The Barack Obama cover scandal

Look carefully at the image on the right. It's Die Tageszeitung's new cover.

Even those of us without German can probably make a stab at the words printed above the White House: Uncle Barack's Cabin.

The edition has caused a scandal in Germany. Although the left-leaning paper claims that the headline was meant to be satirical, many are upset.

Among them is Gary Smith, director of the American Academy in Berlin:

'Uncle Tom' is a racial slur, and the Taz editors clearly sacrificed substance and principle for an unreflected laugh," he said. "A journalism that prides itself on treating stereotypes with irreverence needs to think harder about its own deployment of stereotypes and racial allusions.

So, unfortunate or offensive? Your thoughts welcome.

Alice Fishburn

Comments

[SJH]

Steady on. They're all at it.

1. Impeccably credentialled lefties have used the term not even satirically e.g John Pilger, New Statesman< 23 January 2008:

“Barack Obama is a glossy Uncle Tom who would bomb Pakistan.”

2. Michael Moore thought Hillary Clinton was engineering something similar; see his blog on 21 April 2008

“Yes, Senator Clinton, that's how you sounded. Like you were nuts. Like you were a bigot stoking the fires of stupidity. How sad that I would ever have to write those words about you. You have devoted your life to good causes and good deeds. And now to throw it all away for an office you can't win unless you smear the black man so much that the superdelegates cry "Uncle (Tom)" and give it all to you.”

3 And Obamaa supporters have been using it all along about blacks who backed Hillary: see the comments from Obama supporters on his own website, or the reporting on black congressman who backed Hillary eg Dallas Morning News, 21 April 2008.

"I understand the emotional charge that African-Americans got when they saw the surge in Obama's campaign," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., who has been called an Uncle Tom by Obama supporters.

[Les Mitchell]

How sad it is that everything is reduced to so-called racism. Not so long ago in the seventies, black comedians were able to poke fun at themselves and get a laugh; e.g. Sammy Davis Jnr. remarked how tough it was for him, being black, one-eyed, short and Jewish. Now all the super-sensitive liberals cry, "Racist!" at the drop of a journalistic hat. What a sad, unhappy lot they are.

[Candadai Tirumalai]

In its time Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was a revolutionary work by a New Englander with strong abolitionist views. Lincoln is reported to have said to her (paraphrased), "So you are the little woman who began this great war." In more recent decades Uncle Tom has become synonymous among African Americans with those who are all too willing to accept the framework imposed by white society in order to advance within it, even if it means servility. In the 1960s and 1970s Malcolm X and Black Power leaders became the antithesis of Uncle Tom.
Not only is the German caption not in good taste but it violates the whole tenour of Barack Obama's post-racial campaign.

[Alex Jordan]

Shocking judgement.
Simply shocking.

I'm so bored of him being Black. Can't he just be Barack?

[Verity]

Perhaps Gary Smith should bear in mind that the Germans are under no obligation to adhere to American mores. It's a German magazine for the German public. It's irrelevant that Uncle Tom is a smear in the US because the audience of the magazine is in Germany.

America, although a genuinely non-imperial super-power, does sometimes venture into attempting to coloninse the manners and mores of other countries by trying to insist on universal adherence to American usage.

Die Tageszeitung can publish what the hell it likes within the laws and usage of its own country.

[Doug]

How did "Uncle Tom" or "Sambo" ever get to be insults? Anyone who actually read the books would know that they were decent characters. Sambo in particular was a resourceful and clever person.

But, I guess the left needs some insults to hurl at the African Americans who try to assimilate.

[TOM M]

The character referred to as 'Uncle Tom' in Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic is an elderley, pious, yet ultimately submissive black slave. Whilst revolutionary for its time (and certainly crucial to garnering Northern white opinion for the civil war), it simultaneously reinforced negative black stereotypes.

It portrayed the black race as loyal, obedient, moralistic and harmless. Yet, conversely it also implied inferior black mental faculties that made the race simple and in need of masters. Whilst Tom may have been loyal etc, the more insidious implication was that slavery was a symbiotic relationship: a necessary master-slave connection.

Whilst, I accept that different cultures interpret things differently, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' has a distinct and almost universal meaning. The writers have either read the book and its subsequent meaning (in which case their headline is inexcusable), or they haven't (in which case they are guilty of negligence). Either way, this is offensive, ridiculous, and ultimately worthy of no more comment.

