The New Yorker cartoon controversy has many people debating the boundaries of political satire. Would the magazine have used smears about a Catholic or Jewish candidate for parody? (I doubt it; sadly there is still less sensitivity to bigotry against Muslims.) Would it take the same tack against John McCain? (Never.) The best defense, for comics and journalists alike, is dishing it out equally. And Obama may have come out okay anyway, as the forthcoming Nation cover suggests.

Meanwhile a brand new JibJab video, released Wednesday morning, skewers both nominees, the Bushes, the Clintons and a few other folks along the way. Viewers can even upload themselves into the frame for viral ridicule. Some parts are funny, several items are in poor taste -- especially a segment of Sen. McCain in the hospital -- but it's all a bit more balanced than the New Yorker's one-sided smear routine.

JibJab - Time for Some Campaignin'

Comments (27)

1. Good stuff, humor.

   Good for the soul.

   Posted by Benchrest at 07/16/2008 @ 11:20am

2. "Would it take the same tack against John McCain? (Never.)"

   If you haven't noticed, we've long been in an era where religious people as religious people, particularly Christian people, have begun putting up with a kind of bigotry that would make Julius Streicher blush. You'll find it proudly and unabashedly displayed wherever "progressive" bloggers congregate. Why just about a week ago the Nation's own contributor, Alexander Cockburn, called for the reinstitution of the Roman persecution of Christians at his blog, Counterpunch. Funny what "progressive" ideology manages to posit, isn't it. And the enlightened editorial page of the New York Times a few years back gave us that Nazi era classic, "they brought it on themselves", when excusing the behavior of gay activists who had desecrated a Mass at St. Patricks by throwing consecrated hosts on the floor. Oh, I wouldn't worry about Muslims being singled out by the effete left. They've got a lot of company.

   Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 12:09pm

3. Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 12:09pm

   oooh.

   the nazi's have already appeared. and it's only the second post!

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/16/2008 @ 12:12pm

4. If you haven't noticed, we've long been in an era where religious people as religious people, particularly Christian people, have begun putting up with a kind of bigotry that would make Julius Streicher blush. You'll find it proudly and unabashedly displayed wherever "progressive" bloggers congregate. Why just about a week ago the Nation's own contributor, Alexander Cockburn, called for the reinstitution of the Roman persecution of Christians at his blog, Counterpunch. Funny what "progressive" ideology manages to posit, isn't it. And the enlightened editorial page of the New York Times a few years back gave us that Nazi era classic, "they brought it on themselves", when excusing the behavior of gay activists who had desecrated a Mass at St. Patricks by throwing consecrated hosts on the floor. Oh, I wouldn't worry about Muslims being singled out by the effete left. They've got a lot of company. Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 12:09pm

   Oh God. Here come Christians playing the victim again. You guys are the second largest religion in the world. You are the first largest in the US. Most people in this country are Christian. You're talking about racism because the New York time says they brought it on themselves. How about your insane evangelicals saying that Katrina was a punishment for New Orleans sinning? Isn't that essentially saying they brought it on themselves? Sooo you get all up in arms and play the victim because a couple of homosexuals went into a church and threw some consecrated materials on the ground, which are only sacred to those who actually believe the religion, yet you are willing to say that the people in New Orleans brought it on themselves. Shows the mentality of those who are so religious they have become deluded.

   Religion thrives on being the victim. It seems like religious people are always trying to paint themselves to be the minority. I'm sorry to break it to you but your sect of religion in the US is the biggest. You are not being persecuted. You live in a country that is essentially run by Christians. Progressives are majority Christian, Independents and Republicans are majority Christian. You live in a majority Christian country where the majority of ideals heard are yours. This country is so Christian in fact that we have never had a President who was not Protestant. if you propose us having something other than a Protestant President everyone gets a little iffy.

   You have just as many wack job bigots in your group as any other group in the world so stop trying to pretend you are the victim. YOU are not the victim. Sure the anti-religious dump out consecrated materials. The religious have slung up teenagers on fences and bombed abortion clinics. Those are your fringe, the people who dump consecrated host on the ground are the non-religious fringe.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 12:53pm

5. 'No, no, no. God damn America!' -- Rev. Jeremiah Wright

   'I'm gonna cut his nuts out.' -- Rev. Jesse Jackson

   'For years, Democrats have been trying to shed their secular image in order to appeal to voters who think Jesus is a Republican. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because now, thanks to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the Democrats have got religion and everything that comes with it -- weirdness, wrath, insult, blowhardiness, vanity, paranoia, divisiveness and trouble.' -- Katha Pollitt -- The Nation -- 30 April, 2008

