Barack Obama just now shown on CNN talking about the New Yorker cover

[cbc5g]

Claims that he's heard worse and that he has grown a thick skin in the campaign season. He doesn't condemn it at all and said that it was the New Yorkers editorial judgment to air it

"It's a cartoon…and that's why we've got the First Amendment," Obama said. "And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what's happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon. So I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it."

"I've seen and heard worse," he said. "I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead. But, you know, that was their editorial judgment."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/category/presidential-candidates/barack-obama/

[tekisui]

1. Good answer.

THis is his first comment on it directly, right?

[ellacott]

4. I think it is

They asked him about it yesterday at a press conference. He said he had no comment but he hadn't seen the cover.

[NC_Nurse]

2. Cool. Good for him.

[Egnever]

3. Wow good answer

hes been thinking about that one.

[Forkboy]

5. He seems to get it better than many.

[ravishane]

6. Good response

I think the "offensive" thing yesterday was smart as well. Some said that he should have laughed about it. That would NOT be smart when a burning flag is in the picture!!!!!

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. Very good response

This is a net positive for us now.

[CakeGrrl]

8. Good for him

It's about time a Democrat answered the distractions by saying, VERY rightfully so, that there are bigger issues for people to worry about.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Pitch perfect response. We are very fortunate to have the politically astute Obama as our nominee.

[Cha]

22. Yeah, he used it as an opportunity

to talk about more immportant issues.

[Adelante]

10. No Drama Obama

My man :)

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Clearly Obama Is Dead Wrong

"And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what's happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon."

If he read DU, he'd realize that we're at least 500 times more concerned with the cartoon than with the collapse of the US economy.

:banghead:

[Political Heretic]

13. SERIOUSLY

[LowerManhattanite]

12. Timing is everything...

Well handled from start to now.

Kudos!

[Political Heretic]

14. This guy is like a real life Jed Bartlett

What a political badass.

[cbc5g]

15. *HEADS UP*

It's coming up against on CNN after the break ...at least thats what wolf said...i dunno

[Goblinmonger]

16. I have been a vocal "supporter"

of the cartoon, and I think that was a very good response from Obama.

I think the cartoon, in conjunction with this comment, will make it easier for him to just dismiss these stupid rumors in the future.

[Ron Green]

19. Indeed. I too support the cartoon, and Obama, unlike you and me, has to

say it's offensive, it's not too important, etc... He gave a perfect answer. However, I think the cartoon was a brilliant stroke by the New Yorker, and I'm glad to see its results starting to work through the public discourse.

[AspenRose]

17. Very good

:thumbsup:

[Arkana]

18. I'm glad he said something about it being insulting to Muslim-Americans too.

Just when I think the guy's slipping away he shows an extraordinary display of dignity and tact that makes me that much more enthusiastic about him.

[madura]

26. yes, i was very pleased to hear that from him.

[BeyondGeography]

20. Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel...

Nicely done.

[cbc5g]

21. Full Transcript

'Your wife in a kind of military outfit, Osama bin Laden's picture burning'

KING: But I've heard a lot of others comment on it. We haven't heard you speak about it yet. That "New Yorker" cover which depicts you and your wife, and you dressed in a Muslim outfit, your wife in a kind of military outfit, Osama bin Laden's picture burning, what do you make of that?

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I know it was The New Yorker's attempt at satire. I don't think they were entirely successful with it. But you know what? It's a cartoon, Larry, and that's why we've got the First Amendment.

And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what's happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon.

So I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it.

KING: But didn't it personally sting you?

OBAMA: No. You know, we've -- one of the things when you're running for president for almost two years is, you get a pretty thick skin.

And, you know, I've seen and heard worse.

I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead.

Also, this is interesting:

KING: Considering that, though, there's a lot of e-mails going around. It gets rather terrible. A "Newsweek" poll shows that 12 percent of America believes that you're a Muslim, and 26 believe -- 26 percent believe you were raised in a Muslim home. A lot of misinformation.

How do you fight that?

OBAMA: Well, you know, by getting on "Larry King" and telling everybody I'm a Christian and I wasn't raised in a Muslim home. And pledge allegiance to the flag. And, you know, all the things that have been reported in these e-mails are completely untrue and have been debunked again and again and again. So, all you can do is just tell the truth and trust in the American people that over time, they're going to know what the truth is.

One last point I want to -- I do want to make about these e-mails, though. And I think this has an impact on this "New Yorker" cover.

You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim-Americans, something that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out.

You know, there are wonderful Muslim-Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America's all about.

[Number23]

24. Very classily said

it was The New Yorker's attempt at satire. I don't think they were entirely successful with it.

:) Now that goes without saying.

[highplainsdem]

23. Good response.

[madura]

25. the only and best response he could have had.

me, i'm not as smart or patient as Obama with the NYer.
or many other things.

[RNdaSilva]

27. "So I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it."

Can't say the same for many on this forum. And this too shall pass.