[Ed White]

I believe Obama is a symbol of the New America. Ignorant, politically correct, immoral in everyway, master of deception, just as most of Americans have become. More than 5 million babies have been murdered (some call it abortion), since Rowe vs Wade. Living together has replaced marriage (the Bible calls it fornication). We haven't paid for the Korean, Vietnam, Bosnian wars yet, and are spending 14 million dollars a day on Iraq. A national debt of over 10 trillion dollars. Don't look now but we are circling the drain. There is nothing but down from here, no matter who is President. It's not the President, it's the people!! The people in American are rotten to the core and God Almighty will indeed destroy everyone of us because of it. The same message that applied to Nineveh, applies to all of American, REPENT!! Instead of spending millions going to the movies on the weekend to soak up more of Hollywoods sickness, we should be spending the day in prayer and fasting!

[Brian Johnson]

The headline clearly is not racist. It comments on how a black person borne in poverty can reach the top in America.

I am again saddened by the narrow minded people twisted the truth to suit their belief that all white people are inheritly racist.

[Robin Bostock]

Maybe because I can't read the rest of the article to get a negative sense but when I saw the picture and caption "Uncle Barack's Cabin" my first thought was, "Yes, wow! Blacks have come a long way from Uncle Tom's Cabin! Isn't that a good thing?" What would "Uncle Tom" think of Barack's little cabin?

[Debbie]

I don't think white people who enjoy smearing people based on their racial affiliation are racist. I just think when you are white you are more likely to buy into the illusion created by the powers that be to control us average every day people. If we shaved an ape what color would it be? Hairless apes black or brown or yellow or red. They're pink, i.e. white. Color is a higher evolutionary condition than say pink or white skin. Most lower animals are pink or white underneath they're fur. Now I'm not saying that white folks are a lower form of life but you do have to wonder why they're the only hairless humans who are pink or white. Maybe they're just not very bright.

[JL Ronish]

Goodness! Apparently some line was crossed here. Satire? Aimed at the Messiah? NO NO NO Only those on the political right are authorized targets.

[Snorri Godhi]

All what this shows is that even the Germans have more of a sense of humor than the Democrats.

[Mireille]

None of this means anything, when will people in general stop being stupid. What do these words make you think? Do we all stop in our tracks and gasp in horror, at the many racial slurs he is sure to have to endure? Whatre gonna do?

[maggie millington]

Well I am sick of him being called Black!
The man is as much white as he is black for gods sake stop calling him black .

I am white & not even a fan of his but I'm still fed of him trading on this black thing .

As for the magazine, please laugh, the word racist is becoming dead in the water.

[Dost]

Maybe that you all will get over the point of being racist, when it doesn't matter anymore if you call someone black, white, negro or chinese.

Does it make any difference? No it doesn't, so...., what's the point of talking about it?

Let's enter the age of post-racism.

[kirk radway]

I think that its good that these are coming forward...better out in the open than underground. When they remain hidden us black people get accused of playing the race card and of being paranoid. So let the racist come forward and identify themselves

[Stella]

To I am White: The concept of African-American's being black rather than 'mixed' or bi-racial, was imposed on the culture by then dominant Whites, who so despised African-American heritage, one drop of blood was too much. And, hey,are you sure you are white? LOL

[Doan Callamee Datt]

ATTENTION: Effectively immediately DO NOT refer to a person who may be identified by the color of their pigment-rich skin as being descendants of people known to have lived on a large continent with 6 letters - beginning and ending with the letter "A" - as any thing. Do not use any term remotely suggesting a connection.

When you meet said person, avert your eyes so as to avoid even an inadvertent facial expression that might suggest you recognize that their body is covered in a pigment- rich skin.

If you are ever asked to identify said person by describing useful physical characteristics - do not, under any circumstances fall for this trap. Answering this question is not worth the consequences. The recommended course of action is to look at the questioner as if you don't understand what they are asking and say, "I have no idea what you are talking about. It was just an indistinguishable person and I didn't actually look at them or hear their voice".

Go to your child's crayon box and remove the offending color. However, do not destroy crayon as this will offend members of a particular race who formerly were identified by this color. The approved handling method is to place the offending crayon in a Velvet Crown Royal bag, place the bag in an ornate, jewel encrusted case, and call your local NAA*P office. Tell them you are making a donation. Do not give a name. Have the case picked up in a public place but be sure to wear a disguise when leaving the case.

This is such a travesty for this race. They went through centuries of oppression and fighting for their freedom only to find that mere words had the absolute power to incapacitate them.

It is indeed a purplish-eye on our country.

[bgary]

The comments both negative and positive are indeed interesting. But let's cut to the meat of the subject. In our world today: calling a black man an uncle tom is a major racial insult. The paper knew what they were doing. In our world today: a child by a black and white couple is a black child. And giving the choice, would you rather the U.S. be led by a sensible, charismatic, energetic and intelligent, young man, who may just make a positive change (color not withstanding), or four more years (though just a little different) of the current policy’s that America has given? This time lead not from a country bumpkin but from a seemingly senile, fool, who says, “Vote for me because I was in another war that shouldn’t have happened. I was caught and imprisoned while the rest of you protested that America should get out of Vietnam.” Even you thick-skulled bigots can comprehend this one.

