss my life experiences and perspectives more with you off-line, however, I don’t feel this outlet could do them any justice as nuance is not something that can be experienced via a stupid back-and-forth blog chat.

  130. I don’t know — ask the cartoonist.

    Or better yet, use the same amazing psychic powers that permitted you to determine the cartoonist to have been motivated by racial animus to find out why she did it.

  131. a. price says:

    Mike, i agree with you that liberals are too PC at times. I for one find extreme humor in a lot of race-based humor. I take that song “everyone’s a little bit racist” from Ave Q to heart and totally agree with it.
    there MUST be a line however. when violence against someone is turned into a cartoon, it takes away how bad the violence is. there are certain things that should never be “gotten over” I know this because i will NEVER laugh or feel anything but outrage and nausea at any cartoon that suggest the holocaust was “something Jews should get over”. (saying we love money or control the media however is not only funny, it is true… i mean uh)
    making light of (im sure this will get me run out of liberal town on a rail) yelling at a movie screen is one thing. Referencing a justification for slavery as something funny is quite another.

    Bush was mocked as a monkey because the individual man seemed to poses low intelligence.

    When Obama gets mocked as a monkey, it is because of a history of classifying those of African decent as sub-human to justify somehow owning them. Those who do it may not advocate slavery, but it is as asinine as trying to claim a Confederate flag can ever represent anything other than an endorsement of the most horrific acts of racism in our nation’s history.

    yes we DO get too PC sometimes, but there still must be a line. This cartoon crosses it.

  132. liberalgeek says:

    I just checked your blog and there was no mention about how tragic the plight of this woman is. Hmmm. That seems weird.

    wait.

    no it doesn’t. You are actually attempting to use her as a pawn in your debate.

  133. LG,

    HUH? WTF are you talking about? I’m saying that cartoonists often take stories from the headlines and represent them in their pieces. Of course it was tragic that the woman got gnawed on. Of course it was tragic that an out-of-control chimp had to be shot. I don’t understand your point.

  134. cassandra_m says:

    But you, Mike, would presume enough about all of the people with issues on this cartoon to tell us that we “are too easily offended” and that we should all “get over it”.

    You can’t come here with prescriptions on how we should all react and then get upset when folks point out that you don’t have enough information to make those assessments.

    It is ALOT easier to tell people how they should feel, rather than just asking them why they feel that way — right?

  135. yes we DO get too PC sometimes, but there still must be a line. This cartoon crosses it.

    Perhaps, but I’m simply arguing the interpretation here. My interpretation is not that they were representing Obama as a chimp. In fact, I don’t even think they were representing Obama. If anything, he certainly didn’t craft the stimulus bill. His Administration had some say, but this was Congress’ job.

    Political cartoons are often about interpretation. I simply think that the PC-wing of the liberal elites are just looking for blood as they normally do when someone makes a joke about a minority — even though, like I said, my interpretation here is that Obama wasn’t even the subject of the joke. Interpretation. Interpretation.

  136. nemski says:

    someone makes a joke about a minority

    So Mike thinks that racism is funny. Got it.

  137. Why haven’t i blogged about it? For the same reason i generally don’t blog on pit bull attacks, hit-and-run accidents, or plane crashes — lack of broader societal importance.

  138. But you, Mike, would presume enough about all of the people with issues on this cartoon to tell us that we “are too easily offended” and that we should all “get over it”.

    Cassandra,

    I didn’t presume ANYTHING like you did. You all have very clearly presented here that you’re OFFENDED. Umm, THAT’s where I got the idea that…wait for it…YOU’RE offended. I didn’t presume anything, OK?

    You’re presuming that because I disagree with the outrage that I can’t possibly understand because my skin is white. That’s EXACTLY what you were saying in that sentence. I don’t want to get into one of your famous back-and-forths with you. You have this way of drawing shit out with folks like Burris and Nixon. I’m seriously not interested.

    Some of you here really seem to think your shit don’t stink. Before you come back at me and claim I think the same, let me tell you I’m Delaware’s first blogger to openly ADMIT his shit stinks — real bad. I just wish there’d be some more humility over here from some of the contributors. A little more flexibility and willingness to admit that you CAN’T ALWAYS BE RIGHT.

    Going after this cartoon is nonsense. It’s ultimately just a waste of time and it distracts from the reality of things going on around us. If I were the artist, I’d be eating up this controversy. Y’all are probably just giving him what he wants.

    Can’t wait for someone to call me a racist or bigot now. Where’s anonone for that business?

