In Mix-Up, Second College Paper Runs Obama 'N-Word' Cartoon

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK A newspaper cartoon that has already sparked controversy after being run in a New Jersey college newspaper has caused an uproar again. This time, an Arizona college newspaper has been criticized for a poorly timed oversight.

The Arizona Daily Wildcat, a newspaper serving the University of Arizona in Tuscon, on Wednesday unintentionally ran the syndicated cartoon that used the 'N' word in reference to President-elect Barack Obama.

The cartoon features a canvasser asking a Pennsylvania woman who she intended to vote for. The woman asks her husband, who responds from inside the home, "We're votin' for the n***er!" The woman then tells the baffled canvasser, "We're votin' for the n***er."

According to the Arizona Daily Star in Tuscon, the cartoon appeared in the college paper Wednesday because of a "production error." Wildcat Editor in Chief Lauren LePage had originally selected a comic that commemorated the Obama election victory; another editor had chosen the controversial comic from a server and placed it on the page. LePage then replaced the other editor's pick with her own on the server -- but not on the page. She didn’t catch the error until the newspaper was printed, the Daily Star reported.

LePage called the incident an “honest mistake.” Other students were offended and demanded the newspaper apologize for publishing the controversial content and have called for a boycott of the Wildcat.

Keith Knight, the syndicated cartoonist who created the cartoon, has commented on this latest conflict over his cartoon on his blog. He has dubbed the fallout over his work "the controversy that just won't end" and has posted letters from newspaper readers both extolling and condemning the strip. Knight calls the Daily Wildcat incident "a very unfortunate mix-up," and has talked to the editor, who apologized, according to the blog.


Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003888709

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I haven't seen the cartoon, but I'm not offended because it is an editorial page cartoon and it is based on a real incident that happened in PA to a canvasser. Editorial cartoons are meant to make a point - sometimes painfully so. BTW, the cartoonist Keith Knight is black. Here's link to cartoon, judge for yourself. http://www.salon.com/comics/knig/2008/10/22/knig/

[jkshaw]

1. The only thing that offends me in that cartoon

is the wife asking her husband who they're voting for as though she's following her leader!

[LisaL]

2. I believe that cartoon is based on something that actually

did happen. I've read about this on DU before.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Yeah the reference was in fivethirtyeight.com

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/on-road-western-pennsylvania.html

[benld74]

3. Hilarious! Knee Slapping ! Those crazy college kids!

Time to find out names, political affiliations, etc. More behind it than you think. Think Young Republicans growing the next Rove!

[LisaL]

5. The cartoon is based on a real incident,

and was trying to make a point.

[curse of greyface]

6. Actually it's a pretty funny cartoon. You do realize the joke is on the people not Obama. nt

[qwlauren35]

7. I heard a similar story.

An old timer who said "I'm voting for the colored kid."

It's like the Confederate flag issue. You have to pick your battles.

Given all of the households who couldn't bring themselves to be honest, and called themselves undecided because they just could NOT vote for a ni88er, I for one, am thrilled at the two who knew that they thought black people were inferior... and STILL figured out that Obama was the better candidate.

In my book, that's a MAJOR win. I can correct his choice of words later.

If you give me a million dollars, you can call me whatever you like. Think about Jodie Foster in Spike Lee's inside man. One of her clients called her the most despicable name a woman can be called. But it slid right off of her back... because he was still going to do whatever she wanted.

[cyndensco]

16. I think it is way more than the voters' choice of words that needs correction.

What really needs correction is that they "knew that they thought black people were inferior." Until that is corrected, IMO, it is f-a-r from a "MAJOR win," votes or not.

[psychmommy]

8. i don't find it amusing, it is insulting.

i don't want to be referred to that way and i don't want my president to be referred that way. i don't care if the cartoonist is black, being black doesn't give you carte blanche to throw the n word around-especially in mixed company. it is inappropriate and let's not start going here with that word. this is like the lovely new yorker mag cover, where folks thought it was ok. hell no. let's let this cartoon die.

[truthisfreedom]

9. I bet Obama's heard that story.

And I bet he laughed.

[ACTION BASTARD]

11. Obama get's irony.

[BeliQueen]

10. funny--that word holds no sway for me any longer

Especially in this context.

Based on the article, I thought this cartoon was a social commentary and that was enough for me not to mind.

funny.

[redsoxrudy]

12. I have witnessed the same thing.

I live in a pretty small town about 20 miles from Madison, WI. I was in a bar about two weeks ago when I overheard two "redneck" types,(quite common in this town) talking about the closing of the nearby GM factory. One of them said something to the effect of "this economy is so bad I'm voting for the N****r." Use of that word is used far too often here unfortunately. Incidentally that was when I knew Obama would win in a landslide.

[hay rick]

13. Sanitized.

Notice the word is never completely spelled out in the cartoon. In one panel it's missing part of the e and the r and in the other panel it's missing the er. Kind of like writing ni88er or n*gger or n****r. Everybody knows what the intended word is by context but it isn't actually there.

Humorous conversation at work today (at least I thought it was funny).


white guy #1 (Don): Now that Obama's president it's white people who are going to be the slaves. Janet says I can be a house servant instead of working in the fields.

black girl (Janet): If you're good you can just walk the dog.

white guy #2 (Pat): If you're real good you won't have to clean up after the dog.

white guy #1 (Don): I thought that was why we have n*ggers.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

14. um

I don't think it's all that funny.

[cyndensco]

15. The humor totally escapes me too. Totally.

[ksimons]

17. link to the cartoon - just for those who are wondering what it is about

He technically cropped the word off - probably for effect without being offensive on its face, but just my opinion.



and a pic of the cartoonist

[benh57]

18. I think if the readers understood it really happened, it would help

The fact that this really happened is kinda key.

[GetTheRightVote]

19. Wow, I did not think anyone would print something like this about our new Pres elect

Sad to see people speaking like this to a volunteer. Where are the grown ups in this nation ?

:kick: