Comments on: Maddow & Alter: “The New Yorker cover is irresponsible because they should know that Americans are too stupid to understand it.” http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:07:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mw http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-412028 mw Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:47:44 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-412028 @MarkD Yes, this is consistent with the elitist views of some of the "clever articulate" Obama supporters on the left who believe that not supporting Obama is prima facie evidence of racism. Of course, MarkD's observation - if true - undermines completely the argument that this magazine cover was irresponsible because it might unduly influence all those poor uneducated "low-information" voters that Maddow, Alter and their ilk are so concerned about. If they are really all racists as Mark D thinks, they were never ever going to vote for Obama anyway, and the magazine cover had no effect. None. Although I don't have MarkD's ability to look into their souls and determine their motivations, I will agree that if they are answering a poll that way - they are not going to vote for him - regardless of whether they accidentally see the New Yorker magazine cover. I'll take it one step further. Not one single voter will decide to vote against Obama because of that magazine cover. None. It is a patently absurd assertion. On the other hand, many might choose to vote for him because it reinforces how truly ridiculous the rabid right claims about Obama really are. Which then begs the question... What is the real objection and source of the emotional over-reaction to this cover? Since MarkD has opened the door to speculations about motivations, I'll jump right in... Perhaps the real motivation behind the deep emotional reaction can be attributed to "true believers" seeing the image of a quasi-religious savior figure portrayed disrespectfully by apostate liberals. When unbelievers say these things, well - they are going to burn in hell anyway. But when it comes from one of your own - even in jest - Blasphemy! Heresy! Burn them at the stake! @MarkD
Yes, this is consistent with the elitist views of some of the “clever articulate” Obama supporters on the left who believe that not supporting Obama is prima facie evidence of racism.

Of course, MarkD’s observation – if true – undermines completely the argument that this magazine cover was irresponsible because it might unduly influence all those poor uneducated “low-information” voters that Maddow, Alter and their ilk are so concerned about. If they are really all racists as Mark D thinks, they were never ever going to vote for Obama anyway, and the magazine cover had no effect. None.

Although I don’t have MarkD’s ability to look into their souls and determine their motivations, I will agree that if they are answering a poll that way – they are not going to vote for him – regardless of whether they accidentally see the New Yorker magazine cover.

I’ll take it one step further. Not one single voter will decide to vote against Obama because of that magazine cover. None. It is a patently absurd assertion. On the other hand, many might choose to vote for him because it reinforces how truly ridiculous the rabid right claims about Obama really are.

Which then begs the question… What is the real objection and source of the emotional over-reaction to this cover? Since MarkD has opened the door to speculations about motivations, I’ll jump right in…

Perhaps the real motivation behind the deep emotional reaction can be attributed to “true believers” seeing the image of a quasi-religious savior figure portrayed disrespectfully by apostate liberals. When unbelievers say these things, well – they are going to burn in hell anyway. But when it comes from one of your own – even in jest – Blasphemy! Heresy! Burn them at the stake!

]]> By: Mark D http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411832 Mark D Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:32:58 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411832 "Just don't like him" ... hmmm.. Wouldn't you expect your hypothetical clever, articulate folks who "just don't like him" to share the REAL reasons they don't like him, instead of FAKE reasons? ("haez a daim moos-lim!!").. Unless ... could it be ... that they are just hard core RACISTS who are only just smart enough to be embarrassed by the reasons why they "just don't like him" ?? Sigh. It's sad, but not surprising, to find yet another proof that at least 1 person in 8 is a hard-core racist. -Mark “Just don’t like him” … hmmm..

Wouldn’t you expect your hypothetical clever, articulate folks who “just don’t like him” to share the REAL reasons they don’t like him, instead of FAKE reasons? (”haez a daim moos-lim!!”)..

Unless … could it be … that they are just hard core RACISTS who are only just smart enough to be embarrassed by the reasons why they “just don’t like him” ??

Sigh. It’s sad, but not surprising, to find yet another proof that at least 1 person in 8 is a hard-core racist.

-Mark

]]> By: Two short beeps http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411790 Two short beeps Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:37:36 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411790 She's right, American voters are too stupid to separate fact from fiction. Some of them probably believe he's a member of the Cult of Cthulhu. http://necrobamacon.blogspot.com She’s right, American voters are too stupid to separate fact from fiction. Some of them probably believe he’s a member of the Cult of Cthulhu.

http://necrobamacon.blogspot.com

]]> By: Galen http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411787 Galen Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:10:43 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411787 look at the bigger picture.....it'll make more people aware of his actual beliefs...yes the new yorker took a hit, but they did it on purpose. these are not fools and knew what would happen. they did it on purpose. In my opinion it was a brilliant move. look at the bigger picture…..it’ll make more people aware of his actual beliefs…yes the new yorker took a hit, but they did it on purpose. these are not fools and knew what would happen. they did it on purpose. In my opinion it was a brilliant move.

]]> By: Dennis C. http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411785 Dennis C. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:36:53 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411785 The 12% do not have to be stupid. All they have to do is watch the wrong TV stations, listen to the wrong radio stations, and/or browse the wrong web sites. It's far to easy to ignore anyone that doesn't hold your own point of view. The 12% do not have to be stupid. All they have to do is watch the wrong TV stations, listen to the wrong radio stations, and/or browse the wrong web sites. It’s far to easy to ignore anyone that doesn’t hold your own point of view.

]]> By: James Fuller http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411783 James Fuller Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:17:57 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411783 Heh, I thought it was brilliant satire--skewering in a single picture both what the loony Right fears (with such pleasurable frisson) that Obama is, and what all the Che-tshirt-wearing fashionistas on the loony Left hoped and once believed that he is but now (viz. all the "Betrayer!" posts on kos and elsewhere) increasingly fear he is not. Heh, I thought it was brilliant satire–skewering in a single picture both what the loony Right fears (with such pleasurable frisson) that Obama is, and what all the Che-tshirt-wearing fashionistas on the loony Left hoped and once believed that he is but now (viz. all the “Betrayer!” posts on kos and elsewhere) increasingly fear he is not.

]]> By: mw http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411781 mw Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:49:23 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411781 @southsidered I think it is closer to 24%. 12% on the right that think Obama is a Muslim 12% on the left that think McCain is George Bush. The point is not whether there are stupid people, The point is the pervasive condescending attitude on the left that believe it is important to dumb down magazine covers to make sure that stupid Americans don't get the wrong idea about Obama. @southsidered

I think it is closer to 24%.

12% on the right that think Obama is a Muslim

12% on the left that think McCain is George Bush.

The point is not whether there are stupid people, The point is the pervasive condescending attitude on the left that believe it is important to dumb down magazine covers to make sure that stupid Americans don’t get the wrong idea about Obama.

]]> By: southsidered http://donklephant.com/2008/07/16/maddow-alter-the-new-yorker-cover-is-irresponsible-because-they-should-know-that-americans-are-too-supid-to-understand-it/comment-page-1/#comment-411767 southsidered Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:45:09 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=6334#comment-411767 I can easily believe that at least 12% of people are very stupid. What would your estimate be? I can easily believe that at least 12% of people are very stupid. What would your estimate be?

]]>