NY Post Cartoon: the Return of Overt Racism

The cartoon would have been much more accurate if the voice-balloon said "They'll have to find someone else to run the New York Post"

The New York Post needs to be shut down because this is not the first time a comic strip has been racist. A couple years back, they did a cartoon about a professional woman who had one leg and wanted to run professionally for a competition. The artists remarks were direct and racist.
Minorities are always a target and this needs to stop. I thought since the election of President Obama into office, society's views would have changed slightly; but it's apparent to see this has not occurred.
Regardless, African-Americans have been compared to monkies, gorillas, and now a chimpanzee with two huge bullet holes lodged in its chest, making a direct hit of possible assassination attempts at our President. When will justice be met!? We should have sit back and listen to the Rev. Al Sharpton and also think about the other relationship that may have been going on between the owner and the chimp.

I find it hilariously amazing that the Post actually thought this would be appropriate, people never fail to surprise me.......

Its not even close to racist. This is just a reason for sharpton to flap his annoying gums. Why was it okay for liberal media to make "jokes" of Bush and Bush's cabinet members? Where was Sharpton then?

Good Job NY Post! Its about time some main stream media shows this "stimulus" bill for what it really is. I just renewed my post subscription and will be promoting them outwardly.

When a Jewish person makes racist comments as did Michael Richards (Krammer from Seinfeld), it quickly disappears and the actor or politician continues their career normally. When a Jewish owned and run newspaper such as the NY Post mocks our President and compares him to a "monkey", the newspaper acts like "what's wrong with everybody". What's fair for the goose obviously isn't fair for the gander. When a Danish newspaper decided to mock the Prophet Muhammed, Westerners couldn't understand why people were freaked out. Maybe now, we can understand why limits should be exercised and respected. It's painful and there's no excuse. Tolerance must be taught and followed or we'll always be at each other's throats.

People need to stop making everything about race already. The Monkey = Congress not the President.

People took this cartoon to far to its meaning. I don't believe that the New York Post meant on that the moneky was President Obama. IIt wasn't just Obama that wrote the Stimulus Plan, it was a group of people. It is like a political cartoon. The monkey showing the democrats, being all wild accepting abortion and gay marraige. While the police is the Republicans who don't aprove of the Stimulus Plan. This is probably what they were trying to portray.

You people are reactionary idiots. The fact is that our current government is a freaking circus and monkeys could have come up with a better stimulus plan. Anything you race baiters see further than that is merely your typical dramatic overreaction.

I will say that sometimes one bad apple ruins the whole bunch. To be quite honest, I'm so tired of some people searching for a racist issue when there is none. There is injustice in the world that very definitely needs to be fought, but let's all focus on the real issues and problems. Al Sharpton is poison for the African American community. Whenever he is involved, there is automatic outrage and sometimes with no real reason.
I really find it irresponsible for intelligent, mature people of all races and religions to jump on every bandwagon that has to do with race and religion! Sure, there are times it is necessary, but it's every little thing it seems. I'm so tired of it. The United States belongs to everyone, and for all our sakes, and our children's, we better learn to grow up and get along.

Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon and to think that they would blatantly print a cartoon of our President being shot like an ape is just stupid in my opinion.

Not only do I feel this was a racist appalling "cartoon", I feel as if also it was a threat to my President. Whether you racist PIGS like it or not Obama is our president, respect him. I feel we deserve a full apology not only for it being racist but for the manner you put it (two PIGS shooting him twice) and again ironic that after shooting him in the heart a cop would have to shoot him again .... way to make yourselves THE NY POST and the POLICE look bad. You have lost a long time reader of the post. I just can't believe with your writing skills that you so call have or political degree of some sort you couldn't have come up with something better than that . btw I'm white And yes i voted for OUR BLACK PRESIDENT . I am making sure no one buys you paper and you always had the best yankee info...:-(

Not only do I feel this was a racist appalling "cartoon", I feel as if also it was a threat to my President. Whether you racist PIGS like it or not Obama is our president, respect him. I feel we deserve a full apology not only for it being racist but for the manner you put it (two PIGS shooting him twice) and again ironic that after shooting him in the heart a cop would have to shoot him again .... way to make yourselves THE NY POST and the POLICE look bad. You have lost a long time reader of the post. I just can't believe with your writing skills that you so call have or political degree of some sort you couldn't have come up with something better than that . btw I'm white And yes i voted for OUR BLACK PRESIDENT . I am making sure no one buys you paper and you always had the best yankee info...:-(

Okay...The post by Arrabito just go to show you how rediculous Sharpton and his cause is.

I do agree that the comic strip should not have been printed. It definitely was being insensitive to owner of the chimp and her friend that was attacked but at the same time I agree that Al Sharpton is a publicity opportunist. Any chance he has to show up on tv he takes it. Martin Luther King had a dream that all people would be equal so why aren't we so many years after? Its because of people like Al Sharpton that racism still exists. To Rev. Sharpton everything turns into a racists comment or in this case comic and it's not right. Racism happens and it happens to all races.

First off, this cartoon is trying to be topical by attempting to combine two major news stories in the tri-state area this week - the chimpanzee attack in CT and the passage of the stimulus bill. The chimpanzee is meant to depict Congress, not President Obama. The language in the cartoon clearly states "they will have to find someone to write the next stimulus bill."

Now, as any good American should know, the President of the United States does not write legislation. He is in the Executive Branch of Government. It is his job to review the legislation from Congress and pass this legislation by signing it into law. If the cartoon had stated "they will have to find someone to sign the next stimulus bill", that would be a direct swipe at President Obama.

Racism is not funny, and anyone who tries to use that tactic in order to get their point across really shouldn't be allowed to get their point across. I do not think that was the Post's intention

First of all, Nancy Pelosi wrote the "Porkulus Package Bill", not Obama. The race business is alive and well lead by people like Sharpton. Give me a break. We have a half black president, and a black First Lady and Attorney General. Give it a rest.They never minded when Mr.Bush was actually being portrayed monkey like in cartoons, or the horrible caricatures of Condoleeza Rice, during the last administration. That was alright because they are not Democrats or other Leftists.Once people and businesses refuse to be intimidated it will stop. I'm personally going to buy an extra copy of tomorrow's Post.

First, I'd like to say that I take no sides on this matter. Think whatever you'd like about the cartoon. However, I'd like to point out that there is no direct reference to President Obama in the cartoon. Secondly, George Bush was depicted as a monkey on many occasions throughout his 8 years as President and nobody complained or called it a racist remark or anything else for that matter. The depiction of a chimp has nothing to do with being an African American and I feel that the people who make this association are the racists.

Totally Agree Andrew on your comment about Arrabito. RIDICULOUS and ignorant is all I have to say.

Are you reporting racism or creating it?
I never made the connection between the monkey and the president until the media, and Al Sharpton pointed it out. Like the millions of black and white people that voted for Obama, I am sick of this inflamatory reporting.

Just renewed my Post subscription :)

Jim I am surprised by your title. Racism hasn't gone anywhere in any shape or form. I am not surprised by the Post however. That is what they are about: thinly veiled, "coded", tabloidesque non-sense.

I read several newspapers a day to compare stories and the Post has never sought to hide it's biased slant whether it is politics, entertainment or whatever. So please do not seek to make this an "Al Sharpton thing". How dare you or anyone else suggest such a thing? The Post is horrible. On all levels. Every bit of coverage no matter what. We can thank them for promoting ignorance and inciting fear.

To be honest I was equally horrified by the Post's headlines just the day before "FURIOUS GEORGE" making light of the severe damages the victims of Travis the chimp suffered. That is not a joking matter. That was irresponsible journalism at it's best. And speaking of front page NY Post:

WAS OBAMA STILL A CHIMP WHEN HE SOLD ALL THOSE ELECTION/ INAUGURAL NEWSPAPERS FOR YOU JUST RECENTLY? No doubt.

H. Edourd from Newark

Question: Can the cartoonist or anyone else for that matter (racist or not), tell me what is the association between a chimpanzee, a man (which happens to be our 44th president of the U.S.A) and a stimulus package?? What's the signifigance?That wouldn't even make the cut of the worst bar jokes ever told!!
If Senator McCain would've been our 44th president, would the comment still have been made?? Some folks that are unable to exercise common sense find comfort (or entertainment) in the parodies of nonsense!! (like the gun that was used to stop the shoe from hitting former president George Bush)
If you're gonna take it there, then make sense (or at least make a point).. and if you're gonna piss some folks off have the back up!!
Yes, i understand (and have no choice but to accept) that racism still exist but c'mon now...blacks have been waiting for this moment for over 400 years, can't we get at least 4?? jeez
Racism stems from hatred.
How can we fight (and win) the war on terrorism when we have not finished (and are losing) the battle with racism!!?? hmmm

Read More; & don't read to much into a cartoon!

