Christopher Hitchens on the Barack Obama cartoon controversy

Mirror UK ^ | 7/15/2008 | Christopher Hitchens

[afortiori]

Here's where I disagree with the argument that the Obama cartoon was harmless, even supportive satire.

Exaggerations aside, rather than say who Obama is, doesn't the cartoon ask the viewer just how extreme left the ever changing Obama would be if he didn't have to face election?

[evad]

Satire, like all humor, has to be based on a certain element of fact to be effective.

[Keli Kilohana]

I can’t wait until the McCain cartoon cover.

[reasonisfaith]

“Instead, you have sophisticates in the metropolis laughing at a portrayal of the fears of the lowly white hicks. This set-up could itself be the subject of a satire, but probably at some other time and in some other magazine.”

I think the best satire could be done on Hitchens and his fixed, self-absorbed notion of “sophisticates” and “lowly white hicks.”

[Cathy]

No, it was a satirical cartoon, not a depiction of what could or would happen if X, Y and Z.

The cartoon dealt with the misconceptions about Obama and was clearly a swipe at Obama’s opponents. Only Liberals could take a satirical cartoon that is supposed to stick it to the conservatives and be offended. It is laughable.

[Cathy]

Hey, the Obamas really do fist bump!

[bmwcyle]

That’s easy, McCain in a donkey suit.

[evad]

yeah man!!!

[jalisco555]

Only Liberals could take a satirical cartoon that is supposed to stick it to the conservatives and be offended. It is laughable.

Just more evidence that the Left is a bunch of self-absorbed, humorless scolds.

[litehaus]

"That’s easy, McCain in a donkey suit."

My guess is McLame in DEPENDS.......

[Joe 6-pack]

"I can’t wait until the McCain cartoon cover."

Your wait is over...

[beezdotcom]

Only Liberals could take a satirical cartoon that is supposed to stick it to the conservatives and be offended. It is laughable.

Personally, I think it worked exactly as intended. Because of the predictable outcry, it further raised the stakes for anyone who would dare to question Obama's background or associations. It clearly delineated those issues which the McCain camp 'better stay away from, or ELSE'.

In short, Obama is becoming so inoculated against criticism, I'm not sure it would matter now even if Obama were "found in bed with a dead girl or a live boy" (old political joke, in case you missed it). I still don't think you would be allowed to criticize him about it.

[Sicon]

I think Obama and the rest of the leftists should take a look at the cartoons of W and Condi Rice over the past 7 years. I don't recall too much outrage or offense taken by anyone over those.

Hey Obama: if you can't stand the heat, get out of the free country - you don't belong here, and you most certainly don't belong (or deserve even slightly to be) in the White House.

[Cicero]

As usual, Hitchens sounds clever, but in the end, confused.

Yes, to be effective, satire has to touch on reality, and the problem with this cartoon, for lefties, is that there is nothing in the cartoon that isn’t based on the real warts that trouble Obama and his sickening wife.

Obama’s costume is based on an actual photo of him dressed in Muslim garb. Michelle’s costume is an analogy of her attitudes toward whites and America. The burning flag reminds us of Obama’s often repeated symbolic gestures of disrespect for the flag. The portrait of bin Ladin reminds us that he is very cozy with Muslim terrorists in Kenya and that he wants to surrender in the War on Terror.

The Afro and the AK-47 remind us of the Black Panthers and the Pentagon bombers, who are among Obama’s closest friends and associates.

Too much reality for comfort, I’d say.

[G.Mason]

As usual McCain can't shut his mouth, but must to continue to help his "friends across the aisle" by babbling ... "I think it’s totally inappropriate and frankly I understand if Senator Obama and his supporters would find it offensive," .

This jerk is going to protect the U.S. from it's enemies?

Oh ... I forget ... he's a wee bit better than Obama-Lama-Ding-Dong, and he is our only chance.

It's too bad ignorance isn't painful.

[yoe]

Remember the Denmark cartoons? Who got mad? Who didn’t get angry? Who always become angry when portrayed other than a saint?

[dead]

It was one of those unfortunate moments when the group you wanted to mock found humor in your half-assed attempt while the group you were attempting to impress found your efforts offensive.

The whole episode reads like one of those uncomfortable John Cheever short stories.

[bmwcyle]

I would draw his as Captain Queeg.

[Lancey Howard]

[SaintDismas]

Excellent analysis Cicero. But those libs are the ones that don’t get it. Either that or they do, and are very frightened by this misstep.