Smithtown Messenger Runs Photos Portraying President Obama & Wife as "Fred Sanford & Aunt Esther"

Long Island newspaper portrays President Obama and wife Michelle as Aunt Esther and Fred Sanford from "Sanford & Son" TV show.

Thought the negative and stereotypical portrayals of President Barack Obama had ended? Wrong. Photos of the president and his wife Michelle have surfaced in the Smithtown Messenger, a Republican newspaper, last week and sparked some controversy on Long Island. The cartoon, created by Phillip Sciarello, features "before and after" photos of six presidents and their wives, starting with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and ends with President Obama and his wife, according to WPIX.com.

One picture of President Obama and his wife Michelle show the couple hugging, while the second depicted the 1970's show "Sanford and Son" where Sanford's sister-in-law Aunt Esther, played by LaWanda Page, had her fists up facing comedian Redd Foxx.

Sorry, but the portrayal of the Obamas is despicable and plays on negative stereotypes. According to WPIX, many Democrats are incensed by the photos and have called for the newspaper to be stripped of county legal ads. Many critics have dubbed the illustration "racist" and "despicable," which has prompted many Democrats to call for the Smithtown Messenger to be stripped of county legal ads. Sciarello reportedly called the criticism unfounded and that the photos were meant as "political satire." Really? Were Aunt Esther and Fred Sanford the only two black characters available to portray the First Couple? I didn't see the other presidents and their spouses portrayed in any other manner but as themselves.

The newspaper issued a statement to PIX 11 News that will also appear as a retraction slated to appear in Thursday's publication:

"The publisher of the Smithtown Messenger regret any offense taken by our readers at the photographic political satire depicting the current and past presidents on the editorial page in the April 29th, 2010 issue. While we have grave disagreement with the policies of the current Administration, we hold the office of President of the United States in great respect."

I wouldn't necessarily call the photo racist, but it does play on the angry black woman stereotype and is demeaning in nature to the Obamas.

Visit Andrew Breitbart's website to read some of the racially insensitive comments, CLICK HERE.