I believe this wasn't meant to be racist. It has been years (in every Newspaper- NY/NJ) that funny/not-so-funny political cartoons have been printed in newspapers. People should focus on the 'present', and not the past/history. Do your research! Look @ the jokes about Spitzer, Clinton, Bush, etc.; just jokes. Take a look at this site: http://www.bushorchimp.com
The USA has something very valuable which is 'Freedom of Speech.'
It will be scary if this is taken away from all of us. I heard stories how things were in Cuba when Castro took power...

I'm not surprise that this type of journalism,and i use that term as thin as possible is tolerated by the NYP,they've done it before,what really makes you think,it's not going to happen again,it's somehow in their blood to play with dirt.Somehow this newspaper is on a one man crusade to see this present government fail,however the voice of an ordinary citizen is that powerful,it can break whatever iron clad shield they're[NYP]hiding behind.

I don't see how this is racist from any angle, and I don't think The Post should apologize for printing it. If the protesters are saying The Post should stop being racist and opening old wounds about African-Americans being referred to as chimps, THEY should be the ones to stop. I mean come on, are you seriously telling me this cartoon is racist?
Open your eyes.. it's time for change and stop trying to use racism as an incentive to start problems. God! I thought America was a country of non-conformists.

This is just the beginning of Obama's socialist agenda. If the NY Times says something questionable, nobody thinks twice. Its "freedom of speech" is the argument. However, if a media outlet sides a little to the right then you get accusations of racism...etc. Such a double standard. Does anyone see the similarities between this administration and the Mussolini regime? I sure do

Of course it was meant as a racist tribute to President Obama,the Post has set a precedence for this kind of discourse many many times before, if any one would take a look at the NY POST comic strip archive let alone their general reporting you will see that this is not the first example of low brow depictions of people of color.

People of color are not perceived as anything but fodder by the editorial staff!!

Obama is half Caucasian, people seem to forget about that.

When I first saw the cartoon, I did not think it was racist. I DID think that it was inappropriate and an attack against our President. It was only after seeing this on the news that I realized people were turning it into a racist issue.

Anyway, racist or not, that cartoon should not have been printed. Shame on the New York Post for not having better judgement on what to print.

"Read More; & don't read to much into a cartoon!"

"Friend to all" you sound like a stupid ass.

YOU read more.

Obviously you don't know much about the history of discrimination, except how to practice it by being indifferent during times of evil.

When you elected a Black president you gave up the ability to use the word monkey. It's on our list of things we'd prefer to not be compared to.
SO YOU RESEARCH THAT.

"Friend to all" Your naievete is at an end. You might learn what common man feels like sooner than you think.
This economy created by your George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan is going to knock several from their medium high roosts.

In the meantime look up the definition of "coded"

Please. It was an obvious jab at the stimulus bill- with which the artist apparently has a problem- and used the recent hoopla over a violent chimp to get that across. He was implying that it was written by crazed monkeys. I have heard similar comparisons before, over things having nothing to do with Obama. Granted, they were not so public, but the meaning is the same. The Post should clarify the situation, but not apologize for some people's misconceptions. Was it in poor taste? Yes, by poking fun at an animal's death and a woman's injuries. But racist? No. People need to stop looking for racism where none is intended.

By the way, there's a small mistake in the article. Obama is biracial. Born of a white woman. Look it up.

Edourd.....one word..Ridiculous

Eric Adams, Sept. 27, 1993, quoted in the New York Times, on Herman Badillo's marriage to a Jewish woman. (Badillo was Mr. Giuliani's Comptroller running mate against David Dinkins.)

"...if Mr. Badillo were truly concerned about the Hispanic community, he would have married a Hispanic woman."

Adams acknowledged making the snide prejudicial comment, and he never retracted it, let alone apologize. Dinkins did eventually repudiate it. Can you remember if you condemned it or at least reported on it, Jim? I'm also trying to recall the extent of your outrage at racist cartoon caricatures of Condoleezza Rice distributed during her State Dep't confirmation hearings. No questionable metaphors there; it was she in the pictures!

Yes, that paper is a tabloid that is geared to a 5th grade reading level in articles of less than 400 words, which devotes twice the space to sports as to news and almost as much to celebrity garbage. Its explanation in tomorrow's editorial was to the point, professing the complete absence of racial intent and directing itself to those only who are not part of a vendetta against them. Believe it............, or don't believe it - that's everyone's call. I'll meet them halfway and just call the cartoon a heavy-handed attempt at subtlety! That speaks to NJ Kathy's excellent point about Delonas' use of the term "writing" the bill rather than "signing" it.

Now how about that New York Times! They have no weekday cartoons, but they have writers that are even less informed. Reading them, it is obvious that Rich, Krugman, Dowd, Herbert and that crew think that Bush is still President and that Palin was elected V.P.!

There is an old saying that if you put 100 monkeys in a room with typewriters, after a while they might actually write a novel. It's an obvious knock on the bill that was written by Congress. And if anyone actually stopped and thought about it, which you are supposed to do with political cartoons, everyone would see that.

For all those people up in arms about this, get over it. It wasn't meant to depict anybody, especially our president. People should just read and stop scrutinizing every little petty crap that seems to depict a certain race. Yes, racism is still out there, but you know what..."THAT IS LIFE"!!!!

Deep in every person, there is always a racist side to him or her. It is unavoidable, especially in today's society, where everything has to be politically correct. So, "Live and Let Live".

Since it is Black history month let's educate:

1. "Posted by Andrew at February 19, 2009 11:06 PM
Edourd.....one word..Ridiculous"

Andrew one word also "why?"

2. Lis: Black is still black. He could have three White grandparents and would still be black. I didn't make the rules. And his wife and children are BLACK.

3. Let's not pretend that each racist remark, incident and depiction is the first. The first family has been besieged by racism since he first announced candicy. There is a list of all of those acts of kindness also. I have a dedicated a scarp book to "Presidential Racism".

3. To whomever, I love political cartoons and this one is quite clever in it that it achieves artistist value in it that it tells several stories.
A true artist work should speak to at least three different people to be viable. Three voices. This piece has in fact done that. It is unfortunate that those of you whose relatives were never enslaved in this country can not relate to the racist voice of this cartoon. We hear it loud and clear though. The artist knew what he doing and be fired and sued. It's not his first offense.

The sad point is that in the dumbing down of America you probably think that this is Black History, black thing, for them/us to deal with. But if you are American it is about you.

Again the bill would not be needed if Obama's predecessor had not ruined this country for decades to come in an unturnable tide.

Blacks made the Fortune 500 who they are with our 500 years of blood sweat and tears and now must bail them.

This time Blacks won't be the only ones going in to the fields.

Since it is Black history month let's educate:

1. "Posted by Andrew at February 19, 2009 11:06 PM
Edourd.....one word..Ridiculous"

Andrew one word also "why?"

2. Lis: Black is still black. He could have three White grandparents and would still be black. I didn't make the rules. And his wife and children are BLACK.

3. Let's not pretend that each racist remark, incident and depiction is the first. The first family has been besieged by racism since he first announced candicy. There is a list of all of those acts of kindness also. I have a dedicated a scarp book to "Presidential Racism".

3. To whomever, I love political cartoons and this one is quite clever in it that it achieves artistist value in it that it tells several stories.
A true artist work should speak to at least three different people to be viable. Three voices. This piece has in fact done that. It is unfortunate that those of you whose relatives were never enslaved in this country can not relate to the racist voice of this cartoon. We hear it loud and clear though. The artist knew what he doing and be fired and sued. It's not his first offense.

The sad point is that in the dumbing down of America you probably think that this is Black History, black thing, for them/us to deal with. But if you are American it is about you.

Again the bill would not be needed if Obama's predecessor had not ruined this country for decades to come in an unturnable tide.

Blacks made the Fortune 500 who they are with our 500 years of blood sweat and tears and now must bail them.

This time Blacks won't be the only ones going in to the fields.

seriously??
do you read what you write?

