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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / The Final Word On The New Yorker Cover

The Final Word On The New Yorker Cover

by John Cole|  July 15, 20086:43 am| 54 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, Humorous

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Goes to Jon Swift:

I don’t even understand the point of satire. If the editors of the New Yorker actually believe that Barack Obama is not a Muslim, Michelle Obama is not a dangerous revolutionary and that they do not actually burn American flags, as Remnick now claims, couldn’t they have just said that? Wouldn’t it have been simpler and clearer to run the illustration with a big X over it so that we knew what they were trying to say? We are not mind readers. It doesn’t make much sense to say the opposite of what you mean and then attack people for being unsophisticated because they thought you were sincere. Do New Yorkers always say the opposite of what they mean and then expect you to understand? Real Americans, I think, prefer straight talkers, like John McCain, who means what he says when he tells us that he doesn’t know very much about economics, can’t figure out how to use a computer and believes that we will be in Iraq for 100 years.

Satire, I believe, is supposed to be funny, though I don’t see how being dishonest is humorous. I think it’s just sad. If the New Yorker wanted to run a humorous cover that showed Obama is not a Muslim, they could have accomplished that goal by depicting him slipping on a banana peal on the way to church. That would have made the same point and it would also have had the virtue of being funny.

***

The illustration might also have been acceptable if the New Yorker ran it on the inside of the magazine where people who are sensitive to mockery would not have run across it casually on a newsstand. Or they might also have enclosed this issue in a brown paper bag the way pornographic magazines sometimes are to keep it away from the eyes of children and people with heart trouble (how many children have been traumatized for life and how many deaths this cover has caused will only be known in the coming weeks). While the cover may have met the community standards of a place like New York where people apparently don’t mean what they say, there are some parts of the country where satire is just not acceptable in public.

I was laughing out loud.

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Reader Interactions

54Comments

  1. 1.

    dan robinson

    July 15, 2008 at 7:06 am

    That Jon Swift is a funny guy.

    Atrios, for example, whom many consider to be the Benny Hill of the blogosphere, but pithier, points out that for satire to be effective, it must exaggerated beyond all reason so that even a moron will know it is supposed to be funny. Only satire that is way, way over the top has even a chance of making people laugh. Subtlety has no place in satire because it could easily be taken at face value. If someone like Atrios is fooled into believing that something intended to be satire is real doesn’t that just defeat the whole purpose? It would be like an episode of MASH without the laugh track, which wouldn’t b

    e funny at all because you wouldn’t know when to laugh.

  2. 2.

    Joel

    July 15, 2008 at 7:11 am

    Thank you! The perfect way to start the day!

  3. 3.

    Cassidy

    July 15, 2008 at 7:26 am

    So I must defer to the liberal blogosphere, many of whose members are indeed experts at comedy. Although liberals are often unfairly accused of being humorless, the truth is that they are so knowledgable about what makes something funny that they rarely find humor that meets their very tough standards. They are like connoisseurs of fine wine who are unable to drink anything that is not the finest vintage. When a liberal says, “That’s not funny!” it is a cry from the heart from someone who longs to see something that really is funny. It’s too bad the editors of the New Yorker did not consult them first before they made their ill-fated attempt at comedy.

    My favorite part so far.

  4. 4.

    Napoleon

    July 15, 2008 at 7:28 am

    I heard an interview with the author of the article (which I have yet to read) on Fresh Air last night. Very good. His basic premise is that Obama is very much the politician in a nuts and bolts kind of way.

    It gives me a lot of comfort that Obama is very much a practical Politian and in light of some of the things the author says in that vein I think that what Obama is doing with the 50 state strategy is to trying to tilt the field with down ballet wins. He does not want to just win, but win with the wind at his back with pick-ups of a lot of seats.

  5. 5.

    John S.

    July 15, 2008 at 7:29 am

    Here’s a sneak peek at the new cover of National Review poking fun of McCain in a similar vein.

    Commence wingnut freak-out!

  6. 6.

    zoe from pittsburgh

    July 15, 2008 at 7:34 am

    That’s some very nice satire Swift has going on there– the question is does he realize it?

  7. 7.

    John S.

    July 15, 2008 at 7:34 am

    I should add that making fun of either Obama or McCain is simply not acceptable.