[P.G]

not satirical but silly.

[Tom]

On the one hand, surveys show that Obama is very popular in Germany. And now, this? Sorry, but racism is racism. What if the New York Times said that all Germans are Nazi killers? I have a feeling that rightly so somebody would be upset. Hiding behind "cultural differences" is no excuse.

[real dude]

WHO CARES??????? GROW SOME BALLS EVERYONE

[Cynthia]

I'm amazed at some of the racist comments some posted here. Especially Debbie.

It's been the Obama people who have spoken out so much about him being black. Obama wasn't born into poverty as much as he wants people to believe that, and a elite private school in Hawaii doesn't come cheaply.

Let the Germans have their covers and the Danes their cartoons and let it go.

[e skelton]

Are Welshmen who support the Union 'Uncle Taffs'?

[John Bargh]

You know, there are ways in which that title might not be racist.

"Uncle Barack's Cabin" may be a comment on how far African-Americans have come in the past 150 years, that this particular black man's "cabin" is the White House?

In fact, in some ways, it seems almost an anti-racist statement.

[Kelly]

"Tom M", thanks for the good laugh.

Oh, and by the way 1912 wants their Time Machine back.

[Curtis Stevens]

I am a professor of Smerican History, and the use of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is definitely a racist slur to refer to those Blacks who will follow the Euro-American slights to refer to African Americans. Regardless of how one would like to view the term, it is racist in undertones.

[nativegirl]

I don't think they backed Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton for any other reason than, they were until recent history, a DNC leader.

She has benefited by her husband's popularity (whatever you want to call it), and both Clinton's did this before his Presidency, was to hand out hard cash to the black community's with a sublime message of 'vote for me' or I'll not be generous.

You have to understand the black population and latino are the most economically and service's depraved in all of America. Always has been, without me telling you why.

Of course I think this is offensive, but that is the cost of 'freedom of speech'. Bill Clinton used 'race baiting' on Obama, but he humbly let it pass. Obama has integrity, the Clinton's, McCain and many other voter's are not. They vote uneducated and for a single cause 'Women' vote to have a woman Pres, this is silly. Or the lunchbucket guy that Clinton promises something different in every town. Unrealistic and truthfully, not that easy. So Obama's supporter's are organized, humble, strong, issue oriented, sincere.

McCain was praising Hillary Clinton the candidate, she was on a conservative network Fox, along with Geraldine Ferraro..berating Barack Obama. This is the game they play to win. They are desparate.

Obama will not let maligning him, intere with his campaign, he is stronger than that.

[SophieL]

Did everyone miss the ironic juxtaposition of the title of the book and the house in the picture?

[Dawn]

This only proves that the world is not as color united as it is portrayed to be. Other countries have leaders that are of all colors. What happened to the melting pot of America. Maybe we should stop letting women vote again. It seems we are going back to the stone age.

I am a supporter of Obama, I don't care about his personal backround, I have researched what he has done as a Senator.

I also think that it scares the crap out of people because he is not the normal "passive" Democrat.

[Michael Sheridan, Sacramento]

I haven't read the article. If the title was intentionally provocative, but the article was substantive and seriously explored the distance between the U.S. then and the U.S. now, and also gave the context of the reference in the title, I'd give them a pass. If it was meant just as a cheap laugh, they get no sympathy from me. People who think people should "lighten up" about charged racial jokes are clueless.

[delia]

I seem to remember that Uncle Tom was a black man. Obama's mother is white...

[Colin]

Hey, if being submissive and playing by the rules gets you the job as President of the United States, I ask, 'where do I sign up?' Give me the job - I'm sure the joke will be on me!

[Albert Bakker]

Well, it's a cheap shot from TAZ but the message cannot escape to read in the cover is that it would degrade the prestige of the White House if Barack Obomba would inhabit it.

I would say that TAZ is right, and I fully expect it to be, but not because the triviality of his complexion, but because he promises to be indistinguishable from his predecessors. Therefore the only difference in prospect is that this symbol for moral decay, the White House, could be inhabited by a criminal with a slightly darker skin and a little less grey hair than usual.

That seems to be a ground for TAZ to come up with this meta-humorous racial slur. And therefore I laugh at TAZ.

[Jane]

To refer to Barack Obama as an 'Uncle Tom' is one of the worst slurs possible. I find the cover in the worst possible taste. If they had wanted to show their literary knowledge with references to books then why didn't they use the title, "The Audacity of Hope" or "Dreams from my Father" ? But of course that would have been too intelligent and truthful.

