AP: NRA Cartoon Of NYC Mayor Raises Concerns

[Hissyspit]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_NRA_Cartoon_Bloomberg.html

NRA cartoon of NYC mayor raises concerns
By SARA KUGLER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NEW YORK -- A National Rifle Association magazine cover depicting New York mayor and gun control campaigner Michael Bloomberg as an octopus is raising questions because the imagery has a history as an anti-Semitic symbol.

The cover of this month's issue of the NRA publication America's 1st Freedom features an evil-looking cartoon of the Jewish mayor, with a headline warning: "Tentacles!"

The eight-armed sea animal has been used as the Nazi representation of Jewish conspiracy and control, and was referenced by Adolf Hitler in "Mein Kampf." Asked Wednesday about the connotations of the cartoon, Bloomberg declined to comment, saying he didn't want to add to the attention it might get.

NRA spokeswoman Ashley Varner said possible parallels between the magazine cover and the historical context of the octopus were accidental. She said, "Any use of it as any sort of anti-Semitic symbol is inadvertent and unintentional."

MORE

[aquart]

1. "Unintentional." Yeah, right. Whatever.

Bloomberg needs to review his security. Now.

[Kagemusha]

2. How common is the knowledge that this is considered anti-semitic?

I personally had no idea, but then again, I don't go searching for symbols to use against Jews.

[aquart]

3. But they do.

But consider it unintentional. Just like the Republicans saying Democrat instead of Democratic isn't to highlight the word, "rat."

Rose-colored glasses are so...rosy.

[Kagemusha]

5. ...Look, whoever you are, I don't consider this personal

so let's just drop this here without resorting to insults, please.

Goodnight.

[ends_dont_justify]

4. Seems awfully strange to just randomly use it as a theme, don'cha think?

When I think of new york's mayor I'm not exactly stricken with thoughts of undersea invertebrates.

[murloc]

6. An Octopus is anti-semetic?

I had no idea.

Nonetheless, I would think that the NRA with their billions would have enough money to do a little research before publishing attack ads etc.