   'Oh God. Here come Christians playing the victim again.' -- Cccomfo1

   'I find your lack of faith disturbing.' -- Darth Vader

   Posted by HonestLiberal at 07/16/2008 @ 1:26pm

6. 'This country is so Christian in fact that we have never had a President who was not Protestant.' -- Cccomfo1

   'May I quote you on that sir, and if not, what part of your statement are you embarrassed by?' -- Sen. John Kennedy -- Kefauver hearings

   Posted by HonestLiberal at 07/16/2008 @ 1:33pm

7. Two of the main goals of the 14 July revolution, which had deep roots in the Iraqi people's struggle, were liberating Iraq from foreign domination and restoring sovereignty over its vast oil wealth that was plundered by British, French and US monopolies. Nothing better summed up that stance than the decision by the revolutionary government to pull out of the Baghdad Pact, a military alliance with Britain and the United States, as well as limiting energy exploitation by foreign oil companies to 0.5 per cent of the original oil concessions they received from the pre- revolution regime.

   <<<<<<

   it was fifty years ago today that tomorrow happened.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/16/2008 @ 1:35pm

8. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 12:53pm

   Well now aren't you just the most clearly bedsheeted pig, Cccmfol. No one's conned by your weasley attempts at obfuscation, bigot. Nothing, absolutely nothing can justify the disruption of that Mass by goons of the type that carried out that operation at St. Pat's, and the fact that you've tried makes you just the filthiest possible snake. You are literally the personification of every hateful, totalitarian impulse I made reference to above. Don't you ever make the mistake of replying to any other post I make here or I'll work you over regularly in a fashion you won't come to appreciate, count on it. In the meantime, wipe the slime off your antenna and find a crevice into which to crawl.

   Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 2:13pm

9. Well now aren't you just the most clearly bedsheeted pig, Cccmfol. No one's conned by your weasley attempts at obfuscation, bigot. Nothing, absolutely nothing can justify the disruption of that Mass by goons of the type that carried out that operation at St. Pat's, and the fact that you've tried makes you just the filthiest possible snake. You are literally the personification of every hateful, totalitarian impulse I made reference to above. Don't you ever make the mistake of replying to any other post I make here or I'll work you over regularly in a fashion you won't come to appreciate, count on it. In the meantime, wipe the slime off your antenna and find a crevice into which to crawl. Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 2:13pm

   Actually. I never said anything justified what thery did. I juxtaposed it. Keep spinning though you might convince some. I used to be Christian and I love religious studies. So you are completely wrong. Once again the religious attempting to play the victim though. YOu have yet to work me over john. All you have proven is your ignorance and ability to quickly jump to a wrong conclusion. I am no bigot. I love the study of religion and I think religion as a concept is good. I think mans interference in the workings of religion is what makes it a bad thing but that is for another discussion.

   Don't get your panties in a bunch because you are completely and utterly wrong. Think before you post. I never once said what they did was justified. I only juxtaposed it to the fact that people have died because of religious nutjobs. Where as the gays were only destroying material things. Nutjobs they are nonetheless they didn't hurt or kill anyone.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 2:43pm

10. Don't you ever make the mistake of replying to any other post I make here or I'll work you over regularly in a fashion you won't come to appreciate, count on it

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 2:13pm

    I love the arrogance displayed in this by the way. Can we all take note of that. He is positing that he is more capable than anyone else here of "working me over," I have tangoed with much more capable debaters than you john. I would take a debate with Jom, mary or Happy any day. They are informed and intelligent. You just repeat things I have heard million times. Happy and Jom have a tendency to come at things from different angles at actually present newer ideas that I inform me and can put a new light on something. You repeat the same diatribes I hear constantly from people who are fed what to think. Believe me john don't get so full of yourself to think that you are anyone's intellectual superior.

    Besides. It's a blog john. You working me over on the nation is not a thought that bothers me to even the most miniscule degree. Oh no someone I don't know on a blog telling me they are going to "work me over." I am terrified.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 3:03pm

11. I've definitely taken note of the arrogance. It irritates the hell out of me. While I do agree that Christians do get beat up at times on progressive sites(see Katha Pollit). I also must say alot of it is self-inflicted. If some Christians, right and left, wouldn't act as assholes(i.e. judgmental) half the time maybe people wouldn't be itching for a beatdown. Anyway, CCC, catholics regard anyone who is not a catholic to be protestant. I didn't know that until recently when my mom told me. I thought that was funny/interesting. Good point about the fringe on both sides.