I do hope they will apologize.

[Adam]

Can't we judge on what is meant rather than what is said or written?

[Sharif Lone]

I know Die Tageszeitung. It is left with some green tendencies. In my view the reference was not meant as an insult. That is journalism; they have difficulty selling with great competition from Bild Zeitung and other scandal mongering papers. Just forget about it. The newspaper is worthy of all the compliments.

[Wolfgang]

I am a German, having lived in the U.S. for 8 years now. I find the Tageszeitung's cover fairly funny. The emphasis of the joke is not on Obama being black, but on the White House being called a "cabin." Indeed, Germans do not have the guilt regarding blacks that makes any racial reference to blackness a blasphemy that the U.S. Americans have. Why should they.

Americans should thus not measure this cover by their norms. Otherwise they behave like the Muslims who choose to be offended by something that a Danish newspaper publishes. It is unfortunate that Gary Smith, director of the American Academy in Berlin, does not know this. Has he not been in Germany long enough? The way he writes it, multiculturalism itself is used as an expression of U.S. American self-centeredness - or should we say narrow-mindedness?

And note: There are some Jewish jokes completely acceptable in the U.S. that you might lose your job over in Germany.

[claire]

hey give it up guys in the 21 st century i dont beleive that there is a soul still talking of colours! who cares whether you are black,white,green or yellow? who gives a damn? after all blacks have proofed that they can play on the same level ground with any other colour or race!so stop the stupidity or what can i call it? give me a name. I am black i am proud kudos brother obama!

[Inaru]

Both the words and picture could be interpreted both ways, as a compliment and as an insult. Unfortunately, since I grew up with people blatantly insulting blacks and dark-skinned Europeans and Jews and Arabs, I first saw the insult as: Obama made it, but only by selling out. It made me mad and pretty blue.

I set it aside, came back to it, and thought: It's irony, pretty self-conscious irony, not like "You've come a long way, baby" the ad for Virginia Slims "women's" cigarettes (Don't call me "baby"!), which was oblivious and purely exploitative (smoke 'til you drop, "baby").

That's all I can tell without the content. I expect it says "Ain't it amazing?" in German. And yes, it is. And wonderful (a Germanic English word, as many are).

[kaysha]

Offensive and insulting.

[shelly]

Who cares, some people are just plain ignorant!! Obama
is just as much white as he is black. Why are all children of mixed parentage(black/white) always referred to black? The uniqueness of this man is that he brings both views to the table unlike all the other years of leadership where we only had one view. That in itself should be embraced.

[fred rice]

Big deal. I suppose it is OK for someone obviously Black like Oprah to support him for the obvious Black part of the man, but the wrong reference meant as a joke, and not fully understood outside the mores of certain sections of the United States has become a "scandal". I would venture to say most people in the United States do not pick up on the 'racial "slurness" ' of the expression.

[Bob]

Here in the US, Obama does not want anyone to talk about his ears, his minister, his wife's "whitie" remarks, nor his connections with the Chicago crook.....
The biggest problem here, is we have people that want to hyphenate themselves onto, "American"...we have Latin American, African-American, German-American,...cannot they say they are just American?

[Ron]

If you are offended, go find something constructive to do. German journalists have the same right to the expression of ideas and opinions as do American journalists. But, typical of liberals in America, those rights only apply if approved by them. THAT's what is sad.

[Virginia]

It's odd that anyone would try to imply that Obama is a black man trying to act white. He is, in fact, biracial and was raised by his white mother and grandparents. He did not 'join' the American black community until he was an adult, and he is as well-situated as anyone could be to run a post-racial campaign. Can't we try to join him in that?

[R]

Typical German mentality. Similar to Air Berlin's boss disgraceful opinion about the Catalan language.

[Kasigazi Black Obama]

hmm, what's the point out of all this nonses people tend to speak out!!

there is nothing much i can say more than mentioning that, Obama is neither black or white, but he is Brown orange.

stop the nonsense, and look forward to living in a safe 21st century with a brown orange president of the biggest nation on the planet

[Skeptical Observer]

Les Mitchell said, "In more recent decades Uncle Tom has become synonymous among African Americans with those who are all too willing to accept the framework imposed by white society in order to advance within it, even if it means servility." Excuse me, but what, about Obama's campaign makes anyone believe that he is not "...all too willing to accept the framework imposed by white society in order to advance within it...". So far the cover seems relevant.

Doug states (about Uncle Tom's Cabin): "It portrayed the black race as loyal, obedient, moralistic and harmless." So here the cover is mistaken, since Obama shows none of those qualities viv-a-vis the United States.

A paradox of a magazine cover?

One wonders why the Democratic party chose not to enlist Hillary...

