Post Cartoon Mixes Dead Chimp With Stimulus Bill

Cartoon, at left, by Sean Delonas/NY Post; photograph, at right, of stimulus legislation by Lauren Victoria Burke/AP

Today, NY Post editorial cartoonist Sean Delonas's offering that ties in the Connecticut chimp incident with the federal stimulus package is raising many eyebrows. The Huffington Post's Sam Stein wrote, "At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it. Most provocatively, it compares the president to a rabid chimp. Either way, the incorporation of violence and (on a darker level) race into politics is bound to be controversial. Perhaps that's what Delonas wanted."

The Reverend Al Sharpton issued a statement:

"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. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that 'Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.' Seeing 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?"

Post editor in chief Col Allan scoffed at Sharpton and defended the cartoon, "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." Or, as Gawker puts it, "There's no editing art, people."

Update: Sharpton tells CityRoom that "he planned to hold a protest outside The Post’s Midtown offices at noon on Thursday." Besides outcry from lawmakers and officials—Senator Gillibrand called the cartoon "offensive and purposefully hurtful," Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said it "appears to be a cheap shot that uses historically violent and racist imagery...It was neither smart, clever, or funny," and City Councilman Leroy Comrie suggested a boycott—some Post employees aren't happy. From CityRoom:

A newsroom employee at The Post, who spoke on condition of anonymity because employees were not permitted to comment on the matter, said its newsroom received many calls of complaints on Wednesday morning after the publication of the cartoon. “Every line was lit up for several hours,” the employee said. “The phones on the city desk have never rung like that before.” Many Post staff members were dismayed by the cartoon, the employee added.

Gawker called Page Six (the cartoon appeared in the Post's popular Page Six section) reporter Paula Froelich whose voicemail now says, "Please note, if you are calling about the cartoon today: Page Six, its editor and the reporters at Page Six do not pick the cartoon, we have nothing to do with the cartoon and don't see it until the paper comes out the next day. So if you have a complaint about the cartoon, please call the news desk at (212) 930-8500. Thank you!" (With audio).

What do you think of the Post's dead chimp stimulus bill? ( surveys)

And Governor Paterson, who did not see the cartoon and asked for WCBS 2 reporter Marcia Kramer to describe it to him during a press conference, said, "They do feed a kind off a negative and stereotypical way that people think, but I think if it's enough that people are raising this issue, I hope they would clarify it. In a situation like this where an economic downturn has shown in the past that it does lead to a lot of unnecessary and stereotypical characterizations, an explanation is in order. I'm trying to be fair to the New York Post, who has never been very fair to me."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 18, 2009 6:20 PM

Comments [rss]

lensjockey

I read the NY Post almost every day, and it would take WAY more than this cartoon — by a cartoonist who has never really impressed me with any insights that seem deep — for me to stop reading the Post. FREDRIC U. DICKER (The U is for Uberall) is my favorite writer, and that's where he is. He more tha makes up for the crappy cartooning and even Peyser when she misjudges her positioning -

Whenever Delonas draws grafitti (sometimes in cityscapes) it's always so badly done I can't help thinking that he just can't see too much - he has poor observation skills. Making such a big deal out what really are b-grade efforts, (and I hate saying that about another "artist") seems wrong to me, I think what makes me so angry is the fact that Delonas is so bad this is the kindof stuff we have to deal with. I mean I don't think it is a stretch to say that his drawings look like those of a relatively enthusiastic, moderately talented High School student. I've never seen anything to indicate his mind is any more developed than that.

sleeplessknight

What the fuck!!!

Speedster

Is anyone pointing fingers at the editors for the NY post? The cartoon had to go through more then one editor...Didn't one have the balls to speak up and say this cartoon might be portrayed as offensive? Or are they all ignorant and/or racists?