    The former is the messiah and the latter is a war hero.

    Would we mock Jesus or General Petraeus? I think not.

  8. 8.

    El Cid

    July 15, 2008 at 7:34 am

    I most deeply and humbly apologize for having occasionally posted on other peoples’ blogs who raised the topic and having dared to suggest that I found the direct and simple cartoon on the cover of the New Yorker anything other than guffawingly funny.

    Clearly I am now part of ‘the liberal blogosphere’ for missing out on the belly laughs. The more radical, hip, on the edge sorts are always to be found doubled over at the latest bon mots of The New Yorker.

  9. 9.

    John S.

    July 15, 2008 at 7:40 am

    My favorite part so far.

    Nobody is more fun to sneer at than an effete, latte-sipping liberal snob without a sense of humor – which is to say, all of them. Especially when they are fags who haven’t ‘nutted up’ by joining our glorious Armed Services.

    Which is to say, all of them.

  10. 10.

    TheFountainHead

    July 15, 2008 at 7:42 am

    Yeah, we get it, it’s satire. Thanks, I went to school too.

    Betchya twenty bucks I get an Obama smear e-mail with this cover at the top before the end of the month though.

    Artistic license is flimsy cover when you step directly into the crossfire of real racism, real religious distrust, and “real” patriotism.

  11. 11.

    Ricky

    July 15, 2008 at 7:43 am

    “Final word. Final word. Nobody says its the final word until we do.”
    Sen. Blutarsky

    But, the sheriff is a nigg…”
    Cable News Collective

    “Nobody wants to be the last man posting on a dying thread.”
    J. Kerry

    “If you don’t get it, I always post the title in the Table of Contents on my web page. Subscribers like to play a game guessing the title, but they read the table of contents religiously while listening to BBC World.”
    A. Liberal

    IT AIN’T THE ART ITS THE MEDIA.

  12. 12.

    jon

    July 15, 2008 at 7:45 am

    But wingnuts love “Team America: World Police!” without irony! So lefty fears are justified! They are! And I’m going to hold my breath until you admit it!

    Or, sadly, some conservatives may have that human-like quality that allows for a little laughing at themselves.

    No matter how serious things get, I always laugh a little when watching politics. They’re like Greek gods: vain, punishing, backstabbing assholes with all of our qualities and few of us regular folks’ limitations. It’s an amazing spectacle, and if I wasn’t laughing I’d probably be one of those people with all the guns and fertilizer and the maps of DC.

  13. 13.

    Geeno

    July 15, 2008 at 7:54 am

    It’s not so much that I don’t see the irony. It’s just that, in the current environment (full of morons), the first that pops into my head when I see something like that is the countless humorless iterations I’m going to be exposed to, not any humor quality of the thing itself.
    I think that’s been one of the most hateful effects on me of the last 8 years.

  14. 14.

    Jake

    July 15, 2008 at 7:58 am

    It’s all fun and satire until John McCain gets elected POTUS.

  15. 15.

    cleek

    July 15, 2008 at 8:06 am

    equal time

  16. 16.

    A Hidell

    July 15, 2008 at 8:11 am

    Let’s try this again. It’s unpossible for

    17.

    AkaDad

    July 15, 2008 at 8:14 am

    I don’t even understand the point of satire.

    He wins a dump truck full of tubes.

  17. 18.

    Punchy

    July 15, 2008 at 8:18 am

    slipping on a banana peal

    That must have been one hell of a sound wave….

  18. 19.

    TheFountainHead

    July 15, 2008 at 8:22 am

    slipping on a banana peal

    That must have been one hell of a sound wave….

    You win the internets.

  19. 20.

    Darkness

    July 15, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Artistic license is flimsy cover when you step directly into the crossfire of real racism, real religious distrust, and “real” patriotism.

    Artistic license is the ONLY cover when one wants to step into the crossfire. It being the difference between making a statement that makes people think about their assumptions and pap that makes people feel comfortable about their biases. Yeah, let’s avoid any need to discuss these difficult topics you mention.

    It’s not so much that I don’t see the irony. It’s just that, in the current environment (full of morons), the first that pops into my head when I see something like that is the countless humorless iterations I’m going to be exposed to, not any humor quality of the thing itself.