[chevytexas]

I agree with Wolfgang: there are "national norms" that, under a microscope, look absurd to the rest of us and yet our reaction to this moment does make us look like Islam and the Danish cartoons. Bad taste? Maybe. Anyone note that there's a very large White house combined with the negative headline? Without reading the article, I have hopes that the caption writer (they don't get paid much) was reflecting the irony of Barack's success and its reward, more than Uncle Tom and its servile implications. I agree, lighten up.

[Craig Ranapia]

Unfortunate or offensive? Let's try none of the above, though if like me you find pig ignorant literary allusions offensive, the latter might fit at a pinch.

I'd also point out that I roll my eyes when cheap and witless Nazi analogies roll of the tongue of American commentators. Something, I think it's fair comment to say, Germans are a little sensitive about -- no matter how many times they're told to get over themselves and grow a sense of humour.

[Roy]

Wow! how enlightening, what diversified viewpoints we all have. Peace

[Nigel]

I am just surprised that they didn't use a file photo of the Vatican. Oblabla has been sanctified and canonized by the press, with no thought for what he really stands for, what he might do, or who controls him. When George Bush took office he was mocked as being the puppet of Daddy Bush, Dick Cheney, Jim Baker, etc etc. No body has looked deeply enough into Oblabla's past, or far enough past his "soaring" empty rhetoric of "change" to ask who will really be pulling the strings if he's elected. Tony Rezko, Rev. Wright and Bill Ayres are not flukes -- they are a frightening pattern. Wake up America. He's not the Messiah after all and the oceans will not recede because of him.

[Honest boy]

Now that the in-fighting of the presidential nomination battles are over and all that remains are the party conventions and the actual presidential poll, isn't it highg time the Constitution was brought into the 21st century? It is a matter of history that it was written by 18th century intellectuals to protect the infant United States from infection by European (particularly British) politics but what suited the country when it consisted of thirteen states and had a relatively small population scarcely seems suitable now that the country is four times the size it was in 1776 and the population increased out of all proportion to what it was in 1778 As I see it the whole process reduces a presidential term to three years,It is also longwinded and open to manipulation by unscrupulous politicians. The Yanks have a reputation for being inventive; surely it is not beyond the wit of some constitutionasl lawyer to come up with something that will keep the ideas of the Founding Fathers but is more suitable for the 21st century.
I am expecting a visit from the Men In Black for this suggestion but in the meantime think about it. If anyone rea\ds this I'm sure to see one repetition of the old saying "If it works don't fix it" but the Constitutionas as it aspplies to election proceedings is so antiquated that it should be replaced if only in the interests of efficiency.

[JT]

If anything is said about Obama that isn't of the highest praise, all his supporters will cry "racism". It's been happening, and it will happen more and more as the election draws closer. Just wait, in a short while John McCain will be a racist.

[Mahendra Mathur]

What is all this fuss about? Why can't people just laugh at a witty caption? Don't be over sensitive people, a caption is not a bomb.

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

This Black/White conundrum repeatedly aired of late in the Media would maybe never have created such furore if the Obama camp didn't use the 'race card' at every possible opportunity. It would be nice if Obama and his staff just concentrated on presenting to the American public what great remedies would be put in motion to create a more humane and equal society?
By not rising to the bait time after time, Obama would be seen in a more favourable light.
After all people create mayhem to provoke just this reaction.
The answer is obviously, don't rise to the occasion, ignore it.
To quote 'Animal Farm' - All men are equal, but some are more equal than others'.
Oh yes, oh course!

[Boyos]

The man made it clear from the beginning that he was not going to use his race as a campaign tool, so I’m somewhat baffled at the comments from ‘the real dude’ and the other fellow who has had enough of “him trading on this black thing”. As for Debbie, I think you should keep you sick and prejudiced views to yourself.

[Nick Haslam]

Anne Applebaum on Slate wrote this about Die Tageszeitung's cover:

"The editors argued that their intention was satirical, but since the same newspaper has also referred to the current U.S. secretary of state as "Uncle Tom's Rice," it is clear that they understood the nastiness of the "Uncle Tom" connotation perfectly well."

Maybe it was satirical, and maybe people like Anne Applebaum over-reacted in taking offense, but equally the editors must have have realized that Uncle Tom has derogatory undertones (which it certainly does). It was a foolish prase to put on the cover.

[RS]

Obama is an Idiot. God Bless Germany.

