Jack and Jill Politics - Latest Comments in Sunday Open Thread

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:39:05 -0000

Sorry, Ms. Martin, I was quoting Craig and it got confused.

What I thought Craig was saying was that it was not consciously and intentionally a right wing hit on the Obamas.

But really -- intention is irrelevant to me. Function is what matters.

Also, I realized the more I reflected on it that it feels like a psy ops propaganda hit anyway.

So -- no, not satire IMO. Sorry for the confusion!

Re: Sunday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:40:19 -0000

He does. This woman's comment I thought particularly cogent:

I live on an Indian Reservation so I have some experience with the "targeting" of communities based on racial stereotypes. Would Obama dare feel free to lecture Native Americans about absentee fathers or garbage?... Or give the same speeches in Appalachia? My point is that these are NOT issues based on the color of one's skin, but rather on socio-economic circumstances.

That is why Jesse Jackson is RIGHT and Obama is WRONG. Jackson recognizes the plight of all poor communities. Notably two decades ago Jackson campaigned extensively in West Virginia during the 1988 Presidential primaries, so he saw firsthand how poor white people live. Whereas, Obama deigned to visit West Virginia only once and momentarily. That exemplifies the difference between Jackson and Obama. Jackson is a proven humanist, but Obama is becoming known as an opportunist. Obama uses the black community for his own political purposes, and that includes pandering to white voters by lecturing to blacks about their shortcomings... all for media consumption.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:15:11 -0000

Hear, hear.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:13:08 -0000

Um, why in the hell would they invite Bernie Mac as the entertainment? Haven't they seen his standup or Kings of Comedy?

In any other context, this wouldn't have been a big deal, but you know people are going to try to make something of it.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

GreenLadyHere — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:00:29 -0000

rikyrah: Sharing. On THIS day, "sith" made a strong defense for Mr. Obama on Meet The Press [July 13, 2008]. http://haroldfordjr2006.blogspot.com.
Don't shoot the messenger. :>) :>)

Re: Sunday Open Thread

msmartin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:17:26 -0000

Barack made the following comments at La Raza:

"But I know how hard you’re working. I know the difference you’re making in our communities. And I’m here today to make you this promise: I will be a President who stands with you, and fights for you, and walks with you every step of the way."

I wish he had the same praise for us.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

msmartin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:48:08 -0000

Michelle you said it actually "IS" satire and then you said it's not it's "garbage". Which is it?

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Michelle — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:59:23 -0000

For the record, it actually IS satire. But it doesn't read as satire and that's the problem.

I agree so so hard with it doesn't read as satire.

I love satire. Love it heart and soul. Have actually done some myself.

And real satire by others keeps me sane some days when nothing else works.

THIS, as Craig points out, is not actually functioning as satire. It isn't funny. It isn't clever or interesting or intelligent or insightful. Unoriginal and entirely useless on that level. Satire is an art that requires actual intelligence and work and deep analysis under the surface that shows in what is visible. Satire offers something good and useful.

This on the other hand is someone picking up others' stinking trash, slapping it into an image, claiming credit for doing something while not doing any real work at all, and naming it as something it isn't. Satire my ass. This is garbage.

This image has blown a circuit for me. I can't quite feel this yet. When my weird psychic novocaine wears off this shit is going to HURT.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

msmartin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:29:43 -0000

Satire is a joke that fades, something you can't remember in it's entirety when you try to retell the joke a week later, not a picture that details every point of insane hateful spew.

I can't believe this.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Sombody_took_my_username — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:51:42 -0000

Yeah right....and they're laughing their asses off because the damage is done...and they didn't have to lift a finger.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Sombody_took_my_username — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:47:54 -0000

Not enough solitude for my liking.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

booboola — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:36:48 -0000

Maybe Jesse Has a Point

http://www.progressive.org/mag/wx071208

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Sombody_took_my_username — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:09:25 -0000

..Too many lawyers.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

CraigHickman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:00:04 -0000

UPDATE -- Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton says: “The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."

UPDATE to the UPDATE -- McCain spokesman Tucker "Outward" Bounds quickly e-mailed: "We completely agree with the Obama campaign, it’s tasteless and offensive.”

::

Kudos to both campaigns. (I can give credit where it is due, even to McCain's people.)

Ryan Lizza tends to write balanced articles. But I'm not feeling this one as balanced.

With that cover, clearly The New Yorker is peddling a different agenda for the general election.

For the record, it actually IS satire. But it doesn't read as satire and that's the problem.

This is slick propaganda peddling and fear mongering, not to mention all the isms.

Tasteless and offensive, indeed.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Texas_Girl_in_LA — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:39:45 -0000

It doesn't look like he will be speaking at the Bradenburg Gate.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/13...

Re: Sunday Open Thread

GreenLadyHere — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:38:55 -0000

Angela1: Thanks for this information.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

GreenLadyHere — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:32:11 -0000

Craig: I'm going to go with #4! ding! ding! ding!!! I win!!! :>)

Re: Sunday Open Thread

rdxtion — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:30:08 -0000

Exactly. I don't care if you are being "ironic", it's just not okay to perpetuate stereotypes. How many people's negative image of the Obamas will that image reinforce?

Re: Sunday Open Thread

GreenLadyHere — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:29:53 -0000

99%Sure: YAAAAAAAAAA! Love your analysis. Learning a lot! Thank you!

Re: Sunday Open Thread

Texas_Girl_in_LA — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:26:33 -0000

Wow....umm....damn....this is supposed to be satire

The Obama campaign has responded to this cover. "Tasteless and offensive".

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/07...

Lord knows I try to laugh some of this stuff off. But, it gets harder by the minute. The cover has a "where's Waldo" kinda thing happening. One glance you see Michelle's afro, next...Barack wearing Muslim attire, next the flag burning in the fireplace...Osama on the wall...oh and Michelle in militant gear.

I'm trying really hard to find the humor folks...but as a person of color..this shit ain't funny.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

CarolinagirlinGA — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:04:50 -0000

Wow.... I don't even know where to begin. Um, I guess I get it, they are mocking the whole "terrorist fist jab" ridiculousness, but the artist is emphasizing all the stereotypical physical traits of black women as well. I'm not sure how to take it. Well.... okay it's bullshi........

Re: Sunday Open Thread

CraigHickman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:38:38 -0000

Interesting comment.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

CraigHickman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:33:23 -0000

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Did you read his response yet? Did you write about it?

Re: Sunday Open Thread

99PercentSure — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:18:25 -0000

When they booked him, they knew he was a risque comedian with politically incorrect jokes bound to offend some portion of the audience.

Bernie Mac is not a campaign issue and I see no reason for the brouhaha regarding his comments UNLESS he wasn't funny, and failed to entertain the attendees who ponied up a lot of dough to be in the house.

When you're paying top dollar like they were, you want broiled lobster tails, poached salmon, filet mignon, and exceptional entertainment. Baked chicken and unfunny jokes are disallowed.

If he didn't deliver maximum funny, then yeah, he should have been booed off stage. Otherwise, pfft on more of the media trolls' tabloid journalism.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:17:32 -0000

I'm going to say it until the event doesn't happen. I want Obama to win. The way the campaign handled the Bradenburg Gate crap is cause for concern for anybody who isn't an unquestioning lemming of Chicago. The campaign's press shop is abominable....