123 thoughts on “I guess some things never change”

  1. Racist? Naaah…. the guy Leunig [an Australian cartoonist] can be a shit-stirrer, controversial at times, but the guy would be aghast if he thought he’d encouraged racism. More like an ironic observation. A lot of people won’t ‘get’ the cartoon anyway.

  2. who cares if it is? It’s humour. Humour can be racist, sexist, rude or rotten and there’s nothing politically-correct fun police are gonna do about it!

  3. It is most definitely 100% racist, but it’s the kind of racism that is considered politically correct, namely racism against white people. Obama getting the presidency would be a whole lot more meaningful to me if it wasn’t for the fact that everybody hails him for being the first black president. If that is what makes him so important to us than I have to say I think racism is still rampant in America, just in a more subtle form. It’s disappointing and truly terrifying that the way people talks makes me wonder if they really voted for him because they thought he would be a good president or if they voted because they wanted a black president. His race really shouldn’t matter at all, let alone be the primary consideration.

  4. Not racist. Funny. Damn funny.
    Sad indictment of the rich white guys that mortgaged all our futures just to turn a few quick bucks. Bankers = Thieves.

  5. Are you people daft? It isn’t racist at all. It’s just saying that a black guy – Obama – will have to clean the mess a white guy – Bush – made.

  6. depends on your definition of “racism”, then, doesn’t it?

    random house gives us: “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” So, no, not racist, QED and STFU

    christ, people, read a book!

  7. Oh for heaven’s sake!!! The mess wasn’t all made by Bush. Sheesh. Get over yourself! It is racist! It never ceases to amaze me just how much more racists blacks are against whites than the other way around.

  8. I am interested in the comments made. I don’t think some people understand what racism is. This is using a previous state applied by a racist culture and has been turned to make an ironic point. I am a non-American white and I think that this sketch is brilliant, true and shows how far we have come as a global community. We must remember, however, that this should only be the start. Prejudice needs to be educated out of our societies completely. Humour is a superb way to start. Good work.

  9. From the comments posted so far I have to wonder how many US residents even know what racism is. Have you guys read about American history and slavery? This cartoon is an observation about the way things are. There is no racism depicted here.

  10. Let’s get really technical. Obama isn’t black but in skin color; his mother was white, his father was black. Does this mean that “Mulattoes” exclusively had to clean up white folks’ messes?

    Geeze. Just laugh at the comic, and attempt to understand what it’s saying.

  11. OFFS people, its a fucking joke. Do we seriously need to discuss whether or not its racist for 10 pages?

  12. I think that hearing people argue about whether this “comic strip” is racism, satire, politically correct, or offensive is what the creator wanted. I did wonder if everyone is under the impression that there were no African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans or and other “Fill in the blank” Americans that were part making things go bad. What a tunnel vision sterotype to think that all Walstreet Executives and Bankers are white. The “comic strip” is effective at causing rancor. Artist succeeds in making one think. If we do this, regardless of opinion, the ultimate reason for the print matters less. The important thing is that discussion is raised.

  13. I would say that it’s more ironic than it is a racist joke. I mean, Obama DOES have alot of work to do, cleaning up all the mess that Bush left behind.

  14. I think we should wait and see the size of the mess in four years before we give anyone credit for cleaning up anything. When I see Detroit, Washington DC., New Orleans, South Africa and Zimbabwe I have little faith in an Obama Presidency.

  15. if someone who claims this is racist against white people, please enlighten me as to how. until then i’ll continue to think of it as a damn funny example if ironic humor.

    would it be racist for me to tell you to lighten up?

  16. It’s not Bush’s fucking fault, everything that went wrong was enacted under Clinton. The housing situation is Clinton’s fault, the economy failing is Clinton’s fault. Know your history.

  17. Why are there ANY discussions over this cartoon? Have you all lost your mind? Read it, understand the irony/humor (or not), and move on. Debating racist possibilities in a lighthearted cartoon makes you all look ignorant.

  18. # twinbon 08 Nov 2008 at 1:27 pm
    “Oh for heaven’s sake!!! The mess wasn’t all made by Bush. Sheesh. Get over yourself! It is racist! It never ceases to amaze me just how much more racists blacks are against whites than the other way around.”

    I’ve never, never found that to be true. As a white woman, I’ve been welcomed into the homes of families of black friends as a guest, with friendliness and politeness. There have been very few instances in which I’ve felt racism coming at me, from the time I was in middle school to high school to college and beyond, during my career, I’ve had black friends as well as white and Asian and Latino. It’s all in what you project yourself. When you treat people as equals, nine times out of ten, they’ll treat you the same way. I’d say you are projecting an ugly attitude and getting one back, if this is how you feel.

