Obama: O'Bama to Ireland?

Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008 9:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Obama

Will Obama add a stop in Ireland for domestic politics purposes? "House aides confirmed yesterday that Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) is encouraging Obama to add a visit to Ireland to his agenda, holding the nation out as a model of conflict resolution. Appearing there would also serve as a boost for Obama among the tens of millions of Irish in the United States."

VIDEO: Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. A Race for the White House panel discusses: What does Obama gain from going abroad?

The Washington Post's Broder helps drive the narrative that Obama's moved TOO fast too soon since he's still too unknown. "Obama is making it hard for the Republicans to figure out how to attack him. The risk for him is if he also frustrates the voters who need to understand what makes him tick. They don't elect enigmas to the Oval Office."

MoDo skewers Obama on the decision to throw the kids' interview with Access Hollywood under the bus. "The bad news and the good news is that Obama can be opportunistic. He’s more pragmatic than dogmatic. He’s flexible and a bit of a situationalist. If Bill Clinton weren’t still sulking, he would appreciate Obama’s emulation of his style in ’92, taking a bit from the left and a bit from the right. The self-pitying Bill and the self-flagellating Barack both need to take a cue from the Obama girls. Asked by Ms. Menounos, ‘What could you guys do that Mommy and Daddy would get really mad at?” Malia and Sasha replied in unison: ‘Whining.’”

The New York Daily News is out of the gate with a story on the sure-to-be controversial New Yorker cover depicting Obama in Muslim garb fist-pounding an Afro'd AK-47 donning Michelle in the Oval Office, which happens to have a picture of bin Laden on the wall and an American flag in the fire place. The Daily News' cover: "Not so funny."

"The magazine's editor described the cartoon, called 'The Politics of Fear,' as satire. The Obama campaign called it 'tasteless and offensive.'" The McCain camp agreed. New Yorker editor David Remnick seemed shocked by the backlash. 'Our cover ... combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are,' he said in a statement. 'The burning flag, the nationalist-radical and Islamic outfits, the fist-bump, the portrait on the wall - all of them echo one attack or another. Satire is part of what we do, and it is meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to the absurd. And that's the spirit of this cover,' Remnick said. The magazine does not explain the cover. Inside are lengthy stories that look at how Chicago politics shaped the candidate and at allegations that he flip-flops on major issues."

"Obama unveiled a proposal on Sunday to give $6 billion a year in tax credits to small businesses that provide health insurance plans," Reuters reports. "In a speech to Latino voters of the National Council of La Raza in San Diego, Obama gave credit for the idea to Sen. Hillary Clinton."

Politico: "Schwarzenegger told ABC's 'This Week' he's considering the idea of serving in Obama's administration, but said the chances of him taking the role are 'hypothetical.'"

Newsweek focuses on Obama's religious journey. (By the way, how many times has Obama already been on the cover of Newsweek? Has he passed Dubya yet?) "The story of Obama's religious journey is a uniquely American tale. It's one of a seeker, an intellectually curious young man trying to cobble together a religious identity out of myriad influences. Always drawn to life's Big Questions, Obama embarked on a spiritual quest in which he tried to reconcile his rational side with his yearning for transcendence. He found Christ—but that hasn't stopped him from asking questions. ‘I'm on my own faith journey and I'm searching,’ he says. ‘I leave open the possibility that I'm entirely wrong.’”

Are the Obama-JFK comparisons real or imagined? And is this just typical of what Dems do to their nominees EVERY four years?

Just how real is this disappointment from the left regarding Obama?

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Comments

isnt there a danger in letting the world knowin advance where obama is going on his world tour?

mccain has missed more votes in the senate then any other senator
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/mccain-hasnt-voted-in-the-senate-since-april-8-2008/
or http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:22 AM)

So, FR, we going to go on another long string of fluffy and positive Obama stories again?

GT Tullmen, Chicago (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:24 AM)

Ireland? Barack should be focused on getting a good Vice President. There is a weekly 2008 Vice President Poll at http://www.votenic.com so see who America thinks should back the candidates.

