Clever Satire or Tasteless Humor?

That's the question the National Post of Toronto asked about the cover of the New Yorker magazine that depicts Barack Obama as a Muslim and Michelle Obama with an AK-47. "'Absurd' cartoon offends," the Post's subhead said. The cover also made the front page of the Buffalo (New York) News, which said: "New Yorker cover depicts fear-based attacks on Democratic candidate, wife." The News invited comments on the story on its Web site. Was the New Yorker cover just Big Apple humor? The New York Times notes today that there has been little humor about the candidate for president. "Want Obama in a Punch Line? First, Find a Joke."