A new cartoon controversy

The political cartoon on the cover of The New Yorker magazine is proving controversial.

In the drawing, Barack Obama, clad in Muslim clothing, stands with his wife Michelle, who has a machine gun slung across her back. An American flag burns in the fireplace.

The magazine said the cartoon was satirical and designed to mock the misconceptions U.S. voters have about Mr. Obama. Talking to CNN's Larry King, Senator Obama said the cartoon will only fuel those misconceptions.

But then he downplayed the cartoon's impact:  "It's a cartoon ... and that's why we've got the First Amendment... And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what's happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon. So I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it."

What do you think? Does the cartoon lampoon or promote right-wing smears of Barack Obama?