The Troublemaking Cartoon: We Know Who Is Meant by the Chimp Now But Is That All?
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 12:21 
A cartoon likening the author of the stimulus bill with the rampaging chimpanzee that was shot dead in Thursday's New York Post has been the subject of much discussion in the States. The cartoon depicts two police officers standing over the dead chimp, with one of them saying, “They'll have to find someone else to write the next bill.” According to some politicians and various human rights organizations, the chimpanzee was supposed to represent President Obama and that this depiction was an unacceptably racist move by the New York Post that exceeded the limits of freedom of expression. Other criticisms included the fact that making fun of a situation in which a woman was seriously hurt was not appropriate.
A day after the cartoon crisis and hundreds of demonstrators' complaints, an official response came from the New York Post: “It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. But it has been taken as something else – as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism. This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.” Unfortunately, the following statement makes this apology conditional: “However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with the Post in the past – and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due.” These last two sentences may be a tactical step by the newspaper in order to get out from under taking responsibility by calling attention to those who 'benefited from the situation' as the real trigger for raising the issue. At this point, I understand the newspaper's concern regarding the intention of the cartoon and appreciate the apology but making an apology conditional without being specific about the "some in the media and in public life," one is addressing overshadows the sincerity of the apology. In addition to this, I also agree with the criticism that it is absolutely not ethical to use such a dramatic event after which the chimp victim was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic, which performed the first successful face transplant in the United States of America. The Post's editorial team should have considered the seriousness of the situation before publishing the cartoon.
Some remember the cartoon crisis that took place between Muslims and the Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper, that published Mohammed cartoons in 2005. As we all remember, months-long protests targeted Israeli, Danish and American flags and embassies around the world. Even after what the protesters wanted – an apology from the newspaper – came in January 2006, the publication of similar cartoons by others re-strained relations. Yes, this recent cartoon has been the most controversial one since the 2005 crisis. However, in terms of freedom of expression, I do not think that the two cases are comparable. Although both newspapers have apologized to those who felt offended, the misunderstanding of what had been intended by the New York Post is somewhat different to the offense caused to Muslims that picturing the prophet Mohammed caused. The real reaction behind the 2005 cartoon crisis was not that the pictures showed Mohammed as a 'terrorist' , but that he was pictured for any reason. We should take this fine distinction into consideration before comparing these two cases.
At the end of the day, the apology of from the New York Post is likely to diminish the tension. However the criticisms --- that the New York Post's editors should have realised that the chimp could be perceived as Obama himself (and by extension whether shooting Obama was being encouraged), and that they should have considered the critical situation of the woman who was seriously hurt by the chimp --- are unlikely to end.
Reader Comments (20)
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of THE PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." -US Constitution
"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we DESPISE, we don't believe in it at all.” - Noam Chomsky
Emphasis added ;)
Here's what Harlem's Rev'd James David Manning had to say about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFU2EANnx6Q
LOL and once again NAACP and all the other group can make something into nothing. I could take a picture of a black marker. OMG YOU RACIST BIG YOU ARE TRYING TO IN SLAVE US AGAIN. My buddies at work laugh at these people o ya and they are black. They just trying to get in the news showing off trying to act bad. WHO GIVES A R A T S A Z Z
You nailed it UJ! I'm actually shocked that the ACLU isn't in fact defending the 1st amendment right of the newspaper in this situation! (Yeah right)..
Are there racism issues? Absolutely. Without a doubt it does still exist and that is truly a shame. What's embarrassing is watching people, Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson, and organizations such as the NAACP do everything they can to keep it alive! That is their sole income stream and they aren't going to let it go!
Personally I found the cartoon extremely thought provoking and on some level even a challenge to the intelligence of the American public. Meaning.. Do you as an "informed" voter understand that it's actually Congress that writes the legislation (Legislative Branch) and not the POTUS? He only signs it into law or even has the opportunity to veto the bill. Anyone who saw the cartoon and went down the racism route was only showing a reflection of their own feelings and beliefs. Its a powerful cartoon that can do that.
I suppose any racist column or cartoon published in a newspaper should be considered speech in America - but it doesn't make it ethical.
Editors are gatekeepers - and in this case, the editor, not the cartoonist, should be fired.
The editor made a huge error in judgement, and while he made a conditional apology, he clearly doesn't see anything wrong.
Here are some where he may find a job
http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/ArabCartoons.htm
I saw the cartoon and thought it was meant for Congress (as in a room full of monkeys)! Get off your racial high horse and get on to more important things. Unless you are looking for a bribe like Jesse Jackson got from budweiser for his kids.
The artist is just trying to take Attorney General Holder's advice and stop being a coward. Holder said that we should talk openly about these issues. So what if the artist is calling Obama a chimp? (Which is, of course, a ridiculous notion, but...) Isn't this what Holder was calling for?
See Holder, this is why we don't talk. Because the second we say something, Jesse, Al, and the NAACP are right there to throw us under the bus. Conversations? I'd rather just smile and not be accused of being racist.
The truth is, the ball is in your court. (I'm sorry if my use of a basketball metaphor indirectly implies that I think all blacks play basketball or that this is the only type of metaphor they can understand) Stop with the ridiculous accusations!
Word UJ and TC
Where were these defenders of the office when manchurian candidate was released?
Many people must have slept through American History class. Spot on with regard to who does what and writes what in DC...