Hear, hear Charles! I totally agree with you. While a cartoon, much like any other forms of "art", is up to individual perspectives and opinions, good or bad.

While that cartoon was made in horrible taste (did no one feel for the woman who just lost a near family member of 10 years?), and given the history of this illustrator, people should be complaining about the way he chooses to draw his stories, as they all seem to be very cruel and distasteful, and not of race.

However, it does make one wonder just how much of a line can be toed these days regarding editoral content.

Hear, hear Charles! I totally agree with you. While a cartoon, much like any other forms of "art", is up to individual perspectives and opinions, good or bad.

While that cartoon was made in horrible taste (did no one feel for the woman who just lost a near family member of 10 years?), and given the history of this illustrator, people should be complaining about the way he chooses to draw his stories, as they all seem to be very cruel and distasteful, and not of race.

However, it does make one wonder just how much of a line can be toed these days regarding editoral content.

Can someone send an e-mail link or show me a newspaper where whites are being depicted as monkeys, chimps, baboons etc.??
If it was a tiger, bear or shark that was supposedly the animal (or creature) of focus, would this have been a big deal??
Of course not!
Then again, the message (or cartoon) would've been received in question...the cartoonist just so happened to swoop in on the idea that a message should be received that our "Black president" is incompetent or incapable (and should rightfully be compared to a chimp) when in all actually he has "inherited" America's debt from someone who was "incapable" and "incompetent"!!
Yes, the job comes with the territory and it has been fully acknowledged (by our president) just as it has been fully acknowledged that this comment was clearly intentionally racist (by races other than blacks who also protested)...it is what it is...a rasict comment!!
We as blacks have come too far to hold our heads down or turn the other cheek in hopes that things will disappear by themselves.
You had Dr. Martin luther King and you had Malcolm X who both had visions, ideas, sought out plans and both were respected as leaders!!
Racism is global!! As americans, we should also acknowledge that there was a hint of a threat with the two bullet holes lodged into the chest of that chimp with a stimulus bill comment (yeah, ok)...i ask again, would there have been an appropriate equivalency (if the comment was even dared to be made) if John McCain was president or if george bush was still in office??
When former president george bush felt threatened our parents or children were engaged in war resulting in far more horrid and inexcusable deaths than those victims of 911!! (GOD rest their souls)
We have a black president, it doesn't matter who raised him or where he was raised.
Knowledge is power..acknowledge that Barack Obama is black, he is capable, he is competent and he is our president so whoever is racist, didn't vote at all or did not vote for him...too damn bad!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!
SIT AND SPIN ON THAT...HOW'S THAT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!

To Everyone: You see how you always manage to write the word "Black" in front of President? Well, unless you look past that, you will see racism in everything and everyone.

Thomas G.-
"Can someone send an e-mail link or show me a newspaper where whites are being depicted as monkeys, chimps, baboons etc".??
Answering your question... check out this site:
http://www.bushorchimp.com

I don't believe it was meant to be racist. However, I do think it was tasteless, and cruel like what Mel (above) said.

Pemjay-
You're right. B.H.Obama 'is' the President of the US of America.

Jim Watkins, you should also check out this
site: http://www.bushorchimp.com

As far as I know, white people haven't been historically portrayed as chimps. Blacks have. There's a HUGE difference between Bush and Obama been portrayed as a chimp. It's a matter of intent and it isn't a good excuse to say "See, any president can be a chimp!" while ignoring the big fat pink elephant in the room that Obama is black and chimps are commonly used to disparage blacks in historic cartoons.

Pemay, this discussion is specifically about Obama's race. Let's not pretend we're naive and color blind.

Yes, I know the discussion is specifically about Obama's race. I'm not naive. Read what I said carefully and stop looking at things the wrong way.

Btw it's PEMJAY

Hi Jim,

First of all, the cartoon was in very bad taste. The monkey incident was played up in that paper. It should have never been printed.
I think what was implied was disgusting and someone should have pulled the plug on that.

We have an Afro-American president, but as we all know, his mother was white. They never play up that angle. We also know that this is Black History Month. We do know about Obama's roots, however, I wonder how this would play out if his mother were still alive.

I do know that if you have "black" blood running thru your veins, you are always considered "Afro American. Honestly, I don't understand that kind of logic. Obama is biracial.

I guess anything goes to sell a paper, or make a point. I think very bad judgement was used. Give our president a break. I think he is a very good man, and trying very hard to make this Stimilus bill work. He has a rough road ahead of him. I hate the fact that the newspaper had the "balls" to print such an outrageous thing. It sickens me.

I only wish the best for President Obama. He is a very smart, articulate man. He is trying very hard to put this country back together. These "cartoons" are much too cruel.

I guess you have to expect this kind of thing when you are in the White House. I am kind of tired of them playing up the "Afro-American" angle.

God Bless Mr Obama and Mr. Biden. They are trying so hard to give us the best, and they inherited a real big mess that the Bush regime left behind.

Let us have the knowledge to ignore those who try to put down our Commander in Chief.

And just maybe, we have to take these "cartoons" or articles in stride. They do produce sensitive issues, but, we must decide for ourselves to take the high road.

Lee *May God Bless the United States of America

Great column as always, Jim. It's refreshing to see a local anchor really call it straight! keep up the good work!

david-
check out this site: http://www.bushorchimp.com
Former President Bush is white and he was portrayed
as a chimp.
Everyone should take a look at this site:
http://www.bushorchimp.com

Its a double standard...The main stream media could make fun of Bush and his administration all they wanted during and after his tenure. However, this cartoon (which has nothing to do with Hussein Obama) makes fun of a fiscally irresponsible "stimulus bill" and the left wing is up in arms. I think the next thing that will be racist is the dollar bill.....why is there a white man on the dollar bill? Thats just racist!! (being sarcastic for all you dull left wingers)

So what's gonna happen if president B.Obama's face does make it on money, would your sarcasm get bit in the A$$ by reality??
They're already working on putting him on metro cards (and i think postage stamps). SLOW progress is better than NO progress!!
I'm tired of reading or hearing that blacks are violent, impatient, incompassionate, uneducated and lazy individuals...that is simply NOT true!!
In fact these words describe every and all races.
knowledge is power, wisdom is infinite and ignorance is bliss!!
Race ( as does religion)divides people (in a sense), why make it worse by portraying acts of racism?? And don't get me started on the origin of Jesus Christ, Moses, Cleopatra or King Solomon!!
Blacks did not initiate racism and we have the right to acknowledge it's presence as well as address it (in the appropriate manner when we see fit)...just as we have the right to acknowledge who we are, what we been through, where we've been and where we're headed!!
America did not ADOPT blacks, however blacks ADAPTED to America!!
We will not turn our cheek (to get smacked in the other cheek), we will not turn our backs (to get any more lashes) and we certainly will not turn our noses up (to be blinded by the sun).
Thurgood Marshall we salute you, Dr.King we salute you, Rosa Parks we salute you, Shirley Chisolm we salute you, Harriet Tubman we salute you, Tuskegee airmen we salute you and all other blacks with dreams, purpose and achievements!!
RESPECT EARNED IS RESPECT DUE!!!
One more thing, stop addressing blacks as "people of color"... anyone with melanin (or pigment) has color, don't hate!!

It seems to me that you are an angry AFRICAN AMERICAN. Now as far as race is concern,how about the Asian people. They were persecuted, had to build railroads, put up with all the racist stuff thrown at them. But yet you don't see that race, up in arms about it. They just suck it up and rose to be a world economic power. They are not asking for an ASIAN HISTORY MONTH, or for everything to be politically correct.

So, just remember, if you are not racist, then you are not HUMAN. For it is in our nature to hate and love. That is what living is all about.

"Posted by To Anonymous at February 20, 2009 1:37 PM
It seems to me that you are an angry AFRICAN AMERICAN. Now as far as race is concern,how about the Asian people. They were persecuted, had to build railroads, put up with all the racist stuff thrown at them. But yet you don't see that race, up in arms about it."
I WOULD HAVE TO GUESS THAT YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH YOUR LEVEL OF IGNORANCE. GOES TO SHOW THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SUFFERING. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BUSCH SENDS EDUCATION MONEY TO THE MIDDLE EAST FOR WAR. THIS IS ALSO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GREATEST ATROCITY TO MAN IS ALLOWED TO BE TAUGHT IN 2 PAGES OF A SOCIAL STUDIES TEXT. U.S. SLAVERY IS NOT COMPARABLE TO ANY OTHER EVENT IN HISTORY. IT IS NOT EVEN COMPARABLE TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY'S SLAVERY. THEY WERE ALL MUCH MORE HUMANE TO THEIR SLAVES THAN AMERICAN WHITES.

THE ASIAN PLIGHT IN AMERICA HAS ABOUT AS MUCH TO DO WITH THIS CONVERSATION AS DOES THE PRICE OF TEA IN CHINA. SO GET THAT OUT OF HERE AND STOP REACHING.

EVERY RACE AND CULTURE TO ENTER THIS COUNTRY HAS FACED HARDSHIP OF SOME KIND. TO THEM, I OFFER LITTLE TO NO SYMPATHY. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ASKED TO COME HERE AND ANYTHING THEY DEALT WITH HERE WAS BY THEIR OWN CHOICE.

WE DIDN'T ASK TO COME HERE AND HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO GO.

They just suck it up and rose to be a world economic power.

YOU SOUND AS STUPID AS PEMJAY. EVEN UNDER THE FOOT OF AMERICAN OPPRESSION UP TO THIS VERY DAY, WE STILL CONSISTENTLY PROVE WHO THE STRONGEST, MOST POWERFUL, MOST RESOURCEFUL, MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE.
IF WE WEREN'T THESE THINGS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTINCT ALONG TIME AGO.

ANONYMOUS AND PEMJAY I BET YOUR FAMILIES WOULD NEVER HAVE SURVIVED THE 500 YEARS OF HELL WE HAVE.
PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE OLYMPICS. THE ONLY EVENTS WE HAVEN'T TAKEN OVER ARE THE ONES WE HAVE YET TO LEARN. SHOW US THE GAME AND WE WIN EVERYTIME.

They are not asking for an ASIAN HISTORY MONTH, or for everything to be politically correct.

SHOULDN'T THINGS BE POLITICALLY CORRECT?

So, just remember, if you are not racist, then you are not HUMAN. For it is in our nature to

NO IT IS NOT SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THIS WAY ARE ONES SUCH AS YOU WHO WOKE UP ONE DAY WITH NO CLUE AS TO HOW HE GOT WHERE HE IS TODAY OR WHERE HIS FAMILY RECIEVED THE WEALTH THAT THEY ARE STILL LIVING OFF.

YOU JUST WISH YOU COULD TURN LEMONS TO LEMONADE LIKE MY PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS DONE. SORRY THAT IS A BLACK THING THAT YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

Ha!Ha!Ha! Proves my point. You are an angry and racist AFRICAN AMERICAN. It is sad to say, but the only way is the "POLITICALLY CORRECT WAY". Newark...mmmmmmm...Now that's a place that is divide. Isn't one side Portuguese and the rest ghetto. Spare me your wisdom, for civilize people have tried to beautify Newark, only to end up to be a waste of time and money. Next thing you know, we are going to make Route 21 into Sharpe James highway. Hahahahahahahah!!!!

LMAO "ASIAN HISTORY MONTH" imagine..... but u kinda got a point, but they were not subject to as much as the black people were, u don't see Asians being shot beyond the point of over kill for reasons absurd as reaching for their wallets, or having their cars turned into swizz cheez, or being sodomized in a bathroom by cops, or being beat to a pulp by cops i mean cmon u cant have this racial tunnel vision only selectively taking into account somethings

Mike, you made a reference to SEINFELD, so I felt that I must speak. Michael Richards did make a huge mistake, and I think it did affect his career. One wonders why there was not enough humor to blow this off. Ironically, most of the players in the SEINFELD show, were Jewish.
Michael Richards could get out of control at times. He was one of a kind, like his character on the show.

He did have his own show for a brief period, but it failed badly. I liked it, but the viewers didn't. The combination of the Seinfeld cast was like no other since ALL IN THE FAMILY. A different theme, a different show, but all the players were perfect in their parts.
That's why they get typecasted.

Michael Richards, in my opinion made a mistake by doing stand-up comedy. He mistakenly said the wrong words, maybe guessing that it would help his career, but it didn't. I guess people were expecting to see Kramer, tripping or falling off a subway, or making sausages in Jerry's apartment.

As a collector of Seinfeld shirts, books, and the like, this is like another sub-culture. Although I have all the Seinfeld shows, I still watch it on TV when I get the chance.

Anyway, that's about it - I wrote too much today again, so NO SOUP FOR ME.

Again, LEE

*I have a friends-in-law coming for dinner tonight.....
and my first boyfriend had an atomic weggie in high school.

First off anonymous get some balls and at least make up a name. Im begining to think you maybe Asian. I won't guess at this point. But you sound REAL NEW TO AMERICA. Be thankful we made it possible for you to get here.

Who shouldn't be angry after 500 years of kidnapping, servitude, abuse, rape, murder, racism and discrimination? Do you have any idea what slavery is? It is impossible for us to be racist.

That is a item that "you peoples" the poor, the hungry, the down trodded are taught while on Ellis Island with your carpetbags and dreams of milk and honey. That is if you were even honorable enough to come into MY country legally.
I'm begining to think not.

All you know is your cowardly family could not hack it back home when the going got tough and decieded to come over to the American premade, no civil or physical work necessary/"paradise" that was created by Blacks struggle. Why not turn that ambition and drive into building up the homeland instead of coming over here and waving flags? The world would be a better place if people remained in their own countries and fought and marched and shed blood as have done the Blacks. Everyone would prefer to take the crumbs from our table instead making their own way. Sad. Blacks have much to be proud about. This country would be nothing without our presence and contributions.

Im also glad you find your jokes funny. Some of the most powerful people the world has ever known have been baptised by Newark. You are a moron.

To David, who stated that as far as he knows, whites have never been depicted as monkeys: Please do a google image search for Irish Monkey and you will see cartoons depicting the Irish as drunken baboon-like leprechauns in political cartoons. And I am sure that there are similar cartoons depicting other ethnic groups as well.

Kathy in Jersey-
From same anonymous of previous posting:
Check out this site below...

Posted by Anonymous at February 20, 2009 9:33 AM
david-
check out this site: http://www.bushorchimp.com
Former President Bush is white and he was portrayed
as a chimp.
Everyone should take a look at this site:
http://www.bushorchimp.com

Eduourd, do you really know the history of the Blacks. I am asking you this, because it seems you are just talking nonsense.

First, know, that it was your own people in Africa that "SOLD" your ancestor's to the white British folks. The slaves were the defeated tribes from different regions of Africa. So that is the reason why you are here.

Second, you should find ways in helping the Newark community in fighting the "VIOLENCE". You talk about oppression, well first seek peace within your community. Believe me, there is nothing in the news that show that.

Granted, you are all free. But freedom is only when you can walk in a Black neighborhood at night not having to be scared of getting mug, shot, or murdered. Till then, society will not change for you.

