The Nation responds to The New Yorker

For those who haven't seen it, here is a cartoon appearing in the August 4th issue of The Nation.  It's not clear that this will be the cover image. As the cartoon may (and probably is) subject to Copyright (and really because I don't know how to embed photos), I'll just provide the link.

http://www.thenation.com/...

I think it's pretty damn funny.  And as someone who was seriously contemplating ways of reinstituting the Gulag for The New Yorker's Editorial staff, and as an avid Nation reader I admit I find it's discomfiting for me to disagree with Katrina Vanden Heuvel on such a topic:

While I understand why many object to this cartoon--and to images which they believe reinforce stereotypes (and there are many at The Nation who found the New Yorker cartoon offensive), I believe satire--even if it flops or offends --has a place in our culture and politics. But why not listen to the cartoonists? We asked a few of our regulars to help us think through the controversy--from their perspective.

Interviews with cartoonists follow. Steve Brodner makes a good point:

So basically we have the Wolf Blitzers pretending not to get this to rev up ratings which rely, largely, on the "outrage of the day." However, in that process a dialogue is forced, satire is discussed, the truth about Obama is put on the table. And so, even if it's taking the long way to get there, Barry Blitt's strong image does what we need it to do: put these issues up for discussion and in a very real way, educate America

My view is still that the New Yorker made a colossal misjudgment. Still, after a few days to sleep on it, I'm admittedly less concerned.  I guess there's a reason our memories are hardwired to fade over time. The point of this Diary was really to highlight the cartoon. I haven't seen it Diaried yet, but if it was, I apologize.