Dear Senator Obama
You'll no doubt be asked about this, today.I would recommend against staying the course that Bill Burton took, and instead...
"Yes, I saw the cover. In fact, I have a call in to Mr. Blitt, now. I'd like to buy the original, if he will part with it. I would be proud to display his artwork in the Oval Office.
"You see, while The New Yorker magazine intended to highlight the absurdity of some of the smears and rumors that have gone on in this campaign about me, about my family -- when I am president, this will serve to remind me every day that some people will always believe the worst about any politician. It will also serve to remind me that I work for the people, and the work we will accomplish together, as Americans, will in eight years time make these caricatures seem all the more absurd, indeed. Let's get to work!"
UPDATE: Looks like Obama's sticking with righteous indignation, so far. MISTAKE.
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posted by Jeffraham Prestonian at 12:21 AM
15 Comments:
fantastic!
7/14/2008 12:49 AM
You better hope DWD doesn't read your blog.
7/14/2008 1:18 AM
Pitch perfect, Jeffraham.
7/14/2008 1:58 AM
Yes, xcellent writing, Jeffraham. If only Obama could hire U as a speech writer he'd be better off.
7/14/2008 2:16 AM
Polly -- Thanks, but seriously, I tried to put myself in his shoes, based on other such questions he's had to field.
I think the right response recognizes the satire, but also says, "Hey, I know there are some who will never trust me. That's okay. We'll work together, and show how much we all love America by the work that we do, and how we decide to prioritize that work."
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7/14/2008 2:20 AM
Yikes! That might be the least politically viable thing he could say.
One, you don't put cartoons up in the Oval Office, especially buffoonish send-ups of political smear campaigns, lest we forget the demonic politicization of the Executive Branch by the current administration.
Two, the "some people will believe the worst about any politican," while factually accurate, would serve only to insult the voter him/herself and not the comfortable upper-class media responsible for the cartoon. Never insult the voter, even if its true. See also bitter people clinging to guns.
Three, don't call it a caricature. This evokes jovial images of big nosed celebrities and family vacation knick-knacks. It also implies some degree of truth.
If he were to go beyond his present "no comment," (unwise itself given his budding reputation as a flip-flopper and second guesser) he should take the standard steaming-eared Bill Clinton route and slam the media unequivocally as out-of-control, unaccountable, filth-peddling sharks who will say anything to sell a paper and make a buck, and the American people are way too smart and way too classy to ever fall for such slanderous media garbage.
It has a nice compliment for the voters and a jab at the media. Win/win for anyone running for office.
Devil's Advocate: If the New Yorker Magazine had printed a cover in 1992 with Bill Clinton smoking a bong and getting blown by a Hooters waitress in the Oval Office, what would your response be?
7/14/2008 4:19 AM
UJ -- Your concern? Noted.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment, entirely.
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7/14/2008 4:23 AM
K so... he should compliment, no wait, not just compliment, but congratulate the media for its smear, and at the same time chastise the voter for daring to think bad things about a politician.
Boy, Democrats sure know how to win, don't they? See you in 2012.
7/14/2008 4:29 AM
UJ -- I think you're onto something, there. Stay strong.
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7/14/2008 4:32 AM
Senator Obama, you had me at
"It will also serve to remind me that I work for the people, and the work we will accomplish together, as Americans, will in eight years time make these caricatures seem all the more absurd, indeed."
7/14/2008 5:55 AM
I just don't know what they could be thinking.
Scratchy=Badger
7/14/2008 10:21 AM
Whose the armed drag queen with the afro giving Obama a fist bump?
7/14/2008 1:25 PM
That's Foxy Brown, baby!
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7/14/2008 1:29 PM
I agree with uj that the difficult thing about owning this as a caricature is that that great tradition is usually an exaggeration of truth, not of smears and lies.
But I do wish Obama had been able to find some means by which to articulate that he'd seen the satire and was angered by the subject of the satire, not the satire itself.
Unless, of course, he's just not very good with irony. But I find that hard to believe.
7/15/2008 8:46 AM
Can't wait for my copy to arrive. I can see the mailbox from my window. Let's see if it slows down teh mail lady! LLLOL
7/15/2008 8:51 AM
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