College OTR: Is the Obama-Monkey Post Cartoon Offensive or Just Stupid?

Is the Obama-Monkey Post Cartoon Offensive or Just Stupid?

Posted by Brother Bannon 02/18/2009 1:57 PM
Category: Funny

There's a big uproar over this New York Post cartoon that people are calling racist because it compares Barack Obama to a monkey. It's a play off a recent incident where a cop shot a rogue chimpanzee, but most people aren't getting the joke.

The "funny" part is that the comic is implying the stimulus is so bad, a monkey wrote it, but then people are saying that means they're calling Obama a monkey, and that's racist. The joke isn't particularly funny either way.

Look, I see the point, it's a dumb move on the Post's part to not expect fallout, but we're going to have to get over this whole African American monkey stigma at some point in our lives. I mean, Barack is the president now, and how many times did we compare our LAST president to a monkey in ten thousand editorial cartoons over the past eight years? The new president has every right to be compared to a monkey as the last one. It's about actions, not color.

What do you think about the whole debacle?

+ 27 comments

Anonymous says,

Hmm, for the last 8 years, we saw images of president Bush portrayed as a monkey, where was Al Sharpton then? Folks, lets face it, the reason why black people get mad when you compare them to monkeys is that often times they resemble monkeys. Those are facts. It has NOTHING to do with race and everything to do with the humans need to categorize things. Fat people often resemble hippos or elephants. Anyone with a first year in psychology could tell you this. No reason to get all crazy about it. Comics traditionally use text, ambiguity, symbolism, design, iconography, literary technique, mixed media and stylistic elements of art help build a subtext of meanings. More important than the imagery, is the message. The stimulus package is a joke and already the new president is sounding like the old one. Posted 02/18/2009 2:36 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Don't even do that comparison you dolt.
If you can't see what the problem is here I can't help you.Given the history of assassination in this country, given the history of racist cartoons showing Blacks as monkeys, it's OBVIOUS.
Do I think it could be unintentional? Perhaps, but even then, wtf is the cartoon saying? "the stimulus bill was written by a monkey, just like the one that was gunned down for going crazy?
Given that, there is NO way you wouldn't know what kind of calamity this was going to cause.and for the record, no-one made a political cartoon that suggested someone shoot Bush! Posted 02/18/2009 3:00 PMReply

Anonymous says,

The biggest thing working against Sharpton: Obama didn't write the stimulus bill. In all of the commentary I have seen so far, nobody has noted this fact. The executive branch does NOT make legislation; it is the LEGISlative branch that writes law (Latin: lex, legis). The point of the cartoon is that a runaway congress throwing money around like its monopoly paper to solve every problem we have is akin to an insane ape on a rampage. Duuuuh! Also, chimpanzees are not monkeys. Posted 02/18/2009 6:44 PMReply

Anonymous says,

You expect the public school educated people of this country to know which branch of government is responsible for writing legislation? What's next? You'll want them to name all 57 states? Posted 02/18/2009 7:49 PMReply

Anonymous says,

(I'm the guy who wrote at 6:44) I get your point. Actually, I was public school educated myself. In fact, that is where I learned the word "lex,legis", Latin for "law". It's sheer apathy and liberal bias run amok that leads people to follow the likes of Al Sharpton. I'm no public school fan, as it is a government monopoly. But it's not the schools' fault that these ignoranti don't know that the executive branch does not author laws. It was interesting, was it not, how everyone climbed down Palin's throat for every misstatement, but they didn't give a rip that the words "57 states" could even come out of St. Obama's mouth? I don't think my 4th grade son would make that error. I quizzed my 7th grade daughter at dinner. She knew that the chimp couldn't represent Obama, "because," she said, "he doesn't write the laws, congress does." By the way, she goes to public school. Posted 02/18/2009 8:35 PMReply

Anonymous says,

New York Post Owes President Obama an Apology
http://www.floodthelines.com/nypchimpcartoon/
Our President is no Chimp! Posted 02/18/2009 8:50 PMReply

