Yes I think the satirical nature of the cover was fine, but I am part of the 20 percent of americans who are intellectuals and have a higher range of thought processing.  However the majority of America is ignorant and well basically stupid.  Satire requires intellect and this is something the American public is sorely lacking as a whole.  The majority of Americans have consistantly been decreasing overal when it comes to IQ.  We have a failing education system which promotes ignorance and so many of the students in that system wont even make it through something as basic as our highschool and public education system.  So generally the American public is lacking the intellegence to understand that the cover was humor but instead will see it as truth.  Come on man... 39% of the public believes that Obama went to an Islamic school, 12% believe that he is muslim and that he was sworn in on the Koran.  COME ON!  If the American public is stupid enough to believe this right-wing crap then I don't have much belief in them to understand that this is just a joke.  However I would make a stereotypical statement and make the assumption that those who have subscriptions to the New Yorker tend to have a greater intellegence and can handle this, but since it has become a national "news" story, I just don't think the American public can comprehend the true meaning of the cover and this will just support the idea that Obama is a Muslim and that hey "this lefty magazine even says Obama is a crazy muslim."  Which will just support their ignorance and maybe even make more people (not just the crazy ass die-hard repubs) think he is a muslim and in turn vote for McCain.

by Das Gimp on 07/15/2008 08:10:23 AM EST