"that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create,"

Their explanation doesn't make sense, it sounds like a cowardly alibi.

And I wonder where they got the *ideas* for the caricature?

There's also a good (and long) article called "Making It" in the New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lizza

If it was a photo of her in the nude, could America deal with it? There have been many nude photos of the French president's wife and no one on this side of the Atlantic got overly excited.

It may not do Obama's campaign any good but it won't do America any harm in the long run if it faces its demons. IMO, the KKK is only a white sheet away, no matter how it's dressed up.

Righthand, that is such an intelligent comment.

This cover reveals something of a disparity. It seems that it is meant to poke fun at the stereotypes some may place on Obama but forgets the stereotypes Obama places on everyday Americans.

Obama said they retreat to guns and faith when they are disillusioned. This cover reveals something very deep and that is that the stereotypes are predominantly found in democrat circles. This is an elitist magazine. This was an inside joke.