    Posted by k330k at 07/16/2008 @ 3:12pm

12. Oh, what a sniveling little toad you are now that you've been called out. You turn stomach in ways that could only set a universal standard. Just so you know, pig, I'm not going to be dignifying your hate-filled vomit by engaging it, I'll just be calling it what it is wherever and whenever I see it, trust me.

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 3:43pm

13. Posted by k330k at 07/16/2008 @ 3:12pm

    What Klavern do you belong to k330k, a local one, or are you down in Mississippi somewhere?

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 3:57pm

14. Oh, what a sniveling little toad you are now that you've been called out. You turn stomach in ways that could only set a universal standard. Just so you know, pig, I'm not going to be dignifying your hate-filled vomit by engaging it, I'll just be calling it what it is wherever and whenever I see it, trust me. Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 3:43pm

    Whatever you say you ignorant peon. If you knew anything about me you would know you are a moron to make judgment calls about someone based on BLOG. I am going to do what you are obviously doing and make the judgement call that you have so little substance in your sad existence that THIS is where you feel you can judge others from the safety of your keyboard and from no actual knowledge of who the person is. Tell me one instance where I justified what they did?

    "Oh God. Here come Christians playing the victim again. You guys are the second largest religion in the world. You are the first largest in the US. Most people in this country are Christian. You're talking about racism because the New York time says they brought it on themselves. How about your insane evangelicals saying that Katrina was a punishment for New Orleans sinning? Isn't that essentially saying they brought it on themselves? Sooo you get all up in arms and play the victim because a couple of homosexuals went into a church and threw some consecrated materials on the ground, which are only sacred to those who actually believe the religion, yet you are willing to say that the people in New Orleans brought it on themselves. Shows the mentality of those who are so religious they have become deluded. Religion thrives on being the victim. It seems like religious people are always trying to paint themselves to be the minority. I'm sorry to break it to you but your sect of religion in the US is the biggest. You are not being persecuted. You live in a country that is essentially run by Christians. Progressives are majority Christian, Independents and Republicans are majority Christian. You live in a majority Christian country where the majority of ideals heard are yours. This country is so Christian in fact that we have never had a President who was not Protestant. if you propose us having something other than a Protestant President everyone gets a little iffy. You have just as many wack job bigots in your group as any other group in the world so stop trying to pretend you are the victim. YOU are not the victim. Sure the anti-religious dump out consecrated materials. The religious have slung up teenagers on fences and bombed abortion clinics. Those are your fringe, the people who dump consecrated host on the ground are the non-religious fringe. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 12:53pm"

    I even quoted the whole passage for you. Find me a quote where I say that what they did was right. You are an idiot john. And you continue to prove it on a daily basis. Go ahead call me a bigot. I find solace in the fact that in the my life you mean nothing to me. You don't know me so your opinion of me is about as good to me as that of Libzsux. Which is precisely zilch. Why don't you take your self-victimizing, arrogant, callous, and frankly ignorant mentality elsewhere where you might be slightly appreciated by people as proud of their own ignorance as you are.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 4:42pm

15. Notice john lowell never engages in intelligent debate. He only insults. Because he believes he is more intelligent than everyone here. He uses the tactics of a 5th grader when he is confronted with someone actually trying to posit an argument. He didn't bother to dispute what I said or what K33ok said. Instead he just called me a bigot and insulted K33ok. He is a mental midget who is incapable of posing any argument beyond the a-typical insult fest of his kind. Go away troll.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/16/2008 @ 4:45pm

16. Just so you know, pig, I'm not going to be dignifying your hate-filled vomit by engaging it,...

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 3:43pm

    Three contradictions in half a sentence. That has to be some kind of record.

    Let's hear it for Lowell who is "enveloped by the love of God..."

    A walking, talking Hypocrite.

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/16/2008 @ 6:10pm

17. Who is this Lowell guy and why isn't he on his meds?

    Everyone can see from the hate-filled fundamentalists of the US to the zealots of the Mideast (Jewish and Islamic) to the fascist Hindu politicians of India that religion can be nothing but divinely sanctioned bigotry in the wrong hands.

    And as Lowell's posts indicate, there are way too many bad hands around.

