The Cover, or What?

Not too long ago, we told you we're currently in a "fallow period" of the presidential election cycle. That's between the end of the primaries and the national conventions, still well over a month away. Stories that might not get a lot of play under other circumstances suddenly become front page news. Proof positive of this is the controversy over the latest cover of the New Yorker magazine. It shows the Obamas, Barack and Michelle, in garb that can only be described as less than flattering.

The Illinois senator is depicted in traditional Muslim attire. His wife has a mile high afro and an AK-47 slung over her shoulder. Both are in the Oval Office, where a portrait of Osama bin Laden adorns a wall. The cartoon itself is called "The Politics of Fear", and both the McCain and Obama camps have lashed out at it. For its part, the New Yorker doesn't see what all the fuss is about. They call it satire. The campaigns call it tasteless and offensive.

Anyone who has read the New Yorker (as I do regularly) shouldn't be surprised. Even Obama himself said he had no response to it. Yet his campaign certainly did. The point of the cover (although unexplained) is to satirize many right wing lies told about both Obamas. Point taken. Part of satire is not necessarily giving a detailed explanation of why you do what you do. That sort of ruins the effect.

Those who will try to make this a story lasting more than a single news cycle need to find something else to do. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that important.

That's why it's called fallow.