Thank you so much H. Edourd (from Newark) as well as everyone else who is educated enough to know and embrace the difference between "freedom" and "ignorance".
Not only blacks saw this as insulting and protested other races jumped on board as well.
To the uneducated: (and i'm being politically correct here) there is only one race...that's the HUMAN race!
My being human would not contribute to racism or being a racist(ignorance would cover that like the stimulus package)!!
As for the plights of different races, blacks have suffered the harshest...sorry to break the news to any skeptics but oh well.
I am not an angry "African-American" NOR am I a historian..however, I do have some knowledge of other cultures (other than my own),people, places and things.
I am educated, conscious, well grounded, well received, well traveled, well read as well as a well spoken individual who has always been (and will always be) willing to learn, share, apply, embrace and teach anyone who has the same will to meet me half way so that we can walk-and-talk while taking the same path together!!
Of course we can agree to disagree, but let's keep things in perspective here... just because we have the right to do something (or say something) doesn't make it right!!
Too much of a good thing is never good...that goes for money, certain foods and even freedom!! If it weren't for "free will" we would be enslaved just as with "democracy", but would you walk up to a police officer and threaten them, or rob a bank, or rape a child??
Probably not, (for those of us who have better judgement) because you know of the consequences to come...same as gorging on foods that you know are no good especially if you have a bad heart condition.
If a "hush" button is pressed, that doesn't make the thing go away...if a "panic" button is pressed it doesn't mean u have to react!!
It's all in how we're affected through our own experiences and throughout history. (or what we were shown, taught, told, overheard or adopted from others).
We innately know that it is wrong to kill, rape, rob, manipulate or seduce but some still do it. It's not because it's in their nature but because they allowed their circumstances too overpower what they could've overcome...Humans have committed animalistic crimes but that doesn't make them animals!!
We are the TOP of the food chain, and we should act like it.
Humans can adapt much more readily then animals, but at times animals appear, more intelligent, more skilled and more united than humans!!
Take me for instance, I am not hell-bent on going to "Africa" after being born and bred in USA all my life so i have adapted (yes i would love to visit the motherland as well as other places)...I have traveled to many places being in the US NAVY yes i got homesick (Native Brooklyn, New Yorker) but I had to stay focused.
On the other hand, take a tiger out of its habitat (feed it, train it and love it...it's still a tiger)!!
Now give that same tiger a chance to get back to it's habitat from the circus and will eat through me, you and who ever else to get there (and send a post card)!! (just kidding)
The latter is nature (animal nature) and quite acceptable by humans, however human nature is of no concern to wild animals. (it has been proven time and time again). When wild animal kills a human it's nature, when a human kills an animal it can be viewed as animal cruelty!!
Animals can (and do) sacrifice their young, however humans may not!!
Everything has it's place and purpose.
Wild animals have rightfully earned the respect of humans and will not have their name tarnished and nature tainted...why should humans (reguardless of gender, race or religion step back or to the side).
Acceptance or intolerance?? Wake up poeple.
President Barack Obama is unquestionably affected by many things, one of which he mentioned in his inaugural speech about how humbled he was to stand before our nation to be sworn in as our 44th president when his father may not have been served in a local restaurant many decades ago!! It's a sense of pride..was it wrong or distasteful for our president to embrace and address such a feeling??
Would the cartoonist or anyone else tell him that to his face just because you feel that you have the right??
It's pride that brings us closer but ignorance divides us.
Why do you think we have parades for every race and sporting event of winners??
So that we can identify and connect with that same feeling...I'm proud to be "black" or I'm proud to be a "NY Yankee fan".
Don't tell me how to identify with my gender, my culture, my spirituality nor label me angry(especially if you TRULY cannot identify).
It's apples and oranges... Stick to what you know.
Another interesting point is that America (including American history) is only about half as old as "black oppresion"....Here's something else...Blacks have played (and continue to play) a significant role in American history we should be recognized year 'round!!!
One more thing, if president Obama didn't write the bill but only signs it, then why is there a picture of just 1 chimp (as there is just one president) instead of multiple monkeys (to signify the multiple members of congress)?? hmmm
When we can identify something only then will will be able to rectify it!! (fight or flight)
You can't go around telling people how to feel, it's also our right.
Everyone has their way of dealing with certain things that impact us (death, terrorism, racism, fascism, classism, famine, bankruptcy, natural disasters.,etc).
Obviously, if it were that serious then it would have been far worse than just a protest...
OUR STRENGTH LIES NOT ONLY IN NUMBERS, BUT MORE IMPORANTLY IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY...
HOLD ON TIGHT, I'VE GOT ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO PULL YOU OUT OF YOUR IGNORANT STATE OF MIND (AND THEN SOME)....YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME, JUST PAY-IT-FWD!!! LMFAO (CHECKMATE)

If Bush was still in office or we had another white president, no one would care. Black people need to stop taking things so personally. Obama is not the only president that's been compared to a monkey. Please see www.bushorchimp.com and stop making everything a racial issue! The president is half black and ALL of America put him there. What more do you need to prove you're not being singled out for being black? Anyone who sees this as a racial issue only sounds ignorant. Get over yourselves! You're why you don't think we're equal.

Posted by Dirk Digler aka Anonymous at February 20, 2009 7:26 PM
Eduourd, do you really know the history of the Blacks. I am asking you this, because it seems you are just talking nonsense.

First, know, that it was your own people in Africa that "SOLD" your ancestor's to the white British folks. The slaves were the defeated tribes from different regions of Africa. So that is the reason why you are here.

"the white British folks" I CAN TELL YOU'VE SEEN A COUPLE (ENOUGH) MOVIES TO QUALIFY YOU AN EXPERT ON WORLD HISTORY. HUMOUROUS. YOUR STATEMENT REFERS TO A PORTION OF US AND IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
IF I SHOW UP AT YOUR VILLAGE WITH BIGGER GUNS THAN YOU I'M SURE YOU WOULD COME UP WITH A DEAL ALSO. IT'S NOT RELEVANT NOR DOES IT TAKE AWAY FROM ANYTHING I'VE STATED. YOUR REACHING AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE ANDREW, IS THAT YOU? PUT DOWN THE METH PIPE ANDREW.

Second, you should find ways in helping the Newark community in fighting the "VIOLENCE". You talk about oppression, well first seek peace within your community. Believe me, there is nothing in the news that show that.

AGAIN NOT RELEVANT. YOU' RE A CHILD TRYING TO DEFLECT FROM THE POINT OF THE MATTER.

Granted, you are all free. But freedom is only when you can walk in a Black neighborhood at night not having to be scared of getting mug, shot, or murdered. Till then, society will not change for you.

YOU ARE DANGEROUSLY IGNORANT.

AGAIN WIKIPEDIA, A COUPLE OF MOVIES ABOUT "BRITISH WHITE PEOPLE", AND SOME SOUND BITES FROM THE EVENING NEWS WILL NOT EDUCATE YOU ON AMERICA'S RICH HISTORY AND THAT OF ONE OF IT'S GREATEST CITIES, NEWARK.

YOUR STATEMENTS AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NEWARK BETRAY YOUR NAIEVTE AND YOUR STATUS AS A POORLY INFORMED AMERICAN.

ALSO YOU "NEO AMERICAN" YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND MY PEOPLES 400 YEAR EXPERIENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT IS NOT TAUGHT AT ELLIS ISLAND, NOR IS IT TAUGHT AS YOU SNOOK UNDER THE FENCE. FURTHER IT IS DEFINITELY NOT TAUGHT BY EITHER POLITICAL PARTY. PICK UP SOME BOOKS YOU JACKASS.

I PRAY TO GOD THERE ARE NO CHILDREN IN YOUR HOME TO PICK UP FROM YOUR EXAMPLE.

SPEAKING OF SOCIETY AND VIOLENCE I DON'T BELIEVE NEWARK WILL BE THE ONLY HOT SPOT FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER. NOT WITH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT HAS YET TO BEGIN.

THAT IS WHEN YOU WILL SEE THE COPING MECHANISMS OF EVERYONE AS THEY FACE THE CUTS AND MISMANAGEMENT THAT HAS GRIPPED CITIES LIKE NEWARK.

H. Eduourd's post was very offensive. First of all, Blacks came here from other countries too.
You said everyone should remain in their own country. Will you say the same thing to your fellow Africans? There are many places in Africa that still suffer from civil war. When those African immigrants come here legally, are you going to kick them out of America and tell them go back to Africa?

Also, you said "It is impossible for us to be racist." Why don't you go and reread your pots. Your post is proof that you ARE racist.

eduodrd from Newark, while I agree with the fact that everybody is racist, you calling me stupid just shows me how smart and mature you are. Speaking about being in high school and not having a 'good' education, I think you should go back to high schoool and learn how to spell.
You have no right to tell us our families wouldn't survive the 500 years of hardship, because I know about slavery and I have taken numerous cources on slavery around the world, including slavery in America. Going back to what this guy said, the cartoon is an art piece and people can interpret it any way they want so if people chose to look at it as a racist cartoon it's their opinion. But what I do want to say is that you don't know me, my family or anybody else's family and you have no right to say anything about us. Calling someone stupid just shows your own ignorance. So next time you might want to read what you write.

You wrote, "I CAN TELL YOU'VE SEEN A COUPLE (ENOUGH) MOVIES TO QUALIFY YOU AN EXPERT ON WORLD HISTORY. HUMOUROUS".

Hey Eduourd, there is a building called "LIBRARY". Use it. It is full of knowledge and it will enlighten your mind on what really happened in your neck of the woods,Africa. And yes I did watch Shaka Zulu.

You wrote, "YOUR STATEMENTS AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NEWARK BETRAY YOUR NAIEVTE AND YOUR STATUS AS A POORLY INFORMED AMERICAN.".

Well...much to your disappointment, I used to work in Newark. I help beautify downtown, only to get graffiti, garbage,items stolen, and the area became a drug place.......Such a waste of time and money.

You wrote, "THAT IS WHEN YOU WILL SEE THE COPING MECHANISMS OF EVERYONE AS THEY FACE THE CUTS AND MISMANAGEMENT THAT HAS GRIPPED CITIES LIKE NEWARK."

Well, you and I both know that Newark's previous mayor was "SHARPE JAMES"...not "AL SHARPTON". He was BLACK and he stole from all you people. I didn't see AL Sharpton protesting against him for all the Black people in Newark. While he was selling land, stealing money, and also a "SUGAR DADDY"..(yeah that was a nice girlfriend of his), killings were still rampant, so were drugs, and all other crime.

What I am trying to tell you, whether you like it or not, is that "The BAD out weighs the GOOD in the BLACK community". So that is my opinion and I will go on to the next blog. So see you there.

Acknowledging truth in something that is factual, or being put out there blatanly is NOT being racist or ignorant...it's being conscious, being educated and exercising wisdom...(preparedness if you will)
You have to have a stragedy built before you plan an attack (from little things such as scouring over a chess board before a match, studying for an exam, or warming up before a game.)
Would you cross the street without looking?
Would you invest your hard earned money into something that wasn't reputable?
Are you more likely to fly out of an airport right after a terrorist attack or rather wait until we're in orange alert? (or lower)
AWARENESS is knowing what (or who) we're dealing with.. VICTORY is being able to execute that awareness into a stradegy effectively and efficiently!! (as the case in post election)
NOT ALL BLACKS ARE RACIST AND NOT ALL BLACKS JUMP THE GUN!! (I'm certainly not and I certainly don't)
If that were the case, then why are races (other than blacks blogging shock, disgust or expectation with the NY post (and it's cartoonist) and protesting)??
IF WE (BLACKS) SO CHOSE TO BE ON OUR TOES IT'S BETTER THAN BEING ON OUR BACKS OR LANDING ON OUR FACES!!
BESIDES, WITH CONSTANT REMINDERS OF RACISM (as well as other forms of discrimination), IT'S PRETTY HARD TO GO TO MY CORNER, GET WATER & REST WHILE I WAIT FOR THE BELL!! (damn, can i get a minute)?
Racism is full scope whether you choose to see it or not...as quick as you can tell blacks not to be so quick to "jump the gun" and post that "bushorchimp" website, you could be just as quick to try to be more understanding, embracing and accepting as to why this is insulting and try to educate your children as to why ignorance is far more costly than education!! (ask any scholar, philosopher or professor of your choosing).
As the case with every race, we cannot know where we are headed, unless we know where we have been!!
In some cases, it's even worse if you're stubborn rather than ignorant, because you know better but you still choose to ignore it..tisk, tisk!!
I am humble, eager to learn and slow to anger, and I would respectfully request that if anyone choose to address my comment (whether it is to share insight, critize or to boldly express your race (or racial beliefs) to try your best to be politically correct, open-minded, have morals and ethics with valid points not just personal opinions...you can sound off on myspace for that matter!!
Thanks so much

This WHOLE issue got way out of hand! Is that why the plug was pulled?

Lee *it's like a showdown at the OK Corral~~~~~~

I would like address all those whose blog strongly suggests that the NY Post's cartoon is not racist--to listen to what I have to say. I am a Caucasian female and I found this cartoon to be dripping with racism. Why,you may ask? If you were to research cartoons that were printed in U.S. newspapers in the 19th and early 20th century you would see the way that African-Americans were demeaned by drawing them as primates. However, it is not just the African- Americans that were dissed in these papers. The Irish (my heritage)were referred as "the white ape" and drawn as ape-like creatures in some of these cartoons. The Irish faced discrimination because their were those in that time who were true xenophobes and the Irish were the largest immigration group in the 19th century. While this bias against the Irish as well as other nationalities eventually died down, the African Americans had to endure discrimination much longer than any other group of people who lived in this country. I have a good number of African-American friends and it ticks me off that they may still be experiencing discrimination out there. The reason that I reacted to this cartoon the way I did is because I know the dark-side of American History. There were some pretty ugly things that has happened in this country that the average American may have no idea about. To the people who say "it is just a cartoon and get over it" or "you are over-sensitive and therefore you see everything as racist". My message to you is to get educated!!! African-Americans have every right to be angry with this. As suggested in the title of the blog this is the return of overt racism. These attacks against any group of people should never be tolerated. Shame on the Post for allowing this smut in their newspaper. They need to smarten up and do the right thing or we will will be taking steps backwards here. I for one want to move forward taking hold of the dream of a racially harmonious society. Maybe one day this dream will be fully realized--one could only hope.

Let's have war, it solves all problems.

to anonymous... nicely said.

to solution: I fear worst case scenarios. sorry to say that yours doesn't seem that unlikely.

Jim

We are already "at war" in the middle east, now do we have to have another "War of the States". I thought we did that when Abraham Lincoln was in office.

Lee *Enough of this Jim, can we get onto another
topic?

Well, I think every ethnic group should get a leader like Sharpton. Us Irish have been depicted as drunks, the Italians have been depicted as mafia, and the Germans have been depicted at Nazis. We should all be up in arms for racism and have demonstrations. No one in their right mind wants to see the president get shot, no matter if you voted for him or not. Remember, plenty of white presidents have gotten shot.

People who think this is racist are missing one very large point. Obama did not write the so-called stimulus bill. Democrats in congress did. Therefore, there is actually no way the cartoon could be directed at Obama.

It is the equivelent of those that say a monkey throwing darts can do as well in the stock market as the so-called professionals. Clearly, a monkey could have written this stimulus bill as good, probably better, than the actual congress did. That is the intent of the cartoon as I see it.

Liberals just never want to learn the facts, it's so much easier to argue with emotion than to let facts get in the way of a good argument.

Al Sharpton is the racist not the cartoon. Remember Tawana Brawley??

I see no issue, Obama did not "write" the stimulus bill, he was just the blind monkey that signed it!!!!!!

When I saw this cartoon (and I didn't see it until I saw it here), I just thought that the cartonist was commenting that a monkey must have written the stimulus bill. Is the cartoon overtly racist? I don't think so. Is it covertly racist? I don't know because I don't know what was going on in the mind of the cartoonist. Obama didn't write the stimulus bill, did he?

There have been non-racists jokes for years about monkeys. Have you seen the TV ad for the online job search site where a guy is working with "a bunch of monkeys"? I that overtly racist? Is it covertly racist? I don't know. I don't know the person who came up with the idea. Have you ever heard the question: If you gave 6 monkey a typewriter, in millions and millions of years, they would eventually write all the books in the British Museum.

Am I saying that the cartoon is not racist. Not at all. Am I saying that it isn't overtly racist. Yes. Am I saying it isn't even covertly racist. Not at all. If I were the editor, I am not sure I would have made the racism connection because I do not think Obama wrote the stimulus bill and I do not think of blacks as monkeys. It jsut wouldn't have occurred to me. If it had occurred to me that some people would have seen it that way, I would not have run it. Would I have run the cartoon if it didn't occur to me? Absolutely not. There is one and only one overt connection to this cartoon and that is to the horrible mauling of an innocent woman trying to help a neighbor in need. So, I despise this cartoon, but for an entirely different reason than those stated.

My opinions are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Congress wrote the stimulis bill and not the President.

No indication whatsoever pointing to the current President.

So, why the spin?

Did Obama WRITE the stimulus bill? Ummm... no, he didn't. Perhaps the cartoonist was drawing a comparison to the sub-human intelligence that pervades our House and Senate.

Nah, that couldn't be it. Where's the fun in interpreting the cartoon like that.

"The New York Post needs to be shut down because this is not the first time a comic strip has been racist."
...By whom?
The government?
I was appalled by the cartoon...but am more appalled by how easily you would throw out the first amendment.
Let the free market punish the ny post...

"Whether you racist PIGS like it or not Obama is our president, respect him"

Arrabito{QUOTE}

Try looking in a mirror before you use the term racist....

The cartoon is not racist and the only politician who has recently been compared to an ape is GW Bush. Get over yourselves. Al Sharpton is a race-hustling opportunist who is only offended when he can't get money out of his act.

The Jim Watkins Blog: the Return of Overt Idiocy
First of all, let's get past the question of whether Jim Watkins is a complete idiot. He is.
And so is anyone who thinks this is racist.
Congress: large group of primates loudly and excitedly writing brainless crap they can't even read.
Chimp: primate who loudly and excitedly writes brainless crap he can't even read.
Get a life, race baiters.