Anonymous says,

This is clearly racism, and we need Hate Speech laws to control the vile thoughts that some let out of their mouths. People should not even be allowed to think racist thoughts. I say we commence Operation Control the Hate Speech immediately! Join me, brothers and sisters! The code phrase to begin the fight will be:

THERE IS A MONKEY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I repeat: THERE IS A MONKEY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Posted 02/18/2009 10:45 PMReply

Anonymous says,

DIDN'T A WOMAN GET INJURED BY THIS APE ,CHIMP,MONKEY OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT? INSTEAD OF MAKING STUPID JOKES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PRESIDENT SHOW SOME CONCERN FOR THE LADY, HER FAMILY,AND THE OWNER OF THE PET.MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR MOTHER, EVEN YOUR GRANNY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY THE MONKEY SINCE THEY DID SUCH A POOR JOB IN RAISING THE EDITORS OF THE POST AND THE IGNORANT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMENTING ON THIS ARTICLE. Posted 02/18/2009 10:48 PMReply

Anonymous says,

good point i was thinking the same thing Posted 02/18/2009 10:50 PMReply

Anonymous says,

how come there 1s always a uproar when something is twisted by the blacks,and its all over the internet and news,but when whites get affended by the blacks nothin is never said??? thats what i call racist! get over it and go on!! Posted 02/19/2009 10:32 AMReply

Anonymous says,

@ Anonymous: i gree 1 hundred percent wity you. you told it like it is tyty thank you Posted 02/19/2009 10:38 AMReply

Anonymous says,

THE WHOLE ISSUE IS THAT EVERY TIME A COMMENT IS SAID NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THE BLACKS TWIST IT AROUND TO MAKE THE WHITES ARE RACISTS, BUT THE BLACKS CAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WHITES AND THEY GO ON,THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO HAVE THE WHITE PEOPLE PAY FOR SLAVERY THAT HAPPENED 100 YEARS AGO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. I GOT ONE THING TO SAY TO THEM , GET OVER IT, QUIT WANTING THE WHITE PEOPLE TO BEND DOWN AND WORSHIP THE BLACKS, IF THE BLACKS DON'T LIKE THE WAY AMERICA IS, GO BACK TO AFRICA! Posted 02/19/2009 10:54 AMReply

Anonymous says,

EXACTLY. If this was BUSH they were poking fun at...we would not be talking about it right now. Let's stop making everything about Race...get over it already and laugh about it just like they would if it were BUSH being protrayed as a monkey. Amaerican Blacks are the Racists not the REST of the world. GET OVER IT...and admit it, "the STIMULUS PACKAGE IS SO STUPID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A MONKEY WROTE IT!" Posted 02/19/2009 2:05 PMReply

delightfulallie says,

Blacks are monkeys. People didnt say that, evolution did. Posted 02/19/2009 2:22 PMReply

Brother Nick says,

Wow. Just wow. Interesting to see how many people post horrible things on here anonymously. Clearly, you're a very brave person. @ Anonymous:

That cartoon is, much like some of the comments here, racist AND stupid Posted 02/19/2009 8:40 PMReply

Anonymous says,

@ Anonymous: @ Anonymous: Posted 02/20/2009 8:11 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Stop hating all you racist.There's a new sheriff in town.And he happens to be black.Yes black.You racist just don't like the fact that a black man is running things now.Get over it. Posted 02/20/2009 8:22 PMReply

Anonymous says,

@YOU IGNORANT SO AND SO Anonymous: Posted 02/20/2009 8:32 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson need to stop being bitches. Where is this society going where you're racist of you insult a black man? It's merely a comment on the stimulus package, not Obama's race. Obama's so lucky that people will fight to the death for him. Posted 02/20/2009 9:51 PMReply