NEW "UNDECIDED" OPTION IN POLL

John, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:25 AM)

On the New Yorker cover-I saw it and it is rather tasteless but that's the New Yorker. There are those that will see it and say "this is crazy because they are NONE of those things depicted" and then there are others that will say "see, I told you so". People who weren't going to vote for him in the first place for whatever reason are going to see that cover as a way to solidify their position. On the other hand those that are, are going to see it for what it's meant to be seen as.

As for Obama not taking the time to do the interview on Access Hollywood, it could have damaging effects but if you think about it, he's trying to get the word out about exactly who he is and that's not easy. Kids already know who he is it's their parents who he has to show.

Arnold on Obama's cabinet...wouldn't THAT be a hoot!

Slow news day already VA (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:25 AM)

Since I am Irish, I hope that Senator Obama does visit Ireland. The thing that SHOULD interest him is Ireland's economy, referred to as the Celtic tiger. I would ask question after question. Ireland took advantage of the promise of the European Union and grew their economy to the envy of other countries.

As for David Broder? Don't speak for this voter. Obama is not an enigma. The puzzle is how the current idiot got into office.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:25 AM)

NY Daily News finally sees the Obamas for what they really are. A truer depiction could not have been made.

Thanks and peace.

Don Ana (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:27 AM)

The New Yorker cover is offensive. I'd stop my subscription, but I don't subscribe to it, however I'll request my parents stop their subscription. Despite subscribing prior to my birth (close to 50 years) this cover is beyond the pale.

Megan South Bend, Ind (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:28 AM)

>> isnt there a danger in letting the world knowin advance where obama is going on his world tour? <<

The only danger is that no one will care, which no one does. Two-bit flunkies like Obama are always passing through.

Crimson Tide (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:28 AM)

The New Yorker cover COULD be funny - in another 50 years. However in the United States today, not enough people are going to get the joke. They are going to see it as a confirmation - and that is sad and dangerous. It was a BAD idea.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:29 AM)

Actually the question for MSNBC and First Read is are you going to denounce and reject the New Yorker cover. This goes to the ethics of journalism. MSNBC is not so pure as they call Obama "Cocky" Who will show leadership in the journalism world by staying on issues and not participating in personal attacks.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:30 AM)

you can be sure the tight wing rethugnutz swiftboaters will use the new york cover and proclaim it to be true but America is too smart for their bs. remember every lie they told about kerry was investigated and found to be FALSE just like every lie they told about how the clintons trashed the whitehouse before clinton left office was found to be FALSE yet they keep telling their lies over and over.

thats a fact jack (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:30 AM)

I was shocked by the new cover of ‘The New Yorker‘. It depicts the Obamas standing in the Oval office fist bumping, as machine gun toting terrorists, with Barack in a turban dressed like an Islamo fascist, and Michelle with a huge Angela Davis type afro, and wearing army boots, with a picture of Bin Laden on the wall, and the American flag burning in the fire place.

My mouth dropped. My heart broke.

The magazine is defending the cover as political satire. Scarborough thinks it’s funny. Mika, and Barnacle don’t. I find it nakedly malicious.

True satire is stretching an envelope in which resides the spirit of truth. This, as Mrs. Obama has rightly said, is mean.

It will backfire. People will show their solidarity with Barack's campaign, and stop buying the magazine. It’s circulation will go down.

Some voters who are not yet Obama supporters, will be offended, and this will be the catalyst that pushes them into his column.

donna (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:34 AM)

Where's the story about Obama's editorial in the NYT today?

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:37 AM)

It would be wonderful if Sen Obama can stop in Ireland as part of his overseas trip. He is enormously popular there and can even claim some Irish ancestry. Its population is young and well educated as are many of his ardent followers assuring a very warm welcome.