    This is the thing that really irks me over this issue. The cartoon is neither here nor there, but this POW syndrome of “let’s just let the morons win because they are so tiresome” is dangerous as hell. Sorry, I’m ready for a fight over free speech and public discourse, not capitulation. These same morons have been using this attitude of “you have to cater to our pathetic anti-elitism, anti-pragmatic reality tiny world view or we’ll kick and scream and call you names” to screw over every last corner of this country and you want to keep catering to them? I don’t care what the issue is, but not only do they not get another inch, it is way past time to reclaim some ground.

  20. 21.

    RAM

    July 15, 2008 at 8:29 am

    I’ve decided the cover was a great punchline. Unfortunately, it was not preceded by the joke.

  21. 22.

    bayville

    July 15, 2008 at 8:32 am

    From the famous satirist, Big Tent Democrat at Talk Left:

    “My view is that as satire it utterly fails. Satire of issues like this almost always do. Satire involving racist, sexist and religious stereotypes just do not work and I wonder when folks might wake up to that fact. Or will they continue to yell “PC!”

  22. 23.

    Cassidy

    July 15, 2008 at 8:35 am

    Nobody is more fun to sneer at than an effete, latte-sipping liberal snob without a sense of humor some jackass who takes themselves way too seriously – which is to say, all of them. Especially when they are fags who haven’t ‘nutted up’ by joining our glorious Armed Services.

    Which is to say, all of them.

    Your inferiority complex is sad.

  23. 24.

    Scott H

    July 15, 2008 at 8:41 am

    I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at how incredibly thick people have become – hell, they believe George Bush. Somehow, somewhere, Jon Swift’s nerfbat and squirting flower commentary is still going to be too ambiguous.

    And I can’t even speak to this group that can’t get three steps from the fainting count for terror of agitation among the unwashed.

  24. 25.

    Bob In Pacifica

    July 15, 2008 at 8:49 am

    The problem is that on the very rare occasions that I accidentally punch in FOX on my remote I am torn between laughing and crying.

    In the current Harper’s there’s a story about the Republican clique (with Abramoff) that ripped off America. The banking industry is on a cliff and these FOX knuckleheads are going to blame Schumer for it.

    My Ex emailed me about the “new Tom Lehrer,” a guy named Roy Zimmerman (you can find him on You Tube). Funny, clever, topical. It reminds me of Lehrer’s comment about Henry Kissinger. Or Jerry Lewis’ failed movie about the clown in the concentration camp. Or the other movie about the clown in the concentration camp.

  25. 26.

    mantis

    July 15, 2008 at 8:54 am

    From the famous satirist, Big Tent Democrat at Talk Left:

    PC!

  26. 27.

    Zifnab

    July 15, 2008 at 8:54 am

    Clearly I am now part of ‘the liberal blogosphere’ for missing out on the belly laughs. The more radical, hip, on the edge sorts are always to be found doubled over at the latest bon mots of The New Yorker.

    New Yorker Comics

    Yes. Thank you. I mean, come on people. The New Yorker has been printing comics for decades and they’ve never been funny. Why are we shocked now?

  27. 28.

    Face

    July 15, 2008 at 8:55 am

    And I can’t even speak to this group that can’t get three steps from the fainting count for terror of agitation among the unwashed.

    Can I get this in English please?

  28. 29.

    cleek

    July 15, 2008 at 9:04 am

    The New Yorker has been printing comics for decades and they’ve never been funny.

    not even this one ?

  29. 30.

    Genine

    July 15, 2008 at 9:07 am

    The cartoon is neither here nor there, but this POW syndrome of “let’s just let the morons win because they are so tiresome” is dangerous as hell. Sorry, I’m ready for a fight over free speech and public discourse, not capitulation. These same morons have been using this attitude of “you have to cater to our pathetic anti-elitism, anti-pragmatic reality tiny world view or we’ll kick and scream and call you names” to screw over every last corner of this country and you want to keep catering to them? I don’t care what the issue is, but not only do they not get another inch, it is way past time to reclaim some ground.

    That’s what I’m saying! I don’t care about the cover one way or the other. Its this attitude of catering to knuckle-draggers that’s really got my back up.