  19. Its racists against whites. Nobody cares about anti-white racism (due to racist white history), especially in satire.
    Please shoot yourself if you thought this was racist against blacks, you’ve become mindnumbingly stupid.

  20. it certainly is racist. why is obama so concerned with being a black man in a white society? why can’t he just be a man in society? racism is nothing more and nothing less than a cultural construction of bias – so talking about how obama is black is inherently racist.

    to say that slavery and institutionalized racism is the only kind of racism is illogical and ignorant.

    what if it were four years from now, and a white man were cleaning up the mess obama made? this joke would be shunned and you all know it. this is NO different, yet blacks and ignorant and overly-PC whites consider it funny. as an informed and logical (and not racist!) white man, this is no less racist than it would be if the colors were turned around in the cartoon.

    The illustrator obviously meant it as a joke, but it’s at the expense of the double-standard we have in this country where race is concerned. It’s crap. Blacks can’t be racist, and women can’t be sexist.

    These morals sure are terrible. …And we wonder why our children are so stupid.

  21. Wot a bunch of sad acts!!! I don’t get all upset everytime sumone cracks a “blonde” joke!!! In the famous words of ME……. …………..Get Over It!!!!!!!!

  22. This isnt anti white guy, its anti Bush. I am missing the part you guys are apparently seeing that says down with crackers or something.

  23. Racist? It’s in reference to the national election and he’s praising a black person who is going to clean up America. It’s a compliment.

  24. i think it’s a sign that political correctness should be thrown in the bin, where it belongs. it’s ultra-important that we don’t lose the ability to laugh at ourselves. racism, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder is. i’m a white guy who recognises that i have the exact capabilities as the next man, be they black, chinese, or whatever. does that make me a racist? wake up people.

  25. How come the Democratic-controlled Congress hasn’t tried to ‘clean up the mess Bush left behind’?
    …Or did they just help make a much bigger mess for the Democratic president?

  26. “It’s not Bush’s fucking fault, everything that went wrong was enacted under Clinton. The housing situation is Clinton’s fault, the economy failing is Clinton’s fault. Know your history.”

    ^^^^^——Now that dumbass needs to know his/her whatever the fucks history Clinton was da best president and guess what Obama will be great I don’t give a damn about this cartoon shit anyone other than Bush could do better. But hey times have changed BLACK IS THE NEW WHITE!

  27. The cartoon is funny. Period.

    Some of the nutty comments are even funnier, though.

    Funny how the “racism” issue only appears on some white folks’ lips when they (foolishly, usually) feel it’s being wielded against them. Otherwise, it goes something like: “racism? what’s that? America? not here! ‘All men are created equal,’ and all that. Some of my best friends….”

    As one poster (at least) pointed out. Obama is half-black and half-white. Gee, I guess that means he’s a member of the “HUMAN” race, doesn’t it?

    But then, in America we have something called the “One-Drop” rule.

    It’s a CARTOON folks. It’s meant to make you smile or laugh and perhaps to think for a moment–not to make you go batshit-loony on your keyboard.

    I’m reminded of William Shatner’s (Captain Kirk) comment to all the foam-at-the-mouth “trekkies:”

    “It was a TV SHOW, for God’s Sake. It’s been off the air for forty years. Get a goddamned life!”

  28. re: DJ’s comment “How come the Democratic congress….clean up the mess….blah, blah”

    Hello? Try Republican “filibusters” in the Senate, led by Mitch (you know? money = speech?) McConnell (R-Mars), and SEVEN HUNDRED PLUS “signing statements” by Pretzeldint Bunnypants.

    FYI, “signing statement” = “I’m signing this bill, but I disagree with it (and it’s veto-proof), so my executive branch will refuse to enforce it.”

    No charge for the civics lesson, and have yourself a nice day.
    🙂

  29. everyone’s a little bit racist, sometimes
    doesn’t mean we go committing hate crimes

    racist jokes may be uncouth
    but we laugh (because they’re based on truth)

  30. it is a funny joke
    but obama isnt cleaning up anyones mess, he’s simply covering it with a nice rug and some febreze.
    dont be fooled
    lets see if in 4 years much has actually changed for the good
    oh yes, im sure its gonna be sunshine and lollypops from now on

  31. For all those saying this is racism need to have your head examined. Racism is prejudice against someone based on their race. There are online dictionary’s people, use them. This cartoon makes fun of horrible job as President, not anything to do with race.

    The artist is making an joke based on the fact that black people used to be slaves and would clean up after whites, and now Obama is having to clean up Bush’s mess of an administration. Not because he’s white.

    The fact that I have to explain this is honestly sad and shows the ugly nature of humanity when an artist can’t make a satirical (look it up) cartoon without someone throwing a race flag in the air. Come on people, think before you post.

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