As for that awful cover on the New Yorker magazine, it is not satire or funny, only serving to reinforce right wing lies. I hope they do a cover on McCain depicting his flipflops and all the votes he's missed especially on last week's Medicare bill.

gmhussein, Jupiter, Fl (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:37 AM)

It's not he cover it is the content. Anyone who uses that cover as validation is frankly an idiot. The article itself (I understand) is about the rediculous rumors..not debating whether any of them are true.

CJ (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:38 AM)

Isn't O'Bama and Irish name? You know, like O'Mally.

justthinkinoutloud (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:43 AM)

Lets see
OK so as an Irishman i am suppose to be enamored with Obama for visiting Ireland? What am I in high school....
Give me a break really what are they teaching in journalism class?

And i would be careful putting Ireland forward as an example of conflict resolution remember there was 80 years of sectarian violence there before the conflict was resolved.

GDI in Michigan (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 9:57 AM)

I agree where is the Obama NY Times Op

Lyn (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:00 AM)

Some voters who are not yet Obama supporters, will be offended, and this will be the catalyst that pushes them into his column.

Don't bet on it Donna. The cover was extremely tasteless and offensive, but I doubt someone will change their vote out of sympathy. It would be different if it was a right wing attack, but that's not the case.

Pete (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:00 AM)

Most of all—DO NO HARM!!

The cover of the New Yorker is harmful—not cute.

It will do more harm than good. Don't we have enough problems already!

Andrea, New York City (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:19 AM)

The New Yorker cover smells like a trashy Republican hit job.

Norm, Columbia MD (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:24 AM)

Once again some media outlet has taken it upon their own to try and shape the decisions of the voters. It is amazing that the media does not focus on using their influence for good or just information.

What will be informative is if another media outlet monitors and reports how that cover affects the New Yorker in the next few months.

Disappointed yet again (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:37 AM)

> Don't bet on it Donna.

donna is nothing more then a Obama apologist. Barack could do Bernie Macs stand up routine behind at a Presidental podium, and she'd find some way, at least in her mind, to justify it. donna has zero credibility.

Pete Staark, CA (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:43 AM)

I think that cover is a disgrace. How would the repubs feel if they featured McCain leaned over a walker with cancer on his face muttering, "I can't remember , I can't remember" and his wife dressed as a common floozy helping him move? Not nice at all.

Helena Clearwater, FL (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 10:48 AM)

I think that things are generally as they seem. The New Yorker's cover is ment to be tastless and would have appeal to the kind of people that love the "shock and awe" style of communication. I understand there are people who will change their vote to the opposite political party philosophy because they want to make a statement that their candidate did not meet muster during the primaries and they are mad. Some people live for controversy.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 11:39 AM)

I "get" the cover--heck, I even find it funny. However, the New Yorker's editors are living in a bubble if they couldn't see that the satire involved would fly straight over the heads of far too many people in the current charged political atmosphere. The fact that most of those people are probably not readers of The New Yorker is unimportant, given the wide circulation of images via the Internet. I think it would probably have been fine if they had used the picture as an interior illustration accompanying a story about fallacious rumors, but using it as the cover was a mistake.

Michael Sheridan, Sacramento, CA (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 12:20 PM)

I don't think that I heard any comparrisons between Kerry and JFK in 2004. As I recall, I don't think Clinton got any either. I have heard that there were some between Obama and Lincoln as well as Obama and JFK that was mentioned before.

The New Yorker's cover art is just plain weird. I don't recall hearing anything about Michelle Obama advocating violence and carrying a gun of some sort. There was one picture of Obama wearing garb from a group in Africa (Kenya I think) that they could have drawn from. I just don't think that this is really a good example of satire.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 12:56 PM)

"How would the repubs feel if they featured McCain leaned over a walker with cancer on his face muttering, "I can't remember , I can't remember" and his wife dressed as a common floozy helping him move?"

If the extremely distasteful and inappropriate New Yorker cover is Ok as satire, then the mag is pretty much obligated to do the same sort of "satirical" McCain cover, as so aptly described by Helena from Clearwater. Would they dare?

Charlie Tallahassee (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 1:16 PM)

obama is a Muslim name just like Osama

Independent texan (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 1:26 PM)

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