“A conservative filmmaker in Hollywood thought he had developed a worthwhile iPhone app: a telephone directory listing every U.S. senator and congressman, with caricatures of the legislators drawn by an artist,” Gene J. Koprowski reports for FOX News. “But Apple apparently didn’t see the value, and the computer behemoth said a cartoon drawing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was part of the reason why.”
“The filmmaker, Ray Griggs, told FoxNews.com that his small firm, RG Entertainment, received a rejection letter from Apple this week calling the caricatures ‘objectionable.’ He added that he has received several e-mails suggesting that Apple stock owned by Pelosi’s husband may have played a factor in the decision,” Koprowski reports. “Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, when questioned about the application, said ‘this is the first I’ve heard of this.’ He declined to comment further. Apple didn’t return repeated phone calls and e-mails seeking comment for this story. RG has developed other apps for the iPhone that Apple has accepted.”
“The directory’s caricatures feature the drawings of every member of Congress — Republicans, Democrats and independents alike — by freelance artist Tom Richmond, who has drawn for Mad Magazine. The heads of the politicians bobble on the iPhone screen,” Koprowski reports. “The app was developed for young voters who want instant online and telephone access to their senators and congressmen.”
Koprowski reports, “Apple’s rejection letter for Griggs’ app states: ‘Thank you for submitting Bobble Rep – 111th Congress Edition to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Bobble Rep – 111th Congress Edition and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains content that ridicules public figures.'”
MacDailyNews Take: So what? Public figures exist to be ridiculed. And the whole point of caricature is meant to depict a person or thing with certain striking characteristics exaggerated in order to create a comic and/or distorted effect in the name of instant recognition. Caricature has a very long and important history in politics, entertainment, literature, etc. It’s an art form, not something that should be banned because some politically correct cretan in a Cupertino cubicle thinks there’s a chance that it might offend somebody somewhere. Newsflash: Somebody somewhere will always be offended no matter what.* Sheesh. Thomas Nast is spinning in his grave right now.
MacDailyNews Note: Read Tom Richmond’s reaction to Apple’s idiotic, ill-conceived rejection via his blog here.
Koprowski continues, “The e-mail was signed by the ‘iPhone Developer Program’ — no name was given — and it included an image of Pelosi that it deemed ‘offensive.’ [Griggs said], ‘These politicians are public figures. No permission is needed to write or comment on them. We have a complete right to do this.'”
“Griggs said he’s received a lot of e-mail alleging that Speaker Pelosi’s husband, Paul, owns $5 million in shares in Apple, and the Washington newspaper Roll Call wrote that the speaker’s spouse owned the shares,” Koprowski reports. “Pelosi’s spokesman would not answer e-mailed questions asking whether her husband still owns the shares, or whether she or her staff or her husband were in contact with Apple regarding the images.”
MacDailyNews Take: So, Griggs received a lot of email. Big deal. As if Pelosi or her husband has a hot line to Apple’s snot-nosed app approval flunkies. Seriously, we’d be shocked if either of The Pelosis even know there is an App Store, much less have a hand in rejecting a once-obscure iPhone app that offers online and telephone access to senators and congressmen alongside their caricatures. Let’s stay at least loosely connected with reality, okay? That said, Griggs is doing the right thing and should keep conjuring up as much publicity as possible. Maybe this one’ll finally prompt Apple to take some meaningful action or at least explain why an app devoted to a helping a cartoon monkey piss into a toilet before the room overflows with pee is fine and dandy for App Store inclusion, but this app is not.
Koprowski reports, “Some think Apple may simply have been acting cautiously. Nationally syndicated columnist and commentator Betsy Hart tells FoxNews.com: ‘I don’t think this is just another case of liberal media bias. While it may start there, surely Apple has witnessed what the Democratic machine in Washington has done or attempted to do as it has muscled into the American banking, auto and energy industries. And that’s not to mention healthcare. If I were the folks at a multibillion dollar corporation like Apple, I wouldn’t want to tick off Nancy Pelosi and her gang either!'”
Read more details in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple blew it. Again. This app features caricatures of all 540 members of Congress, regardless of political party. This app should never have been rejected and whoever’s in charge of the college intern(s) in Apple’s App Store approvals department is clearly incompetent enough to be serving in the U.S. Congress themselves.
This falls into exactly the same category as the “I Am Rich” rejection. Apple should make sure that apps are safe to run on iPhone OS and leave taste, or lack thereof, out of the approval equation. It’s not Apple’s responsibility to “protect” people from downloading apps that may offend the downloaders’ or others’ sensibilities. Frankly, nobody much cares if you’re “offended.” STFU and deal with it; we’re beyond tired of all the whining. Nobody’s entitled to a life free of offense and insult, real or imagined. That’s simply not how this planet and the human race work. Attempting to thwart human nature instead of using it constructively is the root of mankind’s folly. We could’ve used “humankind” there, but we didn’t. And, we’re never changing it. Deal with it.
Apple’s only considerations should be to make sure apps do not harm the device and/or encourage physically harming others, directly or indirectly. That’s why we immediately condemned that despicable “Baby Shaker” app and applauded Apple for nixing it. Of course, it never should have been approved in the first place, but we already knew that Apple’s app approval process had major issues long before that particular SNAFU. (And, by the way,” for those that want to bring up FPS or similarly violent games: A defenseless infant is actually different than an armed soldier. If you’re ever in an actual war, you’re supposed to fight the enemy; if you’re ever holding a real baby, you’re never, ever to shake him or her.)
