2008 Primaries, Views on News • July 14th, 2008

A tale of two covers

by Chris Lato

Recently, I wrote about the ‘Rolling Stone’ issue featuring the smiling, American flag pin-wearing Barack Obama on the cover. It is the RS version of a coronation, and that’s their prerogative. This will not be the last time Obama is featured on the cover of RS in 2008.

On the other end of the spectrum is the new issue of ‘The New Yorker.’ If you haven’t seen this cover yet, check it out here.

This is pretty shocking. I can’t imagine what they were thinking, unless the goal was to generate attention and increase sales, in which case it will undoubtedly be a success.

Otherwise, it’s a colossal misjudgment. If they wanted to lampoon the anti-Obama attitude out there, it misses by a mile and actually feeds into some of the more outrageous propaganda. The spin is easy – the left doesn’t know and trust this guy either.

And the cover also cavalierly and simplistically dismisses any legitimate concerns that may exist about Obama - his skills, experience and leadership ability - in favor of shrill hysteria over how the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy will play on America’s fears to defeat Obama in November.

Anyone already predisposed to not supporting Obama just gets more ammo thanks to this cover. The robe-wearing Obama with the rifle-toting revolutionary wife, both of them doing a fist bump while the American flag burns in the fireplace and a bin Laden portrait hangs in the Oval Office. Nice.

In particular, the cover shot I saw has no language that puts the cover into some sort of context. Seeing the cover ‘cold’ is especially troubling.

Folks are lining up to condemn the ‘New Yorker’ cover. At the same time, it’s interesting to ponder what the reaction would be if this same cover appeared on, say, the National Review. Would heads be rolling? Would the full political spectrum be out in force to chop a conservative publication off at the knees? Will the ‘New Yorker’ catch less heat in comparison?

It’s a dopey and tacky caricature either way. But pay attention to what happens from here. It promises to be an interesting exercise in spin, and how the left is struggling to define its future while fighting with itself.

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2008 Primaries, Views on News, public relations • July 3rd, 2008

Children of the corn

by Chris Lato

In the corn-growing Midwest, members of Congress are picking sides over ethanol. This is shaping up to be a serious campaign issue, but one presidential candidate is walking a tricky line that will be tough to maintain as anger over high gas and food prices grow, and the public gets restless and demands solutions.

To set the stage, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner recently sent a piece out to his constituents with the headline: “Ethanol Mandate Must End.” He makes the argument that record prices for gas and groceries can be traced back to a great extent to the mandate, which subsidizes the ethanol industry and gives incentives for farmers to grow more corn to use in fuel. more »

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix • July 2nd, 2008

The case of the reappearing pin

by Chris Lato

I have subscribed to ‘Rolling Stone’ for nearly 20 years now. What can I say? I like the pop culture coverage. As for the political stuff, it’s all been downhill since Hunter died.

Anyway, I was greeted at my mailbox this week with the new issue of ‘RS’ and the grinning face of Barack Obama, eyes closed, head tilted slightly downward…

OK, the coronation of Barack Obama has begun at ‘RS.’ That’s about the least shocking news in recent memory. But what I was struck by was the very conspicuous return of ‘The Pin.’ With such a basic, copy-free cover, that American flag pin on the senator’s lapel just leapt out at me. more »

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