Whether it is satire or not; this will seriously damage the Obama campaign.

The electorate doesn't respond to satire; but does respond to direct imagery.

The editor of The New Yorker must be educated enough to realise this. I'd lay enormous amounts of money on a bet that he/she is a republican.

Tom Clark, Cambridge, UK

We are told that americans do have a sense of humour. This makes that difficult to believe. I guess that although the imagery is so obviously fantastical to us that we find it amusing,in the US where a news anchor described a greeting as a terrorist fist jab this isn't far from the truth...

calvin, London, Engloand

So if Obama was Muslim - so what, does it mean to the average Joe in the US of A he is "the enemy" What religion do the Iraqi soldiers fighting with the US have, or the Afghan Army? They are all "the enemy"?
Decades of Muslim and Arab demonisation have brain washed the US.

T. Andre, London,

I guess the liberals can dish it out, but they can't take it back!

TOO BAD!!!

T Ryback, Detroit,

How is this any different to depicting G W Bush as a cowboy with his cowboy boots, spurs and all the other wild west accourements. Is that not slightly racist against people from Southern States.

This depiction is legitimate as political satire.

Get used to it Obama!!!

Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK

IF Obama were to become President he will have to face far worse. His whining over this shows he is weak and can't take the pressure of the spotlight whether good or bad. Bush has had to endure far far worse and has not complained once. Obama is a bit of cissy boy and needs to toughen up.

Viv, London, England

Mr Resnick says it is satire. Laughable. Mr Resnick belongs to the "chosen", a group of people who are trying to bring down Obama because he is not sufficiently pro-Isreal. Ah yes, the cultural imperialism of the 2 % in the USA that will eventually drag the word into a never ending maelstrom.

r marcley, albany ny, usa

Pure Racism - not freedom of speech. So now its called satire, to depict a non Muslim as Muslim.

Yaz, London, UK

Worthy of framing.

Too bad you can't see the painting of Bin Laden hanging over the fireplace.

This cover exemplifies precisely what Freedom of Speech is all about folks. The New Yorker carries on a fine American tradition of political speech. Who cares if its "offensive." That's irrelevant.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

Most Americans I know don't get satire and irony. Its not really part of their culture. Bless them

AA, New York,

The main problem with this particular piece of "satire" is that the editorial staff decided to place the image on the cover of the magazine without a contextual explanation. It should have been placed inside the magazine above an article debunking the myths of the Senator. Poor choice by the editor

Cameron, Shanghai,

Irrespective of what you think of the picture, the Obamas are in the big league now. They have to get used to things like this, and a lot worse will come.

As they have long said in Washington, "If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen."

Glen, New York, NY

It's a great cover. It's doing what all good political satire should do - shake people up. It says a lot about the undercurrent of paranoia and prejudice towards Obama in America, but packs particular punch because even the best informed commentators speak of an "unknownable" element to him.

Laura, London,

This was a satire, but it was poorly done and a huge mistake. Good for Sen. McCain in condemning it. The New Yorker was trying to depict its idea of smears from the Republicans. Ironic that the Right isn't smearing Sen. Obama while the Left is!

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Disgusting, the New Yorker, how low can you get?
I'll NEVER buy that magazine, ever again.

Ina Lund, Toronto, Canada

Good for you!
Obama is a cry-baby who can't take a joke. His criticism of the cover shows how worried he is about how Americans perceive him. If he thinks he can run a country in this era he'd better get a tougher shell.

Jacque Best, Sidney, USA

Disgustingly cheap attempt to smear Obamas, with McCain's camp "genuinly" condemning the cartoon!! Never fear, neo-cons will find another way to do it again.

Peter, Perth, Australia

Serves Obama right. It's his fault that he treated the rumors of being a Muslim as a smear and slur instead of asking, "SO WHAT???" His refusal to respond by recognizing the legitimacy of Islam and Muslims has left the issue an open sore, and one that will continue to fester till Election Day.

SAK, Detroit, USA

No candidate should have to put up with lies about him/her.
I am glad to see that Mr. Obama does not give them the attention such mail seems to need. I lived and worked in SF as a professor ; I found American students to be good citizens especially sensitive to the huge racial mess of the time.

Helen Mau, Victoria, Canada

This is a really poor lapse of judgement on the part of the 'New Yorker'. This clumsy piece of 'satire' is so juvenile it is indistinguishable from the propoganda it seeks to critique. Most of America doesn't 'get' satire or irony even when it is cleverly done. This will only fuel the propoganda.

Eric Lehtonen, Cairns, Australia

The New Yorker knew exactly what they were doing and if they didn't ...they should pack up their bags and close their biz.

Mary Gardener, Sechelt, Canada

In the climate of America such a cover is far beyond satirical. It is actually showing the Obama and wife in the worst possible light and is inreality a smear campaign. i am really surprised that a magazine like the New Yorker couldn't see how utterly wrong is to smear a presidential candidate.

Bruce Douglas, Auckland, New Zealand