[Thom D]

I don't think its a secret that racism will be a continual presence in this election, be it expressed as "satirical" covers, or more subtle "shadings" of the truth for political purpose.
Racism is a sad and unfortunate fact of life, which Barack and every Black person literally has to figure into every daily action. There's no use whining about it. That's just the way it is. I do predict that Obama is going to be doing the least of that of anyone around him, simply because he knows this fact and has dealt with it already every day of his life. And he will be dealing with it all the way to the White House.
As for this particular cover, I feel that it might show more "translational error" from German culture to American, than any conscious attempt to hurt. The work of children. Might be telling, however, that it's coming out of Germany. I feel a lot of what passes for liberal acceptance of black folk and therefore grants the right to take a familiar tone, is in fact at root, a plain, unvarnished distrust and loathing of the Strangers among them - Turks there, Moroccans in Netherlands, Muslims in Scandinavia, etc, in short, and simply: genuine racism.
Masquerading as satire.

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

'Laugh and the world laughs with you.
Cry and you cry alone'.

[Vicky]

bgary: "In our world..." No, actually you mean "In America..." which last time I checked wasn't synomymous with the rest of the world.

How incredibly hypocritical to cry offense at this and yet mock Muslims for their objections to the Dutch cartoons a while back.

Sadly Americans really do seem to often think the rest of the world is just an extension of them. Gee, Ma, do folks out there think different to us?

[Paul]

There are numerous ways the headline can be taken, as evidenced by all the different feedback. Only the headline writer knows what he meant. All our interpretations are just guess work. Those who see a racial slur are probably ex-racists, by which I mean they are like ex-smokers writing on the subject of smoking, or born again Christians, or other humourless souls. But those who see humour are probably just out and out racists. Oh s**t, I think I may have just offended the whole world.... and by the way i'm only joking. Are you laughing?

[Freda]

And how many Americans had to have the words translated before they could be affronted? No surprise when the Bible-bashers have been (mis)quoting from their translation for years, I suppose...

[Skeptical Observer]

Prudence Eel y Bond McGuire wrote, "The man made it clear from the beginning that he was not going to use his race as a campaign tool,..." What world are you living in? Ob and his campaign have subtly and not so subtly ("My white Grandmother...") used race from the very beginning, continuing even until today...

It's folks like you, who are too lost in the orbasms, to be rational that scare me! This is a presidential election, we're not choosing "Most Popular"!

[Skeptical Observer]

Oh, by the way, Debbie's comments are less racial/racist than almost anyone else on the page!

[megacephalus]

you think the TAZ is bad, try this on Blackface "Step-'n-fetch-it" Obama Dolls in SPIEGEL:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,558768,00.html

Note that after complaints [including mine] the editor took the 'front' image down, but left the article up!

[megacephalus]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,558768,00.html

[Victor]

I subscribe to the Taz - and they have a long, proud tradition of making irreverent front pages.

My personal fave came some years back, when Kohl resigned:

"Schäuble voller Neid - Kohl Geht"

(Wolfgang) Schäuble full of envy - Kohl is gone.

The joke here was, that Schäuble is in a wheelchair.

Before that. the paper - chronically in dire straits - threatened to put a glam photo on the front page, if 100 new subscribers had not been found by saturday.

They missed the target and published a truly horrid topless pic - the kind that would have been printed in Sun or Bild Zeitung.

As for this front page: I laughed when I saw it. And then I started thinking about just how far black people in the US have come.

Oh - and then - next line of thought: Why call Obama black??

Folks - we got to stop this ridiculous PC "deliver-us-from-insults" spiel. It is making life incredbly boring....almost Swedish.

(Oops - I just insulted a whole nation).

[Jeff]

Why is it always racism if anyone that is white says anything about a black person. But if a black person says something about whitey it's never brought up as a racial slur. I feel I can best describe my feelings from an episode of "Seinfeld" where George is speaking in the third person: "GEORGE IS GETTING ANGRY!" If O is elected we will have to listen to how bad a country we have been until the O has rescued America. This will not satisfy the black population, because rarely do I ever hear a black person tell anyone how great Abraham Lincoln was for thier race, yet he is probably the most important figure in their freedom to which led to this very day...where a BLACK man can possibly rise to become President of the USA. Please get over the talking down the country and move on and be successful.

[R Wulff]

Any way you look at it, the cover title was in poor taste. Full stop.

[David]

Who cares whether this cover is offensive? If the USA elects BHO to be its next president, BHO will have to deal with much more scrutiny and insult than is reflected in this harmless little magazine cover. It goes with the job. Look at how WJC and GWB have been raked over the coals! BHO will have to be a big boy to play with the big boys. And if you want to call that last comment racially charged, pleasure yourself.

[Marcia]

It's not the President, it's the people!! The people in American are rotten to the core and God Almighty will indeed destroy everyone of us because of it. The same message that applied to Nineveh, applies to all of American, REPENT!! Instead of spending millions going to the movies on the weekend to soak up more of Hollywoods sickness, we should be spending the day in prayer and fasting!

