Ohio’s own controversy of comparing the President & First Lady to monkeys
There has been quite a bit of discussion in parts of the blogosphere related to the New York Post cartoon and the racism issue that some have raised. Part of that discussion has hinged on the debate aspect that the cartoonist claims the cartoon was not designed to represent President Barack Obama. Yet here in Ohio, there is a controversy brewing over two scenarios where there is no doubt that the President and the First Lady are being compared to monkeys. This is taking place on a website known as the Whistleblower that is online through the Cincinnatus Standard which states it is, “SW Ohio’s Online Home for the Conservative Movement” where in fairness, it should be noted that the Cincinnatus does have a specific disclaimer related to the Whistleblower content.
That said, The Cincinnati Beacon has been out there on this story, trying to raise awareness on what is being written on the Whistleblower beyond the monkey comparisons, there have also been jokes made regarding the assassination of President Obama.
While I do not believe the New York Post cartoon was intended to be racially offensive, I believe the cartoonist was referring to Congress as the “crazed monkey”; I fully realize that former President Bush was often portrayed as a monkey, we could debate that part of the topic endlessly as to the double standard aspect. The reality is there has been and will be a racial connotation attached to comparing any black person to a monkey that does not exist with whites. There’s also the reality that many found the lack of respect given President Bush to be an issue, which would be my “if it’s wrong it’s wrong” theory even without the additional racism aspect. We could also debate the theory of free speech and how we have no real protection from being offended, that if you disagree with this type of cartoon or joke the solution is to just ignore it, that by blogging about it or covering it you give it more attention than it deserves.
We could provide cartoon after cartoon to demonstrate there is not an equal response/reaction even when the political cartoonist target has been a black person. We could point out previous scenarios where Bush assassination jokes have been made with apparently no real accountability beyond apologies. (Hevesi resigned but not related to the joke.) We could point out that some of us so want to believe “the other side is evil” that they’ll put out there that John Gibson compared Eric Holder to a monkey with a bright blue scrotum.
That still returns us to the point we are right now. What can or should be done about it and how many more times will we spend hours upon hours debating this topic, selectively demanding resignations or action in relation to racism or sexism? The suggestion when some were offended by sexist cartoons directed at Hillary Clinton was that we just needed to get a better sense of humor…So in that spirit, is that something that we should all do or is it perhaps time to realize that part of the problem is the general lack of respect and perhaps that’s what should be worked on…
It is entirely possible to do political cartoons/satire without invoking racism or sexism…I remember a time when it was said the goal was to re-create a “a kinder, and gentler nation” perhaps that never happened because neither side was willing to be the first to practice this towards each other…
Nothing should be done about it. I do recall we have an amendment in our constitution that deals with free speech…but, I’m struggling to find an amendment that protects people from being offended.
From George Washington to George Bush, there have been political cartoons which targeted the presidents…Obama isn’t special nor, is he exempt. After 8 years of seeing Bush photoshopped, I’m wondering where the left suddenly got a pang of conscience where it comes to that stuff.
As for the monkey cartoon in the Post, it was obvious that the author’s intent was to say that the stimulus bill was so badly concocted that a monkey must have written it.
Rev Al Sharpton and his flock from Our lady of perpetual victimhood church, took it and twisted it to fit their own goals…which is to attempt to make Al look like he matters at all.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:58 amI gave up on the far radical lefts ,incessant whining about RACISM, when I read a study about how blacks THEMSELVES, practice THEIR , own brand of racism when dealing with light skinned or dark skinned blacks. Lighter skinned blacks versus. darker skinned blacks ???!! …now that is about as ignorant as anything I ,have ever heard in my entire life !! Considering , this madness ALWAYS comes from leftist lunatics…why argue with these degenerate, insane , FOOLS ??!!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:55 amI’d point out Ty, that there are extremists on both sides, right and left who’s actions don’t speak to a great many of others. I think what is taking place on the Whistleblower site is a good example of that, nor is that the only place out there. The extremes of both parties seem to get more attention than those who don’t agree with their positions.
Either we believe it’s wrong period, or we don’t. Many seem to justify the actions of “their side” claiming it’s different when many times it is hard to see where the difference lies.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 amI’ve heard so much, and much of it, (although some nasty characters have been shown for what they were), completely untrue, criticisms of Republicans over the last 8 years.
So now, Republicans are engaged in quite the same activities that they claimed were unacceptable and inappropriate when the situation was reversed.
I would not buy a publication that made insulting cartoons of my President. Democratic or Republican.
The election is over – people need to get over it and get with the program. If they don’t like what’s going on they could choose to be progressive about it and begin to communicate with the administration and offer some solutions and dialogue. Choose to part of a solution rather than another problem.
But to just mock the President of the United States of America makes me think the artist feels so very small. People with healthy self-esteems don’t need to mock or belittle other people.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm“SW Ohio’s Online Home for the Conservative Movement” consists of one undergrad, a FOX kool-aid drinker (Tim Inwood), and a deranged Jim Schifrin who fancies himself to be a fictional character in an Orson Welles movie.
I’m OK with that.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:15 pmMy point ,is that since there IS, racism WITHIN the black community itself…well then…it therefore can be found ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE ,given a biased chance !!Just look hard enough and WALLA…there it is.RACISM,is as SUBJECTIVE as anything could possibly be.One only needs to ask ,the O.J.jurors , from the first trial.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pmYAWN!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 7:03 pmOh and it’s okay when Justice Clarence Thomas is called an Uncle Tom or when Condoleezza Rice was pictured as Aunt Jemimiah.
Sepp is right.
February 25th, 2009 at 2:14 pm