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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBoston Herald: Sorry If We Offended With Obama-Watermelon Cartoon
By AHIZA GARCIA Published OCTOBER 1, 2014, 10:25 AM EDT
The editors of The Boston Herald issued an apology of sorts Wednesday, saying they "sincerely regret if we inadvertently offended anyone" with a political cartoon that trafficked in racial stereotypes, according to a tweet from a news anchor at WBZ.
The cartoon by renowned cartoonist Jerry Holbert and printed in Wednesday's newspaper was accompanied by the caption: "White House Invader Got Farther Than Originally Thought." It showed President Obama brushing his teeth while the uninvited guest sat in the tub over his shoulder. As the intruder sudsed up, he asked Obama whether he'd "tried the new watermelon flavored toothpaste."
Here's the tweet via WBZ's Joe Mathieu about the paper's apology:
Editors @bostonherald: "We sincerely regret if we inadvertently offended anyone" with today's Holbert cartoon. #wbz
9:24 AM - 1 Oct 2014
The Boston herald did not immiedately return calls seeking comment.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/boston-herald-obama-intruder-racist
Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,573 posts)We're sorry if you were offended. Puts the onus on the person who was offended.
riqster
(13,986 posts)Bullshit. You are right, that should not be called an apology.
"Ooopsie, I inadvertently blew up my pipe bomb."
"Yikes, I inadvertently started a riot."
"Inadvertently" means never having to say you're sorry.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)formerly owned by Murdoch; now owned by one of his former(?) flunkies
Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,573 posts)They're not big on apologies.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Doesn't make sense. They could have had the cartoon without that phrase and could have been funny. How absolutely dumb. If you are going to insult, make it make sense. The whole cartoon is an epic fail.
haele
(12,681 posts)The intruder is the one making a casual racial slur after walking in the president's house and doing whatever he wanted to do.
It appears that the cartoonist was attempting to add a racial-based complicantcy to the whole breakdown of the Whitehouse security situation - as in the RW poutrage over the "black man in the white house" and that there may be members of the White House security that isn't taking the job seriously because they think the same thing. That's what I got from it. And since he is a conservative cartoonist, I'm more than inclined that he's down with that attitude himself and this was pretty much a dog-whistle.
Haele
brush
(53,876 posts)haele
(12,681 posts)Complicitcy or being complicit with. Sometimes the fingers move too quickly.
Haele
brush
(53,876 posts)Nice quality to be able to laugh at oneself.
JustAnotherGen
(31,907 posts)Please share your "you don't think we're like that" story
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11879115
Uh - yes. Yes I do.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)justhanginon
(3,290 posts)Regret it? If you truly regretted it you would have offered a real apology.
Inadvertently? Really, no one in your organization could pick up on the racist tone of that cartoon?
Offended anyone? It should offend everyone of your readers.
Disgusting!
aikoaiko
(34,184 posts)and, therefore more generally, an accusation of people who would do harm to the President?
lame54
(35,326 posts)it doesn't work and should have been stopped or changed for that reason
herding cats
(19,568 posts)Staff cartoonist for the Boston Herald since 1986, Holbert serves up solid conservative commentary, delivered with a smile.
I looked him up because I wanted to know who he was. This is from go comics. Check out the comic they have there, the toothpaste is raspberry flavored NOT watermelon. This was interned as racist. Period!
http://www.gocomics.com/jerryholbert
n2doc
(47,953 posts)I wonder if Holbert modified that toon at their request, or realized what he had done and changed it for the go comics site.
I saw the one at go comics, it wasn't particularly good or original (many others have riffed on a similar theme before today), but without the changed reference it wasn't particularly offensive. The Herald one is offensive.
herding cats
(19,568 posts)I wouldn't be surprised if they did request one less offensive, but I wouldn't be surprised if he made two versions just in case the obviously racist one was rejected, either.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)So I don't think they would have requested a change. I could be wrong.
sheshe2
(83,927 posts)The Boston Herald moves to the head of the " CRASS".
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)That would at least have made sense.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)herding cats
(19,568 posts)Isn't that nice? He made two versions. One for the racist rag and one for the archives at go comics.
http://www.gocomics.com/jerryholbert
progressoid
(49,999 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,991 posts)They did exactly what they wanted to do knowing they could. Yet one more example of how this is not even remotely close to a "post-racial" society.
"inadvertently"
F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)From the Washington Post:
It was a completely innocent attempt at humor, but it did not come across that way to some people, Holbert continues. I have said I am sorry for offending anyone I never intended to do that. I never even thought about the racial element. I wish I had, but I did not. A bit dumb on my part I should have thought it through more.
Holbert says his aim was only to skewer the lax security surrounding President Obama. Now it has all blown up around racism, Holbert tells The Posts Comic Riffs, which is something I detest. I never make racist humor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/10/01/obama-watermelon-toothpaste-controversy-apologetic-boston-herald-cartoonist-says-i-detest-racist-humor/
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Gothmog
(145,619 posts)still_one
(92,421 posts)populous who won't see anything is wrong, and that underlies and even greater problem