Posted by: Ed White | 10 Jun 2008 15:36:28

So you agree with Reverend Wright!

God DAMN America!

[Marcia]

It is the rightwing in America that is making the most of the blackness of Obama to terrify white voters in the US to vote against him. There's a lot of belief by some ignorant Americans that Obama is not only a Muslim, he used the Koran when he became a Senator. And weirder, that he's a Marxist. And of course the attacks on the black minister Wright who said things that are against rightwing PC in America, ie that not everything America has done is good. We're not allowed to say that in America, lest we be called evil and want the terrorists to win.

That's what's important, not the fact that Germany has a different take on a book than Americans do.

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

To Skeptical Observer.
I am owed an apology, please!!
The words you quoted as posted by me are not mine!
If you look again you will see the piece was posted by BOYOS.
Never in my wildest dreams would I ever post such an opinion!

[R. LYNETTE COPELAND]

I am an African American and a Barack supporter. In my opinion, the headline and picture are not negative or racially derogatory. If anything, it shows how far we've come - as a nation. In Uncle Tom's day, just about all Black people in America were slaves, who lived in shacks. Look at the difference between the shack-house, then, and the White House, now! I think this is something that can really make Americans appreciate the progress that we've made.

R. Lynette Copeland
Buffalo, NY, USA

[C O]

The German word for Cabin is 'Kabine'.

Have we all been swindled into a pseudo-racist debate?!

[Jaggy]

I'm french, and i think that this cover is a scandal.

This newspaper should be charged by associations against racism. This cover is clearly a way to scoff at the white house.

I saw an US article using this cover to write "see how a black president should be seen : isn't that bad for US image ? The world would not welcome a black president."

Shame on you Tageszeitung !!!!!!!

[Jenny J]

I have to laugh at this. After all the screaming of "RACIST" Obama and his Surrogates did toward the Clintons, this is more like payback.

At least the Germans have a sense of humor. Admittedly, it may have crossed the line a bit, but what doesn't these days?

[T.J. Manley]

Nothing quite as bizarre as Europeans commenting on what is and what is not offensive to African-Americans.

[Sharon]

It's a silly and unfortunate reference. But what is perhaps sillier is that it has already been given so much currency and comment.

[quantumfoam]

I am far more concerned about the real Obama. Remember that old saying,You will know a man by the company he keeps. Well, dare I say Pastor Wright,Tony Rezko,etc. The list is long and disturbing.

[GW Crawford]

How about if we phrase the German headline like this:

(in a folksy, southern charm type voice)

Them thar colored folks has done good for demselves!

The Germans remain the racists they always were and are. Only now, instead of purity of breeding they see themsleves as better for their culture

As Dame Thatcher said, they only brought us Marxism, Nazism and Nihilism - all of the UK's problems coem from the continent and all of the continent;'s solutions come from the UK

[z. turner]

Are we not sick of all this blacks v whites issues? Bigotry in America is alive and well, not just for blacks but other minority groups. Do we espect other countries to act different from us? We have muslims born in the US, graduated from US universities and have families. We have generations of US muslims. Wake-up American, look around you. We are a melting pot. Accept that we are many races with many cultures. This is a wonderful country when everyone is given the opportunity to live their dreams.

[Rosewood voter]

"I'm so bored of him being Black. Can't he just be Barack?"

DITTO!

[John]

Look at the way a substantial number of black people treat each other before commenting on the Germans!

Successful blacks are many in the States - not just the ones who came from slaves - in fact, most migrants tend to better themselves once in America.

The States is a big country. Let those who want to be victims do so, while everyone else can reach for the stars.

[Brook]

My first reaction: The title of this blog piece is misleading. Using Obama's name in associated with the word 'scandal' pairs the two as a negative. I was hesitant to click on it, for fear of allocating extra clicks to what I was sure was going to be a negative piece.

[Adrian]

To GW CRAWFORD: "The Germans remain the racists they always were and are" is a generalisation about a group of people based on their nationality. Isn't THAT a bit racist... The irony is of course that the TAZ would be one of the first papers to jump on an opportunity to label someone (preferably a conservative politician) "racist". Should "The English" be labelled by langauge of headlines in "The Sun"?

[JMT]

Yes, it's considered a "racial slur" that's 99% of the time said BY blacks (not whites) ABOUT OTHER blacks. The mistake the paper made was that they are a "white" publication...if they had been a black publication there wouldn't be such a ballyhoo over it.

BTW, I don't think BHO is a "Uncle Tom" b/c that would mean that he was betraying his black heritage in favor of his white heritage & I see no evidence of that whatsoever...as a matter of fact...I see just the EXACT OPPOSITE...like when he threw his white g-ma under the bus.