Anonymous says,

The thin skinned liberals are driving me crazy. Why? Because, I'm a liberal and those screaming the sky if falling every time a small time jab is taken in satire does way more harm than good. This one? Easy. Last I checked, we all evolved from either Abraham or simians or both, depending on your bend. A cartoon calls the stimulus bill a bone headed, monkey idea? Fine... be my guest. Can't do that because we have a black President? Lord, help us... Spike Lee and Al Sharpton don't have more to do 15% black unemployment? Americans of every creed have every right to push back on this. We elected a black President... and he can stand up to the heat as easy as an idiot like George W. You thin skinned hyper sensitive to his left deserve to be marginalized. We have bigger problems to deal with... and trust our President wont waste his time on your bullshit non-issues. Posted 02/21/2009 12:22 AMReply

Anonymous says,

I think the Post just jammed its thumb in the eye of the liberal hate mongers. When are blacks going to throw off the yoke of their liberal oppressors and start taking back their culture and families? Race baiters like Sharpton are diverting attention away from the real culprits of racism by inciting black anger and directing it away from where it should be. WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE Unite against your liberal slave masters! They stole your families and culture for a few pieces of silver! Posted 02/21/2009 08:10 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Finally, a voice of REASON in this country! Thank you! You have given me hope that there is still hope we can regain our freedom. This country has been so dumbed down by the media, it's just sad. I got the cartoon and didn't for a second relate it to Obama. But then, I'm educated and have COMMON SENSE. Seems like we've forgotten all about that in this country. The stimulus bill WILL destroy our country and it's the banker's final death knell for our economy. We're being sold out, bought up and lead into our own slavery. People need to WAKE UP pretty quickly and realize who controls the world. Hint: It's NOT Obama!! He's just the Burger King manager. Figure our who the FRANCISE OWNER is... For more info and the TRUTH, visit infowars dot com@ Anonymous: Posted 02/24/2009 11:50 AMReply

Anonymous says,

i have to admit that i don't know jack about politics and that i heard about the comic and was blown away that someone would be so stupid to draw it and think it was funny, and then that someone would actually print it. It's beyond belief. I didn't know that the stimulus plan was written by anyone other than President Obama, since he is credited with it since he gave the speech introducing the plan. I don't know if it's a bad plan or not, my little point is that most Americans do not know anything other than what they hear on the media and from friends and family. And that is this is Obama's stimulus plan.
So, really, it's a dumb cartoon guy and a dumb editor or whoever for not explaining where they were coming from if it was not intended to be racist.
Sure, it could have been an accident that the public would take it this way, but someone had to be in the cutting room raising their hand (if that's how it works there) trying to explain how bad of an idea this is, and that black people are compared to monkeys in bad racist jokes.
There's no need to argue at this point whether or not certain other figures like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are morons.
Who can blame anyone for jumping down on this cartoon?! It was ill advised and stupid of them to make it. not to mention badly worded. What morons.
Obama has the class to actually become a good president if the people will let him and listen to him.
Bush, well, their inexperience is about the same, but Obama has potential to at least build back our morale, but i'm not so sure the idiots of America are mature enough to accept this just yet. Sigh.
ps. sorry for the 'anonymous' post... i don't know how to log on to facebook and get back here. Posted 02/26/2009 05:47 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Blacks are the only ones out looking for RACISIM!
If Blacks are suppose to be so proud of who they are, they shouldnt let a CARTOON image offend them! And I agree, that FOR 8 Freaking years, the MSM portrayed President Bush in many UNFLATTERING WAYS! they made fun of his EARS in Drawings as well..AND DID YOU HEAR outrage from Conservatives?? When people look for racisim, they will find it, INNOCENT as things may be, RABBLE rowsers will make a mountian out of a mole hill! And Sharpton needs to worry about his Tax Evasion problems, and Charile Rangle the same! They always try to take focus off of themselves and bring other issues to light in order to get away with what illegal, underhanded things they are up too! Posted 02/28/2009 6:23 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Black monkeys see, black monkeys do. Hows that? Now go jump off a cliff. Nobody gives a shyyyte. Posted 02/28/2009 9:52 PMReply

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