    It reminds me of the Absolutely Fabulous episode when Edina had to go to court because she ignored instructions designed to keep people from doing something obviously stupid, but most people wouldn’t even think of doing it. Anyway, she ranted in court something to the effect of “The world is designed for stupid people! The world is ruled by stupid people! And I am not stupid!”

    With that character, its debatable, but I thought it was one of the funniest rants ever.

  30. 31.

    Scott H

    July 15, 2008 at 9:08 am

    Can I get this in English please?

    Sure.

    And I can’t even speak to this group that can’t get three steps from the fainting couch for terror of agitation among the unwashed.

    Can I get a proofreader?

  31. 32.

    Bootlegger

    July 15, 2008 at 9:28 am

    All of that satire, aimed at Obama, McCain, even the barking dogs, is damned funny. Those “equal time” satires of McCain make the point nicely since I bet many on the Left who hated their guy being the lampoon target will love it when it’s the Grumpy Old Man.

  32. 33.

    John S.

    July 15, 2008 at 9:31 am

    Your inferiority superiority complex is sad laughable.

    Fixed that for you.

  33. 34.

    Ricky

    July 15, 2008 at 9:32 am

    ” I mean, come on people. The New Yorker has been printing comics for decades and they’ve never been funny. Why are we shocked now?”

    Zifnab, what’s the punch line. I don’t get it. Is this the one about the pioneers heading west with only the Artistic cover over their wagons to protect them from the Injuns…er indijinuns…

  34. 35.

    ThymeZone

    July 15, 2008 at 9:32 am

    I was laughing out loud.

    We are judged by what we laugh at.

    Nothing about this episode is funny.

    When a joke is made about particular people, and they are insulted, the joke is not funny. It doesn’t become funny just because people who have the luxury of not being the target of the joke find it convenient to laugh at it.

    The cartoon is insulting to particular people who have not done anything to deserve the insult. You can write all the snarky shit in the universe, and look down your nose at people who take offense until the cows come home, the fucking cartoon isn’t funny, and for that reason, it is not a joke that should be laughed at, it should be rejected.

    That’s why there’s a controversy, and you, John, are wrong about this.

  35. 36.

    dan robinson

    July 15, 2008 at 9:35 am

    I’m watching our dear leader’s news presser on TV, and I wish it were artful satire.

    I would take up religion again if it were only satire.

    But God isn’t listening.

  36. 37.

    The Moar You Know

    July 15, 2008 at 9:37 am

    cleek Says:

    The New Yorker has been printing comics for decades and they’ve never been funny.

    not even this one ?

    July 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am

    Maybe it’s me. Maybe there is some fundamental disconnect between the way my brain works and the way the rest of yours function. But cleek, that “cartoon” to me is not funny. Not humorous. Certainly not offensive – it’s not anything.

    But no, not even that one. Gotta go with Zifnab on this one – decades of cartoons and not one of them funny. Even “Family Circus”, the most unfunny comic ever made, has a better track record.

  37. 38.

    liberal

    July 15, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Darkness wrote,

    Sorry, I’m ready for a fight over free speech and public discourse, not capitulation. These same morons have been using this attitude of “you have to cater to our pathetic anti-elitism, anti-pragmatic reality tiny world view or we’ll kick and scream and call you names” to screw over every last corner of this country and you want to keep catering to them? I don’t care what the issue is, but not only do they not get another inch, it is way past time to reclaim some ground.

    I must be missing something here.

    I understand what you’re saying, but in terms of actual tactics, how the hell is the cartoon about Obama the right way to go about it, as opposed to, say, a cartoon about Bush, McCain, or the nutjob fundies?

  38. 39.

    AkaDad

    July 15, 2008 at 10:12 am

    The problem with that cover, is that it’s missing an elephant, with a GOP sign on it’s back, painting the picture. If they had done that, it would have been a nontroversy.

  39. 40.

    liberal

    July 15, 2008 at 10:14 am

    Jon Swift wrote,

    I don’t even understand the point of satire. If the editors of the New Yorker actually believe that Barack Obama is not a Muslim, Michelle Obama is not a dangerous revolutionary and that they do not actually burn American flags, as Remnick now claims, couldn’t they have just said that?

    Which entirely misses the point.

