NY Weekly Newspaper Compares Obamas To Characters From 1970s Black Sitcom 'Sanford and Son'

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press



FRANK ELTMAN Associated Press Writer

4:49 PM EDT, May 5, 2010
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — A weekly newspaper photo depicting President Barack Obama and his wife as characters from the TV sitcom "Sanford and Son" was intended as political satire and not a racist commentary, the publisher said Wednesday.

Phillip Sciarello, publisher and part owner of the Smithtown Messenger on New York's Long Island, defended the decision to publish the photo, but added the newspaper would run a retraction in its next edition for anyone who might have been offended.

The photo spread features "before and after" shots of the last six presidents and their wives, starting with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and ending with the Obamas. The "after" photo of the Obamas is a shot from the 1970s show, with Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford and LaWanda Page as Sanford's sister-in-law, Aunt Esther. She is seen standing ready to box Sanford; the characters often verbally jousted as part of the show's story line.

The "after" photos of the other presidents feature their images as slightly older than when they took office.

The controversy prompted the Brookhaven town board to remove one of the Messenger's sister publications, the Brookhaven Review, as an official newspaper, meaning it will no longer publish town government legal notices.

Read more: http://www.wtkr.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-obamas-sanford--son,0,3254202.story

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Riiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiight. No offense meant.

:puke:

[SpiralHawk]

2. How perfectly republicon

lacking in honor and judgment.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Dumb. Should've used "The Jeffersons" instead.

:sarcasm:

Welcome to post-racial America
:banghead:

[defendandprotect]

4. Certainly not racist . . .!!!!! ???? !!!!

[tomhayes]

5. How stupid are these people?

First, Fred G. Sanford was a widower. Aunt Ester was his deceased wife's sister - and ester was married to Woody.

Fred Sanford was also supposed to be 65 years old - Obama is now 48, and will only be 56 at the end of his second term.
Ester Anderson was supposed to be Elizabeth's older sister and would have to have been at least in her mid 60's also , while Michelle Obama is 46 now.


Even if you don't think it's racist it's certainly inaccurate.

[GoCubsGo]

6. But, Fred ran a junk yard

I'm guessing they were insinuating that the Obamas are turning the White House into one, as well.

[Angry Dragon]

7. Racist newspaper

Did it have bush as the Beverly Hillbillys??

[Turbineguy]

8. Did Sanford

inherit the junkyard?

[Tx4obama]

9. They should have used the 'Huxtables' they were both professionals.

But they shouldn't have done it at all in the first place!

[Faygo Kid]

10. Disgusting and obvious.

Teabaggers.

[thelordofhell]

11. Best Theme Song Ever!!

But the picture is still racist.

[Frank Cannon]

14. One of the funniest sitcoms ever.

I saw part of an episode a few months ago and it was still laugh-out-loud funny as hell. Redd Foxx was an absolute genius.

But, yes, the picture is still racist.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Post racial!

NOT! :banghead:

What these people don't understand is that they could have gotten away with it if they had done the "before and after" for ALL using comedy shows. But their supremacist attitude just doesn't allow that.

[Bette Noir]

13. I'm glad they at least lost their official status.

[droidamus2]

15. Typical bs

Racists do this crap all the time. They say or do something that is obviously racist and try to excuse it as 'a joke' or 'satire'. They must be called on it each and every time.

[alp227]

16. Nice fail at wit!

I wonder if the cartoonist has ever watched The Cosby Show or The Jeffersons?

[muntrv]

17. Why not the Huxtables?

[classysassy]

18. Well the election of our president

is really bringing out the worst in some people.The bible tells us " A house divided against it self can not stand " How long will it take for some of our citizens to demolish our house?

[Matariki]

19. Oh fucking hell - we are *so* 'post racial'.

:eyes: that is just sickening. and the fucking denial that it's racist is possibly even more sickening. "teh stupid, it burns".

[mac56]

20. "the newspaper would run a retraction in its next edition for anyone who might have been offended."

"I apologize if you let yourself be offended by this."

:eyes:

[political_Dem]

21. The Hits keep on coming. So when does the "Good Times" comparison come?