How is comparing Nancy Pelosi to a chimp racist?

Yaw'll know "BLACK is MIGHT and RIGHT:!!!!!!

Problem with this whole mess is that Obama didn't write the bill. Sooooo - are you certain you are correctly identifying the monkey?

Ironically, the President who was most famously called an "ape" was Abraham Lincoln, no doubt the most maligned Chief Executive in history.

In our insanely "politically correct" society, it takes only that one or two Sharpton-like hustlers start shrieking "racism" for thousands of lemming-like followers to stampede.

Al clearly has an axe to grind with the Post -- in re probe of his finances -- and "racism" is his only grindstone.

Get real.

Odd- I thought Congress (the laughingstock lot of rot who resemble a pack of *crazed monkeys* who are supposed to, but fail to represent it's constituents) wrote the bill, Not the president. To quote Larry Johnson, "Obama not only did not write the stimulus bill....hell, he did not even read the bastard. He just signed it." I perceived the crazed monkey to be congress, due to the porkulus bill's buffoonery and gross lack of competency. Now if the cartoon read "they'll have to find someone else to *sign* the next stimulus bill", then by gawd you'd have a reason to squawk. Get real. The Post isn't that stupid, and I never heard the rev go after cartoonists when they compared President Bush to a monkey. Get over it. The race card has run it's course.

Think what you like and then buy the paper or not but do not attack/attempt to infringe free-speech. Who did write that POS bill anyway? I know it wasn't Obama, at least directly anyway.

First, I don't think we need to listen to Mr. Sharpton at all, because as we know liberals have been against free press for a long time (Fairness Doctrine and now they want to shut up the NYP). Let's remember that Barack Obama himself threw the NYP off his campaign airplane in favor of some stupid magazine like the Glamour or something. Why?-Because the NYP had endorsed McCain?!
Secondly, I don't know what y'all are complaining about. As far as I remember it was largely Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid writing the stimulus bill together with the other members of Congress. The president signed the bill without even reading it, much less writing it. Last time I checked Pelosi and Reid were pretty white, even though their intelligence might certainly be that of a crazy chimp.

So let's not get too angry about this, allright?

Anyone who has watched the news over the past two weeks I knew that Barack Obama did not write the stimulus bill. He did not even read it. He just signed it. Where was the outrage of the way Condi was depicted over the last 8 years? I thought I was living in the 1890's for the better part of a decade.

I guess it is a different set of standards for Lord Barrack the most merciful.

Why do I have to hear and deal with you white people. You all know what the intentions were. No matter what...the BLACK race will prevail in the end.

I'm confused...isn't Obama half WHITE?

Freedom of the Press LibBitches. Deal with it and move on.

This is not racist, it is freedom of expression, it is trying to convey that Obama's reelection bid is now dead thanks to his foolish fiscal ways.

Can't wait for Nov 04, 2010!!!

Can't wait for Nov 04, 2012!!!

Bottom line, white people can not tolerate the fact that BLACK people are prospering more than white people. That is why we get their "WHITE WOMEN"..

Maybe you should consult a PHD in government. They would tell you that the President does not write legislation in this country, the Congress does. I have NEVER seen a bigger bunch of lower primates than our legislators, except maybe folks who still listen to Sharpton.

You've got to be kidding, right? I'm from Detroit, the most segregated city in the U.S. (look it up.) And, as tough as it is here, even we haven't lost our sense of humor. The monkey's Congress, you idiots, not Obama. Good God. I don't know what you have less of, brains or humor.

This is not racism and far from it.
No where in the cartoon does it show the chimp as Obama as political cartoons do or even looks like Obama.
It was comment directly at the type of mind who wrote the bill.
Those who think is racist it is in short a red herring and people are avoiding the subject all together.

Al Sharpton after what he did to the Duke players is not the one to be calling racism on anyone.

Those who cry racism are over used the race card for the last time.

HAHAHHA BARACK OBAMA DIDN'T EVEN WRITE THE BILL!! IN FACT, HE DIDN'T EVEN READ IT! NO SENATOR DID BEFORE IT WAS LAW! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO READ IT LIKE PROMISED!! THIS "MONKEY" COULD BE NANCY PELOSI OR ANYONE ELSE WHO ACTUALLY HAD A HAND IN WRITING THE BILL.

STOP LOOKING FOR RACISM!!! IT'S DISGUSTING!

PS- Barack Obama has a WHITE mother. He's 50/50 black/white...sort of hard to be racist against a man who is as much black as he is WHITE.

PPS- When are people going to realize that blacks, indians, asians, etc are just as racist as white. If the POST is going to be labeled as racist, than AL SHARPTON IS RACIST too...

This oped makes me sick!

It's not about Obama. It's aimed at congress.

The Monkey has been used many times in this country to racially represent BLACK people. For white people to say, to get over it, "YOU SHOULD ALL BE KICK IN THE @#$.

I saw the cartoon before realiziing it was "the" cartoon. It never occurred to me that it might be considered racist. I guess that's because I'm informed enough to know that Obama didn't write the bill, Congress did. So I thought the monkey represented Congress. Besides, Bush is the one who is commonly depicted by political cartoonists as being a chimp. Only racists would read the cartoon as being racist, IMHO.

I expected better from you, Jim Watkins. It's pathetic for a journalist to state that the cartoon is racist as though it's fact and not opinion, especially when it's a fact that Obama didn't write the bill. It's just as revolting to dismiss criticism of a bill that transfers unprecedented amounts of money and power to government as merely "partisan." Why not try reporting what's IN the bill, like nationalized healthcare, and $2 billion to ACORN? Objective TV journalism truly is dead. Try not to faint when your hero The Anointed One addresses Congress tomorrow night. Meanwhile, CW11 has lost a viewer.

Congress drafts bills, presidents sign (or veto) them.
I am thinking the artist was likening the recent shooting of the chimp after the one that mauled the owners neighbor. The chimp was out of control, so is congress in pushing forth an out of control spending bill. The only saving grace was the exposure of this bills pork laden features by responsible members of the press. Had the initial version been rushed thru, like the president would have liked, I am sure this would have been much more cause for outrage than the trumping up of racial bias. I would submit that in order to 'see' the racial bias some are claiming is a part of the cartoon, they would have to think along those lines, which says alot about what them. Forget about racial obfuscation. Its a cartoon people! Keep your focus on the issue at hand.greedy politicians, stupid bank and industry CEOs and what our taxpayer dollars are funding.

So, it was okay when people did cartoons comparing George Bush to monkeys, but now its wrong because the president happens to be black?

Double standard.

Must suck to go through life without a sense of humor.

Has it occurred to any of you RACIST MORONS that the current bill was written by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her crew, SPECIFICALLY so The One wouldn't have his fingers tainted with it's foul COMMUNIST stench?

I mean, any more than they already ARE...

first it is not racist! it is a commentary on the people who wrote the plan (Pilosi and the democrats) and not the snake oil salesman (Obama) pitching it to the gullable americans!

it is a comment on how stupid the plan is!

the plan is politics a usual! the only change we have is our president is now the spokesperson to sell us socialism instead of the guy making the decisions!

Chicago politics at its best! just what america did not need was a social elitist lawyer from Chicago! I would perfer joe the plumber running this country.

Lets all now thank Barney Frank for the mess we are in today because it is all his fault. when is congress going to step up to the plate and do there job! instead of blaming the guy who does not write or enforce our laws(the president)congress uses the presidency as a scapegoat for incompitence!

people this cartoon was not racist and if thats what you see, well... than your narrow minded!

Next time make it an albino chimp. I thought they did hire monkeys to type away threw away the copy of War and Peace and took the next best 1200 pages.

They could have shot a donkey but that would not have been contemporary or a reference to the above. Only Racists care about race.

The cartoon is racist only to those who think chimp = Obama; that is, only to the ignorant who think that Obama wrote the stimulus bill.

Congressional Democrats wrote the stimulus bill. (Hint: under the constitution, ONLY the congress can write a bill.) The cartoon was intended to imply that congressional Democrats are like the out-of-control chimp.

So many ignorant people with so little common sense.

I realized sometime ago that the New York Post was a racist newspaper. I stop purchasing this piece of gabage a long time ago. I've been trying to convince my partner to stop purchasing this gabage and now thanks to this cartoon...his eyes are now open. Thankfully he will no longer be purchasing this crap of a newspaper again.

