TYT: Cenk's Thoughts On The Controversial New Yorker Cover On Obama

[ihavenobias]

Run time: 05:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h_3YaygEeI   Posted on YouTube: July 15, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 15, 2008 By DU Member: ihavenobias Views on DU: 1175

 
Also see why

And learn about

Finally, check out the Director Of Stop Loss With The Real Stories Behind It, Obama's Popularity is a bad thing according to MSNBC, A Great Resource On McCain's Flip-Flops, 3 Reasons to Vote For a Democrat, and Cenk goes on CNN Headline News:

PS---Keep in mind that you can download the first hour of The Young Turks free every day through Itunes. Also, the show loops 24 hours a day at www.theyoungturks.com and runs live M-F from 9-11pm EST, with a post game show (politics with entertainment and current events) starting at 11pm. Finally, there is great news for XM radio subscribers: The Young Turks are now on XM Monday-Friday, 8am-10am EST!

[navarth]

1. Happy to be the first rec

...and Cenk hits it on the head again. Would they put a cartoon of Bu$h with a Hitler mustache? Would they do a McCain send-up.

No.

[AlbertCat]

11. If they liked it they would.

Speculation is just speculation.

They've done Cheney getting a check up with terror alerts instead of blood pressure readings. Making fun of his health as well as his politics.

They don't do Bush as Hitler because it's sophomoric... and there are no serious discussions on Fox News as to whether Bush is Hitler.

[johnlal]

2. I tend to believe

That if you have to explain your joke, it's probably not funny.
If you have to explain your joke several times on cable news channels, you're in damage control.

Ask Michael Richards or Don Imus.

Whether a joke is funny also depends on whether your audience relates to the joke. In using Presidential Candidate Obama as the subject of the joke, the New Yorker widened its audience from the usual subscribers. A lot of people in this wider audience didn't think the joke was funny.

That's the risk you take for edgy humor. Try again.

[AlbertCat]

21. That if you have to explain your joke, it's probably not funny.

What's to explain here? It's perfectly obvious what the cover means and intends to do.

The only harm being done is by those who pretend it's some kind of offense. That's what the RW will use. Not the image...because the image shows their tactics up.

Once again, the Liberals kill themselves. No wonder they can't win anything!

[johnlal]

26. Yes, it's obvious what the cover intended to do...

but in my own opinion, it's not funny. It's not clever, it's not witty, or insightful. I understand the joke. I just don't think it's very good.

[Bette Noir]

3. One more non-African-American saying it's okay to stereotype

the African-American presidential candidate. So, because he wasn't offended, it's okay? I was offended. I get the joke, but consider it far overshadowed by the ugly racism on display.

[rebel with a cause]

7. You hit the nail on the head.

I also get the joke and I also am offended by it and I am white.

[ihavenobias]

10. Right, because someone born in Turkey with the name "Cenk Uygur" is the same as a white guy named

named Joe Smith born in the midwest.

It's very misleading to frame it in the way that you did IMO. It's another gross generalization.

[izquierdista]

4. Self-reflection? Hah!

So he sees the humor that the New Yorker is looking down on those who think Obama is a Muslim. Unfortunately, that same group is not going to be prodded into any higher level of self-reflection on the matter, especially by the New Yorker. All the New Yorker has done is fan the flames of the memes already out there: Obama is a Muslim, he doesn't respect the flag, he and his wife are dangerous nigras. Did you miss one there, New Yorker? Did you leave out the snobby wine glass of elitism? Or is that meme a little too close to home to make fun of?

I suppose this is a preview of how ALL the news coverage of the fall campaign will be:

EXTRA! EXTRA! ALL THE LIES THAT ARE BEING TOLD ABOUT OBAMA!*









*The truth about them will be in our December issue

[AlbertCat]

19. The display of anti-intellectualism

....is amazing here! That New Yorker is sooooooo snobby and pretentious! Well, duh!

They are not fanning any flames. Everybody gets the cover...even those who pretend they don't. Everyone's so worried no one will get it, and everyone does! The outrage is just nuts.

How about getting outraged about the people who MEAN the smears as much as you are about the people who don't mean them.

[raystorm7]

5. Sad day when stuff like this has to be explained... Same with the whole Bernie Mac fiasco =/

[Apollo11]

6. This confirms that Cenk is no smarter than your average DU member

The cartoon is in poor taste and will not contribute to our ongoing efforts to fight the smears that are being spread against our nominee. In fact, it is more likely to hurt rather than help those efforts.

Now we are in the final 4 months of the general election campaign, responsible media should be defending the truth instead of reflecting lies (whether or not their intention is ironic or satirical).

[ihavenobias]

8. This confirms you're making a gross generalization based on one youtube clip

It's ok to have a reasonable disagreement with someone and not diss their intelligence because of it.

Just a thought anyway.

[Apollo11]

18. Are you dissing the intelligence of your average DU member?

Sure looks like it to me.

[ihavenobias]

22. No, that was you actually :)

Unless you want to pretend you were complimenting Cenk and saying that the average DUer is really smart?

[KSinTX]

9. Don't see anyone taking to the streets in protest, Cenk

or burning embassies; just cancelling subscriptions and employing free speech calling the unfunny dispicable. Not a matter of being smart enough, hip enough or even "getting it." I get it; it's still offensive.

[Stevepol]

12. Agree w/ Cenk 100%. This topic needs to be aired and this is the perfect way to do it.

As for the 12% who believe O is a Muslim, that's probably the same % that believes the moon landing was just a Hollywood stunt. Never happened.

Forget that 12%. This picture is a joke, a JOKE, and it should be treated that way as an entree to be able to discuss the issue and show the idiocy of it. Barack should bring it up at his speeches and show the idiocy of it and LAUGH about it. Laughter isn't only the best medicine; it's also a way to turn an argument on its head and change the whole context in the way you want to change it.

[CherylK]

13. Well said!

You said it perfectly!

[OhioChick]

14. Agreed. n/t

[AlbertCat]

20. Yes...well said!

Why are people letting the GOP decide what the image means? It's only offensive if it's true.

OWN THE IMAGE! Show what it depicts to be a joke and stop lending credence to the smears the cartoon clearly emasculates. Stand up! Stop cowering to Right Wing smears.

[Cha]

15. Even though I understand where he's

coming from I disagree with Cenk on this.

Mark Karlin of buzzflash says it best for me..

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/103

I just think it's stupid, visually offensive, and has to be explained way too much.

[ihavenobias]

16. That's fair enough

We can have a reasonable disagreement about it.

Thanks for being so civil Zidzi, it's much appreciated.

[gateley]

17. There are good arguments for both side of this issue -

arguments that make sense.

But I think this is one we'll never come to an agreement on - one that we feel strongly/emotionally about one way or the other.

There will be a new cover on the next New Yorker, and hopefully we can move on.

(P.S. -- I think the reason that they wouldn't have a pic of Bush/Cheney/McCain shown as fascists, is because it would be TRUE - not really satire.)

[barack the house]

23. I'm with Cenk on this I think the cartoon has helped Obama with the scorn it ahs received.

[barack the house]

Cenk isn't saying don't critique the cartoon but let's not stop people expressing themselves.

Run time: 05:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h_3YaygEeI   Posted on YouTube: July 15, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 15, 2008 By DU Member: barack the house Views on DU: 1175

 

[barack the house]

24. Cenk isn't saying don't critique the cartoon but let's not stop people expressing themselves.

[Apollo11]

25. I agree with Obama on this

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

Barack Obama on CNN Larry King Live - July 15th, 2008

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0807/15/lkl.01.html