"Tonight is a night of celebration. This great land we live in has reached an exciting milestone in the war on terror [on screen: news coverage saying that the terror watch list added its 1 millionth person]. ... The terror watch list is hitting the big 1-0-0-0-0-0, oh! You know that expression 'kick ass and take names?' It turns out this country is really good at one of those. We take a lot of names. It really is an incredible accomplishment.” --Jon Stewart

“According to a new poll -- true story -- most voters think Barack Obama has a better smile than John McCain. That's what they're saying. They say he has a better smile than John McCain. Yeah, apparently, this is because McCain takes his smile out every night and puts it in a glass of water.” --Conan O’Brien

“Did you see that Indymac Bank that collapsed here in California? All those poor people waiting in line -- my God. But the Feds say not to worry if your money's in a bank, because the government will guarantee it will be there. Remember, they also guaranteed WMDs and guaranteed New Orleans that FEMA would show up. Consider the source!” --Jay Leno

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The New Yorker tried to take a swipe at Obama bashers with its controversial cover cartoon depicting Barack Obama dressed in Muslim garb fist-bumping his Afro-wearing, machine gun-toting wife in the Oval Office. Instead what it delivered was one of the most dramatic failures of political satire in recent memory.

Here's a roundup of reaction to the cartoon scandal:

Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama’s right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."

Artist Barry Blitt, creator of the cartoon, defended himself by saying, "It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is."

Cartoonist Daryl Cagle: "A cartoon that fails to communicate its message in a way that readers understand is nothing more than a bad cartoon."

Cartoonist Ted Rall: "If The New Yorker wants to get into the political cartoon business, it ought to hire some political cartoonists. Until they hire some smart editors, The New Yorker ought to stick to what they do well: gag panels about Upper East Siders at cocktail parties."

Jon Stewart, meanwhile, took on the media and Obama for overreacting to the Obama cartoon: "Obama’s camp initially agreed that the cartoon was, quote, tasteless and offensive. Really? You know what your response should have been? It’s very easy. Here, let me put the statement out for you. Barack Obama is in no way upset about the cartoon that depicts him as a Muslim extremist, because you know who gets upset about cartoons? Muslim extremists. Of which Barack Obama is not. It’s just a f**king cartoon!” (Watch video clip)

Stephen Colbert also chimed in: "I like this because I finally understand a cartoon in The New Yorker." (Watch video clip)

Take Our Poll: What do you think of The New Yorker's Obama cartoon?

1) It's offensive and unfunny
2) It's effective satire
3) It's just a cartoon. Why is everyone overreacting?

See also:
Cartoons Lampooning The New Yorker Cartoon (About.com Political Humor)
Satire, Like Most Art, Is In The Eye of the Beholder (About.com US Politics)
Satire on the Street (The Daily Show)
A Detailed Analysis of the New Yorker Fallout in Cartoon Form (23/6)
Want Obama in a Punch Line? First, Find a Joke (NY Times)
Obama Releases List of Approved Jokes About Himself (Borowitz Report)
Obama Unfunny? You Be the Judge (Politico)

Have you been swept up by Obamamania, or are you a full-fledged McCainiac? Take these handy quizzes and we'll gauge your level of support for the 2008 presidential candidates.

• The Barack Obama Loyalty Quiz
• The John McCain Loyalty Quiz