I agree with JGalt and others with the same analysis. The police officer refers to writing the bill because congress writes the bill. Obama didn't write it, and didn't even read it.

The people who are crying racism are playing the victim and suffering from their own racism, and looking for someone else to blame. They are fertile fields for Sharpton's rabble-rousing. They want to stop free speech, when it doesn't agree with them, yet they should be allowed to speak freely.

The Post should not have a apologized.

Anonymous...

You can question the taste of the cartoonist in using a monkey, but not the intent. While it was obvious, to anyone not wearing "race" on their sleave, that it was meant to be a commentary on the quality of the legislation written by congress, it could have been presented differently.

Most Americans live in "one" America. We all work with people of all backgrounds, races, religions, etc. For those of us that live in this America (not the pundits living in the US of KKK, or Sharptons America), we understand that while the cartoon had a point, it lost part of it's effectiveness by using a character that is associated with racism.

To the individuals that get caught up in proving this was, or was not racism, you are a bunch of lemmings... Running off the cliff because a talking head tells you to.

Take the cartoon for what it is, a poor attempt to create discussion about a real issue in our country. Take away the racism and decide for yourself if you believe it was right for congress to spend almost no time reviewing 700+ pages of legislation that is loaded with pet projects, spending tax dollars on items that may not help the economy, and places ALL of us in more debt.

I am encouraged to see the African American community so excited about politics in a time where everyone should be engaged.

If everyone can step back and look at all of these decisions with a critical eye, then we can make it through the next 4+ years and end up being a stronger, more united USA.

Racist??? You want racism??!!! Look how the media treated Candi Rice! Don't give me this holier than thou attitude!

By the way...Obama IS a monkey!! Look at the ecomomy and what he's doing. Even a REAL monkey can do a better job. Today...market is down 250 points!! AGAIN!!!

I actually thought this was NOT racist, probably more appropriate for MAD Magazine but not over the line. What about Condoliza Rice as Aunt Jamima? Or Colin Powell as Uncle Tom? The main stream left reporting is so biased they can dish it out but their poor feelings are hurt when it comes back their way. This is defiantly becoming 'Big Brother' America, where our words and actions are controlled. We have lost the right to be a free people with the socialist government that we now have. Even the fish have more rights than the people do. In California the courts ruled that water has to be used to preserve a little fish which leads to the farmers not having enough water for the crops and going under which leads to having to import more food. There are limited areas left that are suitable for farming. These are sad times for the 'Land of the Free'...

The people that think this cartoon is racist need to ask themselves : "When I saw a monkey why did I think of Obama?"

There is no rational reason to imagine that the chimp was meant to be Obama : Obama didn't write the stimulus bill, Congress did. It isn't drawn to resemble Obama in any way. Had the Post thought it to b rcaist, why would they publish it, knowing that it would be used to attack their business? Why would the cartoonist publish it, knowing that it would be used to ruin his career?

The cartoon is not in ANY WAY racist. It's topical...the police recently shot and killed a Chimp. The stimulus bill was written by people with the intelligence level of Chimps (Reid and Pelosi...both white by the way...and this is more insulting to Chimps than to Reid and Pelosi).

It is a political statement, it's free speech, and it's only viewed as racist by people with an agenda that emphasizes racial division. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw the cartoon was NOT Oh, they're saying Obama=Chimp=racism...my first thought was the superbowl commercial a few years back that featured chimps with lazer pointers at a "sales meeting" The take is that CONGRESS is being compared to a bunch of out of control Chimps.

If you LOOK to be offended you will be...this is free political speech, NOT racsim...except on the part of Al Sharpton, who IS a racist...and a con man...in my humble opinion.

The cartoon was not racist. The crazed monkey symbolized a frenzied Congress writing as fast as they can to bankrupt the nation. End of cartoon. End of story.

I remember a famous line from THE FRENCH CONNECTION: "he sees policemen in his soup."

Jim, guys like find racism because you go looking for it with a microscope. I suppose if it were a crazed donkey that rampaged and made the cartoon you'd call it a slander against Democrats, as if such a thing was possible.

BTW Rev Al has a history far worse than any other player in this game. Crown Heights? Freddie's Fashion Mart? This guy's solution to race-tinged incidents is to show up with a gas can and a lighter.

Say what you will about the Post, but nobody died because of their actions. They do not have blood on their hands. Sharpton's are drenched in it. Eight people are dead because of him.

My hero. What of THEIR civil right to breathe?

This cartoon is insulting to chimps the world over! How dare you denigrate these brilliant creatures to the paramecium-like intelligence level of our President or Congress. A picture of a bandido, flim-flam artist, or sodomist would have been much more appropriate, given the recent porkulus bill and the follow-up "loser bailout bill" that middle class taxpayers are going to be paying for when BO rolls out his "How We (You) pay down the Deficit in 4 Years Plan".

This is insane. Nancy Pelosi was the author of the stimulus bill. Why is this now a race issue? Did I miss something? Is Pelosi not white? Where are the feminists on this item?

I'm curious. Where was all this outrage when Joe Lieberman was done up in blackface in 2004? Where was the outrage when the avalanche of syndicated cartoons of Condi Rice as a fat-lipped Aunt Jemimah hit newspapers?

Oh, I see. It's okay to be racist to the Uncle and Auntie Toms, right? Like Dems throwing Oreo cookies at Lt. Gov. Micheal Steele of Maryland, a Republican? Seeing that they're only white people with black skin, ghetto-bashing them is okay?

BTW The opposite is also true. Obama is not the first black president. Bill Clinton was :)

As for Al Sharpton, he's so racist that if he were white he'd in the Klan or Aryan Nation. No doubt about it. Won't find any love for Whitey there. GFY, Big Al. ANd I would say that no matter what color you were.

Being an ignorant race-baiter knows no ethnic or racial boundaries. Hate is an Equal Opportunity Employer, perhaps the most egalitarian of all.

I haven't seen so many comments since the Titanic sank.

Yeah, every nationality should have a guy in their corner like ol' Al Sharpton. He makes the most sense for his race. Someone made a comment regarding this and it's probably true. Even if he is a bigot in reverse.

We need not to spread hate by satire that exploits racism. As for the Post I say," Stop monkeying around."

The overt racism has been coming from the Al Sharpton's, Jessie Jackson's and Represenetive Clyburn from South Carolina who asserted that the governors were racist if they didn't take the stimulus package. Eric Holder was right Americans are cowards when it comes to discussing race we should stand up and denounce these avowed racist for what they are.

I am sorry to say, but Black people can not run a city, let alone a country. A good example was the former mayor of NYC...DAVID DINKINS. He played too much tennis than running NYC. What happened next, we got white people, and NYC looks great. So that is why there is so much hate coming from them black folks.

Hey Jim, get a life and stop pimping for that neanderthal and negro filth Al Sharpton aka Mr. Tawana Brawley.

Someone please tell these angry race baiters to stop posting comments for their own sake. Don't they see they are making an ass out of themselves by posting these racist comments?

And to Al Sharpton: Dude, focus on your taxes and keep out of this reidiculous discussion!

Someone please tell these angry race baiters to stop posting comments for their own sake. Don't they see they are making an ass out of themselves by posting these racist comments?

And to Al Sharpton: Dude, focus on your taxes and keep out of this reidiculous discussion!

Sharpton is Travis - ripping off the face of America.

You all just jealous, cause u's ain't got a white AL SHAPTON...

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

When I first saw the cartoon I thought of the democratic party in general (it was members of Congress, not Obama, who wrote the bill, afterall)--that they are about as smart as apes and their stimulus package is not only a joke, but it is dangerous and will do harm to the nation. I guess there are a lot of people who share the same IQ as the democratic party and can't understand a simple joke.

As far as showing Obama respect--those who opposed Bush gave him no respect. Why should Obama or his supporters expect any more than this from those who oppose him? Only someone as smart as a chimp would expect people to respect a man who has of yet not given the nation any reason to respect him--ah, the democrats once again!

My T.V. is broken . The same movie on all the chanals all the time. Planet of The Apes . You know the one where they take over the White House.

The fact that you and so many Americans have so much trouble parsing a simple cartoon panel is troubling. The cartoon clearly meant to say that the dead chimp was the author of the stimulus bill and bringing up Jim Crow and slavery and the whole nine yards in ridiculus. Even if the chimp was meant to be Obama just Google Bush and chimp and you won't be able to wade through it all.

Dies ist ein gro�er Ort. Ich m�chte hier noch einmal.