    The point is that, from a utilitarian perspective, any good the cartoon does is completely outweighed by the harm it inflicts by allowing the knuckledraggers to keep the “issue” alive.

  40. 41.

    John Cole

    July 15, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Which entirely misses the point.

    The point is that, from a utilitarian perspective, any good the cartoon does is completely outweighed by the harm it inflicts by allowing the knuckledraggers to keep the “issue” alive.

    You are responding seriously to a satirist remarking about a piece of satire.

    I hope to GOD you are a spoof. Otherwise, liberals are hopeless.

  41. 42.

    les

    July 15, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Betchya twenty bucks I get an Obama smear e-mail with this cover at the top before the end of the month though.

    And do you think that, absent the cover, you wouldn’t get an equally egregious, equally false smear? That, in fact, you would not get the exact smear the cover depicts? Jeebus, this is the most overanalyzed, underappreciated thing I can remember. It’s not an attack on some amorphous group that should be offended (sorry TZ); it’s two readily identifiable individuals. It accurately represents, in ridiculous fashion, lies and misconceptions peddled by republicans and idiots all over the country. It’s satire because it takes to extremes real events–it highlights how stupid the fears are. To believe it’ll have some serious impact on the vote for pres in November begs credulity.

  42. 43.

    Brachiator

    July 15, 2008 at 10:46 am

    dan robinson Says:

    That Jon Swift is a funny guy.

    Atrios, for example, whom many consider to be the Benny Hill of the blogosphere, but pithier, points out that for satire to be effective, it must exaggerated beyond all reason so that even a moron will know it is supposed to be funny. Only satire that is way, way over the top has even a chance of making people laugh.

    Oh this is good!

    Swift gives a, well — swift — kick in the ass to people who confuse satire with the obvious idiocy of something like “Mad Magazine.”

    And judging by the totally off-the-mark responses here to Swift’s satire, I must conclude that yes, liberals are hopeless.

  43. 44.

    Dan

    July 15, 2008 at 11:03 am

    Elaine: Look at this cartoon in the New Yorker, I don’t get
    this.
    Jerry: I don’t either.
    Elaine: And you’re on the fringe of the humor business.
    George comes in
    George: Hey!
    Elaine: Hey! George look at this.
    George: That’s cute.
    Elaine: You got it?
    George: No , never mind.
    Elaine: Come on , We’re two intelligent people here. We can figure this out. Now we got a dog and a cat in
    an office.
    Jerry: It looks like my accountant’s office but there’s no pets working there.
    Elaine: The cat is saying ” I’ve enjoyed reading your E-mail”.
    George: Maybe it’s got something to do with that 42 in the corner .
    Elaine: It’s a page number.
    George: Well , I can’t crack this one.
    Elaine: Aahh! this has got to be a mistake.
    George: try shaking it…(long pause) Well ,Janet should be here any minute. …

    Next day at the New Yorker

    Mr. Elinoff: So, J. Peterman wants to hire some of our cartoonists to illustrate your catalog?
    Elaine: Well we’re hoping that if perhaps that the catalog is a little funnier ,people
    won’t be so quick to return the clothes ha ha….For example.. I..I really do….Well I love this one
    Elaine shows him the cartoon
    Mr. Elinoff: Oh! yeah… That’s a rather clever jab at inter office politics don’t you think.
    Elaine: Ahan, Ahan….yeah…Euh but, Why is it that the, that the animals enjoy reading the email?
    Mr. Elinoff: Well Miss Benes . Cartoons are like gossamer and one doesn’t dissect gossamer. heh..hemm..
    Elaine; Well you don’t have to dissect if you can just tell me. Why this is suppose to be funny?
    Mr. Elinoff: Ha! It’s merely a commentary on contemporary mores. (slides the magazine to her)
    Elaine: But, what is the comment. (she slides the magazine back to him)
    Mr. Elinoff: It’s a slice of life.
    Elaine: No it isn’t.
    Mr. Elinoff: Pun?
    Elaine: I don,t think so.
    Mr Elinoff: Vorshtein?
    Elaine: That’s not a word…..You have no idea what this means do you?
    Mr Elinoff: No.
    Elaine: Then why did you print it?
    Mr. Elinoff: I liked the kitty.
    Elaine: (gets up) You know what? you people should be ashamed of yourself, you know ya doodle a couple of bears
    at a cocktail party talking about the stock market. You think you’re doing comedy.
    Mr. Elinoff: Actually that’s not bad..
    Elaine: Oh! really (laughs) well you know….. I have others

  44. 45.

