NYPost Cartoon: Racist or Just Tasteless?

Image was easily misread, but it's just a cartoon

(NEWSER) - The New York Post cartoon that has Al Sharpton up in arms was poorly thought out, to be sure, writes Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post. It "was offensive for reasons unrelated to race," she argues, but it’s important to remember that “outrage is out of proportion to the offense, and demands for retributive justice are more dangerous than a lousy cartoon.” More»

Paper apologizes, to some, over cartoon many called racist

(NEWSER) - The New York Post has apologized—to almost everyone—for the editorial cartoon that sparked protests and accusations of racism. "It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill," an editorial says, acknowledging that the cartoon chimp was taken by some as a racist depiction of Barack Obama. "This most certainly was not its intent," the Post writes. More»

(NEWSER) - Hundreds of protesters led by the Rev. Al Sharpton assembled outside the New York Post’s headquarters today to condemn the paper's now-infamous chimpanzee cartoon, Newsday reports. Protesters called for a boycott and vowed to return tomorrow. They insist it's a racist slam against President Obama, while the paper calls it a "clear parody." More»

Marilyn Davenport issues formal apology, but won't step down

(NEWSER) - Marilyn Davenport, the California Republican official who stirred up a controversy when she sent out an email depicting President Obama as a chimpanzee , formally apologized last night, the AP reports. "I humbly apologize and ask for your forgiveness of my unwise behavior. I say unwise because at the time I received and forwarded the email, I didn't stop to think about the historic implications and other examples of how this could be offensive," she said in an emailed statement. More»

Employee says boss called her 'Cha Cha #1'

(NEWSER) - A former associate editor of the New York Post says she was fired for complaining about the paper’s racist and sexist atmosphere. Sandra Guzman, who identified herself as the “only female editor of color at the Post,” is suing parent News Corp. Her suit claims she was among those who complained about an infamous cartoon in February that critics say likened President Obama to a chimpanzee. Guzman also says a senior executive made a habit of referring to her as “Cha Cha #1,” Reuters reports. More»