    Love the video

    Posted by tnathant at 07/16/2008 @ 7:00pm

18. So I work at a Whole Foods Market, and we have a set of customers, generally elderly, that like to a) give little pamphlets on Christ, Hell, God, etc... mostly to employees b) hide the pamphlets or cards among the merchandise in the store or c) and worse yet we have discovered anti abortion stickers affixed to doors, walls, etc, and are not easily removed. My question, WTF? and does this happen at other stores or is just the People's Republic of Whole Foods a target?

    We have several team members who have started collections of these items, one person with a collection of about 100 or so different items. It's to the point where I wish they would just have the balls to force their religion on me rather than this passive aggressive crap that just wastes paper.

    Though maybe its time to return the favor and go to a church or lifeway christan store and hide and handout things about saving tibet or shinto spirits.

    It annoys me though because I'm a captive audience and can't get huffy about this, its rude, it wastes papers, and sometimes (like the stickers) its vandalism. Honestly I don't care what the message is but its either Ron Paul or how much God loves me/ what will happen when I die if i don't accept old J.C.

    Posted by Tzimisce at 07/16/2008 @ 7:17pm

19. Don't you ever make the mistake of replying to any other post I make here or I'll work you over regularly in a fashion you won't come to appreciate, count on it. In the meantime, wipe the slime off your antenna and find a crevice into which to crawl.

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 2:13pm

    Rawr!!!11!one!1 get off my lawn!

    Posted by Tzimisce at 07/16/2008 @ 7:25pm

20. Posted by Benchrest at 07/16/2008 @ 6:10pm

    Why don't you quote me accurately, filth? That's twice you've purposely distorted remarks I've made here. And you accuse me of hypocrisy? If you can't manage the personal integrity to get the text right - let alone the meaning - spare this board the judgements and the posturing with accompanying reference to scripture. You're an embarrassment.

    Posted by john lowell at 07/17/2008 @ 11:05am

21. Posted by john lowell at 07/17/2008 @ 11:05am

    Way to go John. You've managed to take a thread that should have been humorous and fun, and turned it into a fist fight. You need anger management in a bad way.

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/17/2008 @ 11:13am

22. Posted by Benchrest at 07/17/2008 @ 11:13am

    Aw, were you looking for fun, little fella? And I've stompted all over your exquisitely delicate sensibilities? Put a little note on your computer for tomorrow saying, "Tomorrow, I'll be honest when I quote people. I promise I won't distort their meaning, and above all, I won't try to dignify my dishonesty by associating it with Holy Scripture or my faith." Maybe the sunshine will return and you can go out to play again. Imagine.

    Posted by john lowell at 07/17/2008 @ 12:21pm

23. Don't you ever make the mistake of replying to any other post I make here or I'll work you over regularly in a fashion you won't come to appreciate, count on it.

    Posted by john lowell at 07/16/2008 @ 2:13pm

    oooh, lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

    It's a blog Lowell. Get a grip.

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/17/2008 @ 12:39pm

24. Notice something about john. He complains about being misquoted. Yet he misquoted me and lied about my meaning and then doesn't take it back. Hypocrite much?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/17/2008 @ 12:57pm

25. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/17/2008 @ 12:57pm

    He was not misquoted. He is just a sore loser when he gets his lunch handed to him. Quite immature for an old guy.

    I see you are not quaking in your shoes from his hilarious threat. What a joke! This may turn into a fun thread yet!

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/17/2008 @ 1:07pm

26. I'm still stymied by the literalist approach to the New Yorker cover and assertions that the magazine wouldn't treat McCain that way or wouldn't ridicule Catholicism the way it treats Islam. The New Yorker cover does not ridicule Islam or the Obamas. Titled "The Politics of Fear," the cover satirically exagerrates the fear-mongering of anti-Obama pundits, bloggers and talk radio extremists. These people have called the fist bump a "terrorist gesture," suggested that Barack Obama is Muslim, argued that his not wearing a flag pin indicates his lack of patriotism, and that secret tapes of radical Michelle Obama using the word "Whitey" will surface. The cover mocks these approaches by exaggerating them into precisely the fear the fear-mongers are attempting to promote: that on inauguration day the Obama's will be sharing terrorists salutes and burning flags in the Oval Office. That's exactly what satire does: holds foolishness up to ridicule often by exagerrating it to its logical conclusion.

    Posted by goldenrose at 07/17/2008 @ 1:28pm

27. I see you are not quaking in your shoes from his hilarious threat. What a joke! This may turn into a fun thread yet! Posted by Benchrest at 07/17/2008 @ 1:07pm

    I'm not easily spooked. Especially on a blog by someone I don't know nor care about.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/17/2008 @ 2:13pm