The official rebuttal comment given wasn't much of an apology (if it was one) and didn't seem to exactly explain the cartoon in a specific way. Giving a vague explanation of the cartoon doesn't seem to to satisfy me or other readers of what MANY people's first thought was offensive.

bklyngrrl

I think you have to be racist (or looking for racism) to draw that conclusion from looking at the cartoon.

I didn't really see that connection at all. Our society is way over-sensitive about some things and then it ignores huge problems on the other hand.

Could we use this time, talent and energy towards something constructive for the community? I don't really see Sharpton's approach as helping representation either.

Amanda Harletsch

without the semiological knowledge there is no understanding.

snickerdoodle

LOL gotta love the Gothamists's poll where they offer only two options to answer: "What do you think of the Post's dead chimp stimulus bill? 1) It's racist and 2) It's not racist, but it's not funny either."

Where are the other options? You know, ones like:

3) It's not racist

4) It's racist but still funny

5) It's funny and not racist

6) It's only racist to racists

7) The dead chimp represents Pelosi not Obama, therefore it's not racist

Gothamist's bias showing again.

lulujaja

Why is it that anything that can by any stretch of the imagination, possibly, or maybe even be construed as racist be off-limits. It's not a racist cartoon-- people read too much into things, esp. when they are making their overly loud protestations about race. People look for any excuse to cry racism. Obama is president now, and people will make fun of him and compare him to distasteful things. It's part of the territory. Why should it be different for a black man that for any other person. STop belly-aching-- why do we have to censor anything that relates to African Americans? GET OVER IT!

Jon Claw

It's attention whoring. No one reads the Post.

Jon Claw

It's attention whoring. No one reads the Post.

Amanda Harletsch

Of Zombie Markets and a Marxist Greenspan:

"Alan Greenspan, long seen as the adherent of free market economics says nationalization of weak banks could be the least bad option left for US policymakers. "It may be necessary to temporarily nationalize some banks in order to facilitate a swift and orderly restructuring,” he said. “I understand that once in a hundred years this is what you do.”

Lindsey Graham echoed Greenspan's sentiment “We should be focusing on what works. We cannot keep pouring good money after bad.” He added, “If nationalization is what works, then we should do it. It doesn’t matter what you call it, but we can’t keep on funding these zombie banks [without gaining public control]. That’s what the Japanese did. In limited circumstances the Swedish model makes sense for the US.”

dropstep

Oh did I forgot to mention War Mongers as well :)

Guest

Just because Bush dragged the name of the US through the mud, it doesn't mean the entire country smells as shitty as Dubya. If you truly don't like the US, as cliche as this sounds, don't live here. There are millions around the globe who would kill for a chance to become citizens.

Guest

You're SO right #72. The American people are so scared to stand up for what's right that we kicked the pansy imperialist British out of our country even though they had the numbers and better training. We also seem to stick our nose in everywhere around the globe when we think something is amiss. Yeah, we're afraid. Now go sit in a hole somewhere before we bomb you back to the stone age. Jerk!

dropstep

Same ole stuffy/classless/Racist Americans...

If Al Sharpton doesn't defend us then who will..

If this happened overseas there would be a huge protest.

Americans are sooo afraid to protest for their rights.

Police kill blacks in this country and the get away with it.

We would burn the country down!

Brooklynbobby

Now if you really want to see a funny cartoon, let' see Sharpton's face on that monkey with two bullet holes in him.

thefacts

Question - If you were in a room with Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar and had a gun with two bullets, what would you do?

Answer - Put two bullets in Sharpton. Just to make sure!

SikBug

I'm not even going to vote right now and be the tie breaker. Someone else do it.

Billiamsburg

Too bad you shut down Gitmo Mr. Pres. I;s time to start throwing conservative traitors in there! Hoo Rah!

Pull My Finger

They should have the cops shooting a Marxist asshole. Then Obama would have every right to be offended.

Amanda Harletsch

Funny, Want's GREENSPAN the republican sacred cow, who just said some time ago to Nationalize the bank system? Educate your self about who is promoting your s called "Marxism".