'TNR' Obama Cover's Metaphor a Bit Too Apt

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Mixed Media

by Jeff Bercovici

Main

Late Breaks: Anchors Losing It, more Idle Chatter: The Dolans vs. the Pre...

May 13 2008 6:50PM EDT

dean%20and%20obama.jpg

Revenge or coincidence? A few weeks ago, The New Republic cried foul after Time produced a concept cover that resembled one that TNR had published. (Time said its design was in homage to a current NBA ad campaign.)

Now it's TNR's turn to be accused of lacking originality. This week's paint-by-numbers cover, consisting of an unfinished watercolor rendering of Barack Obama, bears a distinct resemblance to a Time cover from 2004 featuring Howard Dean.

TNR editor Franklin Foer says the similarity was unintentional: "Nobody here has any recollection of seeing that cover. Maybe we should get a subscription to Time." Ouch!

He concedes, however, that TNR is guilty of ripping off a certain magazine: TNR. See the cover image below from August 2001. Quips Foer, "I guess there's a reason they call it paint by numbers."

Update: UnBeige has found what appears to be the original inspiration for all three covers.

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