There was also a more general belief that, after Obama won the 2004 United States Senate primary, he ignored his South Side base. Preckwinkle said, “My view is you have to bring your constituency along with you. Granted, you have to make some tough decisions. Granted, sometimes you have to make decisions that people won’t understand or like. But it’s your obligation to explain yourself and try to do your supporters the courtesy of treating them with respect.” Ivory Mitchell, who for twenty years has been the chairman of the local ward organization in Obama’s neighborhood—considered the most important Democratic organization on the South Side—was one of Obama’s earliest backers. Today, he says, “All the work we did to help him get where he finally ended up, he didn’t seem too appreciative.” A year ago, Mitchell became a delegate for Hillary Clinton.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lizza?printable=true

I don't think it had anything to do with Clinton. I suspect that they figured it would help dispels the rumors about his faith and allegiance by using satire. I suspect they knew that this cover would create controversy. T

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.