The Nappy Cat Chronicles

Election '08: The Obama New Yorker Cover

I’m with Larison:

Sullivan says that “the notion that most Americans are incapable of seeing that [it is satire] strikes me as excessively paranoid and a little condescending,” but it is not so much a question of capability as it is one of willingness.  Some people will see it as a confirmation of what they already believe or suspect, others will “get” it but still find it outrageous, and still others may understand that the intent was satire but will still come away with the impression that there could be some element of truth to the stereotyping.  The fairly small number who just laugh at it and think that it skewers smear artists will not begin to offset the number of people who will either take offense or take the image all together too seriously.

But, Larison misses an important segment: The rightwing AM yockels. They will be told that this cover is further evidence that it’s the “libruls” who have engaged in the most vile racism this election. And they will believe it.