Let's start with this exchange between Reverend Al Sharpton and Post editor-in-chief Col Allan:
Sharpton: "The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best, given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys ... Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African-American president) and has become synonymous with him, it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?"
Allan: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."
As an American Jew who's been on the receiving end of bigoted comments, I've noticed that non-Jews sometimes fail to see why certain remarks hurt Jews. I'm sure the same is true of words and images aimed at Italians, Asians, Muslims, Hispanics, Gays, Blacks, and other groups.
Col Allan's comments were as misguided as the cartoon he vehemently defended. Of course we see the connection originated with a Chimp Gone Wild. But as Bob Dylan said in Times They Are a Changin', "Don't criticize what you can't understand." After Mr. Allan removes his foot from his oversized mouth and apologizes, I'd like him to explain why a cartoon with a twisted right-wing bias ran on Page Six.
What do you think?
2/19/09 UPDATE: Tonight the Post issued this apology.
2/21/09 UPDATE: The NAACP called for the firing of the Post cartoonist. Read about it here.
Today an African American friend said, "I'll be able to look my babies in the eye and say, 'You can be anything you want to be.'"
Yes you can.
Shocking! Outrageous! Scandalous! Give me a freaking break.
Conservatives are predictably outraged over Jessica Alba's advertising for Declare Yourself, a voter drive aimed at 18-29 year olds. The campaign features the tagline "Only You Can Silence Yourself" and a tearful Alba in bondage photograpy by Mark Liddell. The multimedia end includes videos with Zac Efron (High School Musical), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), and Jazzy Jeff (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air).
Was the clothing-free photography the "correct" thing to do? Right now, 7,320 web pages reference this advertising (make that 7,321 after this post), and the press release went out yesterday. If Declare Yourself wanted millions in free publicity for their cause -- an honorable goal -- score this one a major win.
Voter apathy is appalling. High voter turnout is exciting.
So ... are you for or against this campaign? Tell Freaking Marketing readers where you stand.
The image at left is from a Facebook group. The video contains offensive language, so if you're working in a cubicle or sitting next to kids, you may want to turn off your speakers.
Back in 2006, 92% of adults surveyed said they'd vote for a woman for president from their political party if she were qualified to do the job. Normally we'd just ignore the other 8%, but thanks to Web 2.0 media, some people with sexist and misogynistic views are finding vast audiences in places like Facebook and YouTube, as well as countless blogs.
One Facebook group, "Stop Hillary Clinton", has 686,000 members, but all areas for posting messages have disappeared, presumably because of steps taken by Facebook to eliminate content that violates their terms of service. (I emailed the group's founder for an explanation but haven't received a reply.)
Here's one succinct and scary example from a message board on "ANTI Hillary Clinton for President '08", a Facebook group with 64,000 members and 28,000 "Wall" posts:
"Kill the Bitch"
You'd think adults would behave better in YouTube videos, but apparently, the presence of a digital video recorder brings out the worst in some folks. In this video clip, a manchild unleashes a hateful diatribe that runs a full 10 minutes.
And finally, check out this quote from RantNation, one of the countless blogs laced with misogynistic comments relating to the candidate who could be our first female president:
"This ill-tempered, violent, foul mouthed, hateful and abusive woman wants to be your president and have total control as commander-in-chief of a military that her party so openly and proudly admit they detest. I can see someone like this gaining the respect of other nations, and especially from their leaders, who refuse to do as she tells them...or else. No thanks, my country deserves a better leader, not a dominatrix!"
Psychologists would love to dissect that one. Obviously, none of this is about actual issues or anything of consequence to decent voters. I guess the new media gives us the ultimate view of how far we've come -- and how much work remains.
P.S. On iTunes you'll find an excellent podcast on this topic (Bill Moyers Journal, "New Media and the Election").
It's exactly one year until the presidential election -- just 365 days until the curtain comes down on the worst administration of my lifetime. In 52 weeks, a new president begins to pick up the pieces after eight years of incompetence, cruelty, and criminality.
Will direct marketers deliver regime change? It's happened before. Karl Rove, the man known as "Bush's brain" and the "evil genius," used to own a direct marketing firm in Texas.
Anyone willing to step up and help change the world?
Mothers of Invention marketing agency founder and president.
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