  139. liberalgeek says:

    Yet it’s cool to come here and give us shit about what we should talk about?

  140. So, nemski and cassandra, are you saying tht the same chimp imagery used to refer to George W. Bush is inappropriate if applied to Barack Obama?

    What will it take to get you to treat Barack Obama as a President who happens to be black rather than a black President?

  141. So Mike thinks that racism is funny. Got it.

    You’re a simple jackass, nemski. Seriously. WTF is wrong with you? Or does your question fail to me because inflection and tone don’t come across in a blog post? I’m guessing you’re being sarcastic. Obviously, I don’t think racism is good. However, I do think COMEDY based on RACIAL situations is often very funny. One of my best friends is JayRock, who I featured quite a bit on my show over the (six) months…LOL. JayRock is…wait for it…BLACK!!! He tells jokes about blacks, whites, Hispanics, gays…EVERYONE.

    I also like a comedienne by the name of Lisa Lampanelli, who uses RACIAL humor and jokes against minorities in her act. She’s effing hysterical.

    We need to laugh at ourselves a little more often. I happen to love honky, white trash jokes. I also like jokes about loud black people in movie theaters. Sometimes, the best comedy is rooted in stereotypes. Whether they’re stereotypes of minorities or those in the majority.

  142. a. price says:

    YES EXACTLY. think about the history of that. It has already been used. It is like saying the confederate flag can ever mean anything other than racist. yes, it CAN mean some OTHER southern heritage, but seriously. well-to-do-white-christians have not been compared throughout history to sub-human.

  143. I’m not giving you shit about what you’re talking about. I’m giving you shit for the overly-PC responses that, quite frankly, shouldn’t be surprising to me.

  144. By the way, I fully expect someone to take me to task for comment #143.

    1) Someone will complain that I’m using the “I’ve got a black friend” defense.

    2) Someone will get offended that I said something as ridiculous as the stereotype involving Black people in movie theaters.

    3) Someone will bitch about how I said I like comedy that hits on stereotypes.

  145. cassandra_m says:

    Only a few people have stated their case here and you decided that we should all get over it, Mike. You always want to make a bunch of pronouncements about how people should feel, how people should act, what people should pay attention too. That is just fine — we get your talk show ambitions — but it is somehow unseemly to call you on the fact that you do not (just like talk show hosts everywhere) have anywhere near enough information to make that kind of judgment.

    Stop telling us what it is OK to feel.

  146. a. price says:

    Mike, i agree with you about lisa lampanelli, but HER jokes don’t come from a basis of hate. the people at those rallies… that is HATE. Humor is fine, making fun of each other is fine, as long at the end of the day everyone respects each other. You have every right to be on the defensive here because i think some of your posts have been misread, but just take a minute and consider that there needs to be a line.
    Right, you are out of your mind. I bet you think the last 8 years was San Fran Nancy’s fault… like Rush tells you to.

  147. a. price says:

    I actually mentioned the movie theaters mike, because its not a stereotype I consider off limits to make fun of.

  148. pandora says:

    I have no problem with your #143 comment, Mike. I do have a sense of humor.

    Could you tell me what was funny or clever about that cartoon?

  149. liberalgeek says:

    again, Mike, you took the shot for RwR. He is giving us shit for not discussing the poor victim of the chimp attack.

  150. Mike, i agree with you about lisa lampanelli, but HER jokes don’t come from a basis of hate. the people at those rallies… that is HATE.

    I totally agree with you, a. price.

    And, cassandra, I’m done. You win. Honestly, though, you’ve never conceded a point in any of your tiffs against people with whom you disagree, so you can just chalk this up to another win for you.

    And, again, it has nothing to do with not having enough information. I’m not attempting to present any “fact” here. I’m simply saying that with all the shit going down in our country and in our world, we’ve got people who are making a stink over an EFFING cartoon. AN EFFING CARTOON!!!. I mean, Jesus, this goes back to the Mohammed cartoon from four years ago. All those riled up Muslim fanatics who wanted to KILL the people behind that cartoon? I’m not equating in any way that outrage to the outrage being displayed by liberal blogs around the country, but I think there’s a lesson to be learned.

    Obama is in the White House. The Dems have the Capitol. Let’s get to work. Things like this are simply distractions.

  151. Pandora,

    Honestly, I didn’t find the cartoon funny if only because it was too obvious. I prefer my cartoons just a bit more subtle.

    I also like R. Crumb.

  152. Rush? I don’t listen to him.

    I’m too busy teaching classes full of ninth graders.

    And I don’t blame Pelosi for everything — or even most things. But i would love to see some intrepid journalist look into how George Soros has manipulated his financial transactions over the last year or so, given his history of manipulating markets based upon politics and profits.

  153. Rich Boucher says:

    I am glad to have been counted as one of the good people who was not only offended by the cartoon, but who also spoke up about it and
    also went to the length of writing to the Post about it.

  154. a. price says:

    Soros is not as important to the left than Rush is to the right.

  155. Actually, I’m giving you shit for caring more about the potential slight to Obama’s dignity than the serious harm to the victim.

  156. nemski says:

    Hey Matthews, I wasn’t being sarcastic. This cartoon is not funny, it’s racist. Yes, there is a time and place for humor, but this isn’t one of them.

    BTW, you’ve been sitting on the fence so long, has the fence pole creeped up you anus yet?

  157. a. price says:

    the cartoon itself showed no thought for the victim

  158. Let’s see — one is a talk radio host whose every word is on tape.

    The other is a convicted market manipulator who directly and indirectly finances a great deal of the Left — and who has the capacity to actually cause market instability.

  159. Rich Boucher says:

    It is a good thing to speak out against racism.

  160. a. price says:

    nemski why is it so important for people to always be on one side?

  161. And a.p., I agree with you — which was why I originally stated that the cartoon should never have run and was offensive.

  162. a. price says:

    a US congressman went ON AIR to apologize to Rush because his voters were turning against him at Rush’s command… he has power

  163. a. price says:

    and not to change the subject further, but what about the actual animal… is anyone here animal rightsish enough to be mad that this happened at all? what about poor travis

  164. Rich Boucher says:

    When one encounters racism, it is good to speak up about it and against it.

  165. This cartoon is not funny, it’s racist.

    Nemski,

    How many times do I have to say this? That’s YOUR interpretation. The fact is, you have no effing clue about what that cartoonist was intending. So you’ve gotten your panties in a bunch and, quite frankly, it’s just ridiculous. You’re ascribing motives, again, when YOU HAVE NO DAMN CLUE.

  166. Rich Boucher says:

    I felt awful that the New York Post published a racist cartoon. That’s all. And so, I wrote a letter to the editor about it.

  167. nemski says:

    Mike, I’d like to agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong.

  168. a. price says:

    it is too easy to interpret in that was, given the Post’s leaning, and how Obama was mocked, and how it is HIS stimulus plan, and the history of monkeys, and cops and black people…. even if that was not the original intent… it was poor judgement at best… kind of like the News Journal’s “black history month coupons” for corn bread grape soda and collard greens

  169. No, nemski, it’s just that you’re full of your usual holier-than-thou bullshit. Again, in your world, your shit don’t stink.

  170. nemski says:

    Interpretation? Really, interpretation?

    Someone burns a cross in their front yard, isn’t that racism? Or do they just like an oddly shaped bonfires?

  171. Rich Boucher says:

    Today, a friend alerted me to the fact that the New York Post had published a racist cartoon, and so I went to take a look.

    I saw the cartoon, realized it was racist, and called the Post on it.

  172. nemski says:

    Rich, I like your posts best of all. 🙂

  173. Someone burns a cross in their front yard, isn’t that racism? Or do they just like an oddly shaped bonfires?

    Nemski,

    No you are NOT comparing a cartoon which is CERTAINLY up for interpretation to a racist act of vandalism against blacks that has been VERY well documented throughout this country’s history.

    Cassandra? LG? C’mon, guys, you can’t POSSIBLY buy into the comparison that nemski has put forth. Please, BREAK THE ECHO in this chamber.

  174. pandora says:

    Seems everyone here doesn’t think the cartoon was funny or clever, but obviously someone found it hysterical and edgy or else it would be wadded up in the trash instead of published in the Post.

  175. Rich Boucher says:

    Thank you, Nemski.

  176. nemski says:

    And comparing African-Americans to Apes has not been VERY well documented throughout this country’s history.?

  177. a. price says:

    here here nem

  178. nemski says:

    FIFA has started a campaign in Europe “Say No To Racism” because crowds where doing monkey chants to players on the field.

  179. Nemski, you fool. It’s YOUR INTERPRETATION that the ape was intended to represent Obama. I’d like to hear from the cartoonist on this and hear his true intentions. If he says the chimp was supposed to represent Obama, then I’ll put a headline on my blog conceding. Again, because I can concede. I’ve conceded before. Which is more than I can say about some contributors here.

  180. Rich Boucher says:

    I suppose that I should not have been too surprised by this. I did not know much about
    the New York Post before today’s publication of a racist cartoon. I’ve done a bit of reading since then (along with visiting the website) and it seems that the pejorative “tabloid” is not entirely innapropriate here.

    Even so, what a shame that a “paper” with the circulation of the Post would give voice to such disgusting racism.

  181. pandora says:

    Mike, have you taken a look at Nemski’s latest post about Google? It’s quite enlightening.

  182. a. price says:

    A LOT of people very quickly interpreted it on one very specific way.

  183. By the way, I apologize before being called out for calling you a fool, nemski. It was inappropriate and doesn’t help advance the discussion.

    My apologies.

  184. nemski says:

    Apologies accepted.

    Though my fence post comment stands. 😉

  185. Unstable Isotope says:

    Mike,

    It’s not the just folks at Delaware Liberal that think the cartoon is racist. This is all over the blogosphere and many people interpreted the cartoon as equating Obama with a dead chimp. I’m sorry you don’t believe that there is a historical linkage precedent linking black men with chimps or apes, but there is. Just because you aren’t aware of it doesn’t mean that others aren’t. Apparently lots of people are upset because it’s been reported that this has caused a lot of tension at the NY Post and that their phone lines have been lit up all day.

  186. anon says:

    Imagine the day the Supreme Court ruled in Bush’s favor over Florida and you realized Bush would take office.

    THERE’S NO COMPARISON anywhere to Bush’s stolen 2000 election by SCOTUS vote to anything in US History, my friend.

  187. anon says:

    a US congressman went ON AIR to apologize to Rush because his voters were turning against him at Rush’s command… he has power

    Are you referring to the cowardly Judd Gregg?

  188. anon says:

    “And, cassandra, I’m done. You win. Honestly, though, you’ve never conceded a point in any of your tiffs against people with whom you disagree”

    WORD

  189. I’m sorry you don’t believe that there is a historical linkage precedent linking black men with chimps or apes

    When did I say that, UI? WHEN?!? Please point out where I said there’s no historical linkage. I’ve never claimed that at all. What I have claimed is my interpretation of the cartoon is that Obama isn’t even being represented in it, therefore, I don’t understand the outrage.

  190. liberalgeek says:

    So in the “stimulus” context of the cartoon, who is the monkey, or what relationship does the dead monkey have to the stimulus bill?

  191. liberalgeek says:

    No you are NOT comparing a cartoon which is CERTAINLY up for interpretation to a racist act of vandalism against blacks that has been VERY well documented throughout this country’s history.

    Is a burning cross open to interpretation, too? How about a drawing of one?

  192. Harry Reid? Nancy Pelosi? Again, I think the metaphor is the stimulus. Many on the right see it as “wild,” as “untamed,” as “chaotic.” Much like the monkey that went on that rampage and took a chunk out of that chick.

  193. LG,

    Are we really doing this? Are you really telling me that you agree with nemski’s comparison? Again, you haven’t even heard the intent of the cartoonist and you’re willing to crucify him. You all walk a really dangerous line here and I just don’t get it.

    Now you’re attempting to mischaracterize my positions. No, burning a cross is not up for interpretation when it’s done on the lawn of a black family. However, didn’t Madonna also burn a cross in one of her music videos to make a statement? So, perhaps, burning crosses ARE up for interpretation when considered as an artistic statement.

    Jesus, you guys are doing a really good job of attempting to box me in. I guess the good thing about being boxed in is the echo is rather faint.

  194. liberalgeek says:

    Mike – I am telling you that you are being obstinate in not acknowledging that for MANY people, a primate is a symbol of persecution. To ignore that possibility and say that we are getting too worked up is bullshit.

    I frankly don’t give a shit what the cartoonist meant. If he isn’t capable of seeing this symbolism, he is in the wrong business.

  195. liberalgeek says:

    You have made me curse in print and it isn’t even 9AM, I hope you’re happy… 😉

  196. Geek,

    Again, you seem to presume that im not aware of the historical significance of the imagery. I specifically said in the previous post that I am. However, is the whole earth supposed to walk on eggshells because a cartoon COULD offend one segment of our population? Especially if the intent of the cartoonist hasn’t been explained? Again, we’re turning into a nation of namby-pambys, much like what AG Holder said yesterday. I agree with his comments wholeheartedly.

  197. a. price says:

    stop it you attention whore

  198. a. price says:

    breaking news the new york daily post has issued an apology for the cartoon. has Murdoch’s heart grown 6 sizes today? (no)