    Bedlam UK

    July 15, 2008 at 11:06 am

    From Thymezone

    When a joke is made about particular people, and they are insulted, the joke is not funny. It doesn’t become funny just because people who have the luxury of not being the target of the joke find it convenient to laugh at it.

    Have you every seen Roy Chubby Brown?

    This guy is godamn awful. Sexist stupid and insulting to just about everyone. Yet he’s been a ‘comedian’ for about 30 years, has 1000’s of people watching his shows, even women watch him and he’s the most sexist pig you’ll ever meet.
    Your narrow rules on humour are unrealistic and generally pointless.

    This cover isn’t funny to me, I’m more of an Irony man but I see what its trying to do, and if it has a full segment discussing the pathetic media stories then its something.
    If not, then its just getting cheap hits.

  45. 46.

    Dan

    July 15, 2008 at 11:07 am

    What Swift did is not satire. It’s sarcasm.

  46. 47.

    Bedlam UK

    July 15, 2008 at 11:09 am

    Ps. I like Dans post. Now thats funny.
    That yours as I didn’t spot a link.

    If its yours, good job :)

  47. 48.

    Dan

    July 15, 2008 at 11:17 am

    http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheCartoon.htm

  48. 49.

    Brachiator

    July 15, 2008 at 11:20 am

    The faux furor over The New Yorker cover just won’t die. This morning, one of the local public radio stations (Larry Mantle’s AirTalk, 89.3, and usually an interesting program) is devoting a segment to the “controversy” over the cover.

    The sad thing is that the last remnants of wit, irony and (clutch the anti-elitist pearls!) sophistication appears to have passed away with George Carlin.

  49. 50.

    TheFountainHead

    July 15, 2008 at 11:21 am

    Clearly there’s no consensus on this issue, and I get the idea that it’s satire and therefore making fun of the very people who will pin it up on their bathroom wall. I get that. Some people will see it and say that’s all there is to it, but my experience in the last 48 hours of talking to those in the center, left, and right, is that everyone is reading their own conclusions into it, none of which are pretty, and no one is just writing it off as satire.

    So conclude what you will, have whatever “final words” tickle you, but don’t be so naive as to think that this qualifies as great satire. This isn’t Samuel Clemens and this isn’t E.B. White (who’s undoubtedly rolling in his grave as we speak), hell, it’s not even Norman Rockwell. If it were, we wouldn’t be talking about it.

  50. 51.

    Random Asshole

    July 15, 2008 at 11:26 am

    It’s official. I read Swift’s post. I now feel stupider as a result. Hooray for Tuesday!

  51. 52.

    Kevin

    July 15, 2008 at 11:27 am

    A Tom the Dancing Bug comic on this subject, from back in April.

  52. 53.

    gil mann

    July 15, 2008 at 11:46 am

    Do New Yorkers always say the opposite of what they mean and then expect you to understand?

    Yes, we do.

    The cartoon is insulting to particular people who have not done anything to deserve the insult. You can write all the snarky shit in the universe, and look down your nose at people who take offense until the cows come home, the fucking cartoon isn’t funny, and for that reason, it is not a joke that should be laughed at, it should be rejected.

    Good point, ThymeZone, as always.

  53. 54.

    HyperIon

    July 15, 2008 at 1:00 pm

    When a joke is made about particular people, and they are insulted, the joke is not funny.

    TZ, this is about the stupidest thing you have ever written.
    all those bush jokes we’ve been making here (which i’m pretty sure chimpy would find insulting)….not funny? and coming from you, who has been known to make cruelly humorous statements about commenters here? WTF?

    i’ll tell you about funny/not funny. funny is when you laugh. not funny is when you don’t laugh. there is no universal standard of funny/not funny. thus, YMMV. duh!

    the new yorker has been captioning its covers on the inside for years. the caption for this cover was in the same place it has been for all the other covers. “the politics of fear” caption is unambiguous.

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