[Thomas Carney]

This politically correct bullsh|t is just that: BS. Man, stop worrying about the little stuff and worry about the big stuff!!!

Big deal about a German magazine doing a cover like this. I'm 1/8 black and it doesn't bother me a friggin' bit.

[eduardo de la garza]

How about: Who Cares?

They're German. So I'm not rushing to the conclusion that some random journalist would understand the nuance on some tired old American book of fiction. Besides that, I worked for a newspaper for 5 years with the sole job of helping to write catchy headlines for lame stories. I can tell ya this: Not a lot of thought goes into them, although them is a lot of 'pun'.
What Sie Germans did waas innocent, but more than that - it wasn't a mistake.

How about: So what if they did mean it? It is still NOT a racist comment. You're thoughts and feelings concerning it really don't matter either, you're just wrong. The real racist is you

[Altisidora]

"Die Tageszeitung"'s cover is ABSOLUTELY OFFENSIVE. How would Germans like it if any foreign newspaper presented a very conservative German politician running for elections with a Nazi moustache? It would be less offensive than DT's cover, since the German newspaper is alluding to a racial trait.

I find it a scandal that newspapers worlwide have been mentioning, without exceptions, the fact that Barack Obama is Black. To begin with he is not Black, but mulatto. And second of all, his skin color says nothing about him. Nobody is better or worse because of his skin color. Curiously, we have never seen Hillary Clinton being called "the fat political candidate..." or John McCain being called "the very old and sick political candidate...". Obviously because it would be considered of poor taste; which shows that in the 21st Century diverse people have not gained yet the constitutional right to be different without being looked at with cheekiness. This is absolutely monstrous. Sustainable development demands that diverse people circulate without being looked at with cheekiness, so that they can feel a sense of belonging.

Let's forget the fact that Barack Obama is mulatto and let's concentrate on the fact that he is the best candidate for the 2008 American Presidential Campaign. Most of his followers are not black, which means his political virtues have nothing to do with his genetical make up or his phenotypical appearance. GO, OBAMA!

[EW]

Someone wrote here, that Barack Obama's a post-racial campaign. Sorry, but it's a great mistake. He's riding on black vote and votes of these whites who have that inner racial guilt and think that voting for a Black makes them feeling better about themselves.His "change and hope" talk is an absolute platitude, no substance in it.

[Michał Borsuk]

What is slur in one country (culture) may not be in another culture. When Germans refer to somebody as "Uncle Tom", that does not have to carry the same negative meaning as in the US.

I cannot imagine that a leftish German magazine would use racial slur.

[David NK]

This is the challenge in dialoging on both Obama and race in general. Many terms we might use are off limits to some. I lost a friendship for stating that a person we were identifying was black. They viewed the acknowledgement of race as a racist act. McCain has to be careful how he criticizes Obama or people will claim he is racist. Can't we all agree that a racist is only someone who hates those of other races?

[Andrea (Turin, Italy)]

Since the whole American nation is getting sick and tired of Bush government, all the world is quite sure of Obama's winning.

Despite McCain seems so sure of himself we all hope for Obama as future president of the USA.

I think that the German journal (with Conservative sympathy) is just trying to avoid the inevitable with useless and mean tricks.

I even think that the component of raceisim is not the aim of that sentence; it's rather a way to laugh at him, with a very low sense of humor.

Let's hope the world get changes with new president.

P.S. Thanks Times's staff to make all your job not only for English people.

[Chris S]

I see the original intent of the title, and don't believe it's a racist slur. People are so concerned with offending others and staying within politically correct self-imposed guidelines that we forgot how to find humor in things. So quick to attack, so quick to confront, and so quick to demand repair from something that isn't broken anyways. The title is fine, the people are out of control.

[Mary]

"Nothing quite as bizarre as Europeans commenting on what is and what is not offensive to African-Americans." is, I feel, an unhelpful remark.
As an English woman I have not seen "European" comments, being from different nations we all have different cultural backgrounds and interpret things in the light of these backgrounds.There is not one view point which can be identified as "European".
I have also understood that only very few of the comments refer to what African-Americans should or shouldn't find offensive, most are merely putting forward a non-US viewpoint.
So I would be grateful if all Americans could accept that, although they have decided that Uncle Tom from the book should be used as a figure to abhor, many of us still see him as a deeply religious man who was willing to die for 1)his beliefs, 2)in order to protect those who had escaped, and 3)to avoid sinking to the level of his persecutors. If Barak Obama proves to be a man of such integrity the US should be proud to have him as a leader, if he is elected.
However, I assume he will prove to be like other politicians, whatever their race, colour or genetic mix: and therefore unworthy to be compared with the character about whom Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote.