They MUST be aiming at an audience of pompous left-wing intellectuals, because that's all they've got left as subscribers.
I'm sure it's meant to be a bitter satire on evil, hysterical right-wing Obama detractors. But as I said, the problem is that most of it is based on actual photos and actual facts.
The outfit Obama is wearing is based on that photo of him in Kenya in Muslim garb. The high five comes from another press photograph. Michelle's garb is not literal, but is a kind of visual expression of political attitudes she has occasionally revealed. The flag thrown into the fireplace reminds us of Obama's discarded flag pin, and another famous photo of him holding his crotch during the National Anthem while his fellow Dem candidates salute the flag. And the portrait of Osama? Well, that speaks for itself, too, including the press's occasional confusion of Osama and Obama and his decree forbidding anyone to use his middle name. Not to mention his lying denials that he was EVER a Muslim.
This is very dangerous satire indeed. I think it will make all but the craziest victims of BDS think twice about Obama, not about right-wing crazies who are reputedly slandering him.
I believe The New Yorker has a circulation of under a million. The magazine itself is not only largely regional, but also targeted to a very upscale, highly educated audience — hence the high advertising rates.
In short, the intent of the cover will be apparent to the vast majority of the magazine’s readers.
Now there's aNaziMoron.
Please punctuate properly: left-wing "intellectuals".