This cover breaks a few rules, namely:
Rule #27: Use Cover Lines
Rule #10: Use Photos over Illustrations
But this is all trumped by two other rules, namely:
Rule #1: There are always exceptions to the rules
Rule #6: Be controversial
Legendary illustrator (and former second basemen for the Toronto Life co-ed softball team) Barry Blitt created this amazing cover which caused a national media PR bonanza for the New Yorker.
A cover that was meant to be a satire of Obama’s moronic critics was most-likely deliberately misunderstood and used for cynical partisan advantage. The cover controversy illustrated just how politically correct, humourless and polarized America had become.
According to ABC statistics, this cover sold 84,100 copies. This was by far the best-selling issue of the New Yorker in 2008. The worst-seller that year sold 27,400 copies. The average for all other issues in 2008 was 42,903. Therefore, this cover sold 96% better than the average for 2008.

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