Ignorance is bliss until it hits your 401k:_)
Our Attorney General said the other day that we are a country of cowards when it comes to race, and the response to this cartoon is why we are scared to talk about race.
Everything can be racist if you interpret it that way.
These organizations and people who are protesting this cartoon blow up at every chance and most people just ignore their responses now.
And seriously any American who saw this as racists needs to sit back and realize that they are morons. Congress rights the bills, not the President.
Just with that statement alone you know this cartoon is not about Obama.
People just need to chill out.
And as a black comedian once said: Some black people get worked up when they wake up in the morning and their milk is white.
I find it amusing that the NAACP along with Al can always seem to bring back up race along with Holder. This was a thought provoking cartoon about our political system as a whole or are they not educated enough to see this. Its people like them who make people hate each other before getting all the facts. It was a cartoon people if you don't have a sense of humor dont read it. I once heard a comedian say that the only people who are intelligent are the ones with a sense of humor. Because he said, they get it.
I don't know about everyone else, but I'll be calling the NAACP and let them know how I feel about Todd Jealous demanding that Sean Delonas be fired for his cartoon.
Mr. Delonas did nothing wrong and there was NOTHING racist regarding his cartoon. I just hope everyone else that agrees calls the NAACP and tell them the same thing. I'm just sick and tired of this.
This is why everyone is a coward mr attorney general, It is a stinking cartoon and besides Pelosi and Reid wrote the Pork package and I think it looks a lot like her
It's a cartoon! For goodness sakes.. Talk about seeing things through racism colored glasses! I know there is racism in the world (not just thins country), but my question is... who is more racist than Al Sharpton and Spike Lee?
The only one's who find this a racist cartoon, are racists!!!!!
The cartoon depicts our CONGRESS (who are the ones who actually pen the laws, The President signs the laws) as a bunch of Monkeys!!!
Which if you look at the whole stimulus bill is pretty damn accurate.
1987 called, and they want Sharpton and Lee back. And the NAACP? Please... I don't consider myself 'colored'. Let us, youth, gifted with enlightenment, who don't care what race/religion you are, and who are intelligent enough to see this grandstanding for what it is, come into our own with yesterday's BS.
@ UJ and TC: Explain to me how The Post’s freedom of speech rights are at risk over this. No one is taking or contemplating any legal action.
@ david, GLC, Disgusted and Cromwell: What “someone” do you think of when somebody mentions the Stimulus Bill?
And finally, this was a horrific attack! The victim needs a new face! How could ANYONE believe that this cartoon was in good taste?
I think of the insane congressional people that keep spending OUR money. I felt the same when George W was president and I feel the same way now. Again, I find it so unbelievable how every Noun, Verb, Pronoun Adjective etc.. now means something different to certain races, creeds, religions or what ever.
What makes this country great is freedom of Speech!!! Regardless of who or whom it may or may not offend.
The cartoon did not show the chimp mauling anyone. The cartoon showed a dead chimp. The cartoonist suggested that the folks who wrote the stimulus bill are a bunch of monkeys. That is the beginning the middle and the end. Shame on You Ernie Mercer, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Spike Lee, NAACP etc for suggesting it is was anything more then that.
To those who are protesting congress spending our money to get this country back on track. Where were you when president bush was "appropriating" money for his illegal war in Iraq? Billions wasted, paid to contractors for work not done, some carried off in bags and no one knows where it went. Where were you when Paulson rammed through TARP without any oversight giving 750 billion to the banks so they could lend money and the banks used that money to buy other banks and they even fired Americans and hired foreigners to replace those workers. Where were you? President Obama has a clear plan to get this country back on track by providing jobs for people who can't buy groceries, can't pay their mortgages. He is trying to help people stay in their houses, and what did bush do when all of this was coming down, nothing. We finally have an adult in the White House who wants to do the right thing for America. We need to support him and his administration.
Hannah I want you to actually read the appropriations in that bill. Yes some money goes for things that will stimulate. However a huge portion is indeed fat, pork etc. If you read my last post I felt the same way under the Bush Admin.
And this country was forged from capitalism. Like it or not!!! Earning your keep is the american way, or was the american way!!!. Now we bailout anyone and everyone who has foolishly spent more money then they have, knowing borrowed more money then they can ever pay back. Lent money knowing so that they could make a buck quick even though they knew down the road it would end up defaulting.
People, Gov't is not a business that generates money. It is a process to which we the american tax payer fund. any program etc costs money and WE the tax payer pay the bill. So I am sorry If I am paying a bill I usually look at it pretty damn close. This is not about Obama or Bush. CONGRESS who we elect have for years been careless and foolish with OUR money. Yet we keep allowing them to spend more of it for wastefull needless things.
For those of you who are in your 20's you will be paying for this till your 60's!!!
That is the true fallout from all this. The economy will come back. There is a recession every 10 years or so. That is nothing new. It is a checks and balances system that on occassion falters to clean out the sludge. But it recovers.
You cannot bail out everyone who willingly tries to cheat the system.
And most of all you need to make accountable those who knowingly borrowed, lent, cheated etc. From the common person to the investment CEO. If they are guilty they should be made accountable.
Hannah,
Support this administration in doing what? Starting a spending spree designed to make cash-strapped people buy more stuff on credit? Yeah...a great idea.