February 26th, 2009 The Rev. Al Sharpton, the first Black leader to pounce on The New York Post for its controversial cartoon likening President Obama to an ape, says that the newspaper’s owner didn’t go far enough with his apology. The “apology leaves a lot more questions than it gives answers,” Sharpton said. “The question is what will guarantee that these kinds of things will not happen again. Let us make no mistake about it: We have seen two apologies in one week – really one and a half apologies – which is unprecedented, but clearly not far enough.” The cartoon, drawn by Sean Delonas, showed a dead chimpanzee lying in a pool of blood with two bullet holes in it. Two police officers stood nearby, one with a smoking gun. “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill,” one officer says to the other. The cartoon appeared the day after Obama signed the stimulus bill. On Tuesday, following a clumsy statement by the editor, in which he stood by the intent of the cartoon, Murdoch issued an apology. “Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted,” said Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corporation, which owns the paper. “I can assure you – without a doubt – that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation. “It was not meant to be racist, but unfortunately, it was interpreted by many as such. We all hold the readers of The New York Post in high regard, and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.” On Wednesday, the NAACP issued its own statement, calling on Murdoch to put actions behind his apology. Substantive actions would include publicizing its newsroom diversity numbers and to cease from any other incendiary content.
soucre: BET News
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