Press Releases
All Political Parties Agree that NY Post Political Cartoon was Racist
Americans across all parties say the controversial NY Post cartoon was not funny and had racists undertones
Flemington, NJ, February 24, 2009 – A new study conducted among 313 self reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents, revealed that respondents across all parties feel the New York Post political cartoon was racist. Most (61%) felt that the parody was directed towards President Barack Obama specifically.
The study was conducted by HCD Research during February 20-21 to obtain viewers’ perceptions of the recently published New York Post political cartoon that has been surrounded by controversy in the national media this past week.
An overwhelming majority of Democrats (79%) believed that the cartoon was politically incorrect. 51% of Republicans felt it was politically incorrect and 59% of Independents thought it was. When asked who should be held responsible for the publishing of this cartoon, respondents felt the editor who approved the cartoon should be held mainly responsible.
Among the findings:
Who do you think should be responsible for dealing with the repercussions and backlash that erupted after the publishing of this political cartoon? Select all that apply.
|
|
Total |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Independents |
|
The cartoonist |
45% |
52% |
37% |
48% |
|
The editor who approved it |
61% |
77% |
44% |
62% |
|
The New York Post |
55% |
67% |
40% |
57% |
|
Other |
1% |
0% |
2% |
2% |
|
No one |
24% |
8% |
41% |
23% |
Who do you think this cartoon was “poking fun” at? Select all that apply.
|
|
Total |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Independents |
|
US Government |
11% |
31% |
37% |
42% |
|
President Obama |
61% |
73% |
59% |
51% |
|
The Chimpanzee |
22% |
22% |
18% |
25% |
|
Cops |
4% |
6% |
3% |
4% |
|
Animals in general |
3% |
5% |
2% |
3% |
|
Not sure |
10% |
5% |
13% |
11% |
While viewing the video clip, participants indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves.
The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).