Members of Congress are public figures and political caricatures are part of the deal that comes with holding public office. The fact that these particular caricatures are so innocuous only highlights the severity of Apple’s App Store approval issues.
We don’t know if Apple’s problem is: (a) the quality of the staff they’ve hired to flip the coins they use to determine app approvals; (b) if said staff is totally overwhelmed; (c) if said “staff” is really just that lone not-so-smart MobileMe launch guy whom the new, more mellow Steve didn’t have the heart to fire; or (e) all of the above, but they really ought to have worked it out by now.
When they wake up, people with brains at Apple are likely going to want to correct this one yesterday. The problem is that yesterday has passed. Another looming App Store PR debacle is all that remains.
MacDailyNews Note: Contact Apple via Web form here.
UPDATE: November 14, 3:03 PM EST: About face! Apple approves iPhone app featuring caricatures of politicians for sale in App Store
*Trust us on that one. You should read our email.
Apple has turned dangerously delusional if they imagine that they have the right to censor content they deem objectionable on purely subjective grounds. We’re not talking about child porn here, but political satire. I am shocked and dismayed by Apple’s actions and can only hope that they either come to their senses or are held accountable by the proper authorities for unjustified and illegal censorship.
A reminder, in case you missed it above:
Unregistered users: Feedback from multiple usernames are subject to deletion. Off-topic and posts from suspected astroturfers will be removed.
@Gary
I was considering buying a new iMac for Christmas, but now think why support these libs’ efforts to suppress free speech?
Passive agressive much? I heard this same lame argument from my father growing up…
I was going to let you have the car this weekend but since you fscked up, I’m not going to now.
This is so typical of you Gary, cut off your nose to spite your face! ha ha ha
@Journo
Where’ve you been these past few days? proud american has been quite vocal and disgusting really. I’ve challenged him to register his moniker but he can’t bring himself to do so. Instead he hides behind his anonymity, like a white sheet, to avoid disclosing his identity.
His vicious rants are replete with vitriol directed at anyone on these boards who have taken a contrary position. He’s not been selective at all, in fact as far as I could tell, he’s lumped everyone on these boards into the same category of “commies and liberals”, which includes you.
And because you’ve been elsewhere lately, let me point out that I served in the Marines for twenty-years defending the Constitution so that scum like proud american can say what he wants.
That my friend, I believe, gives me every right to challenge those whom I believe are undermining the good order.
If you’ve read any of his comments at all, you would see they are full of absolutes, not a single idea or thought on how to resolves this country’s problems. He’s just throwing stones. He hasn’t offer up a single thought that could be construed as constructive.
All of his rants have been myopic vitriol of no real value. He yells a lot, calls everyone commies and liberals, but offers nothing in rebuttal to contrary opinions except more name-calling.
I’m still defending his right to say whatever he wants, but as a matter of taste and decency, his thoughts have no intrinsic value whatsoever, that’s why Predrag and myself are confronting him.
When are you going to start?
@macarina
Apple will NEVER win this battle in the end.
what battle, in the end of what? Please expound on your statement.
Don’t leave us hanging.
@Journo
So why does NCIceman get a pass but you failed me?
@Journo
how come KingMel gets a pass but you failed me?
Apparently something I said, hit a nerve. Either that or you’re really proud american’s registered name?
You may have noticed that there are a number of registrants who have challenged proud american’s comments to which he hasn’t replied to a single one of them.
Don’t you find that odd, that all he does is spew his hate and refuses to address those who challenge him, with anything that could pass for civilized conversation?
I suspect proud american has been defending and supporting his own comments by using all manner of unregistered names, especially in the “Should Apple resume manufacturing in the US” thread.
One of his anonymous characters actually came to his defense by saying proud american is a long-time mac user who has been on these boards for years. I challenged anyone to show evidence of this and not a single person came forward.
Honestly, this sounds like the work of a single moron on the app approval team more than it sounds like an official policy of Apple to defend the honor of our.. Ahem.. Virtuous public figures.
Like the approval of Baby Shaker, I think the rejection of Bobble Rep is getting blown out of proportion and things are getting read into it that aren’t there.
Which is good to the extent that hopefully this will force Apple to improve their app approval process, but bad to the extent that now we’re going to be hearing that it’s all an evil conspiracy by Apple because LIBERALS = SATAN.
super comments guys, just super!
wow, conservative wingnuts for the loss of IQ…
“Man oh man is Pelosi and the rest of the Democrat scum disgusting. She should be standing on a communist flag with a hammer and sickle not the good old stars and stripes. You commies are traitors and destroying our country. We will fight your unconstitutional agenda tooth and nail every step of the way. This is all out war now. We will use all of your liberal tactics right back at you.”
first, get a dictionary, and look up communist. you don’t appear to know what it means.
second, the last group of people to attempt to destroy the country was the group that thought that a depression at the same time as two wars (one for no real reason) while cutting taxes for the wealthy and giving no bid contracts to your own country are policy. grow a brain cell.
third, exactly what unconstitutional agenda is that? and please explain how and why it is unconstitutional? do you wiretaps? or habeas corpus suspension? which one was it exactly?
at what liberal tactics are they you plan on using “right back at” us? smearing anyone who questions the president as a traitor? oh wait that is only when it is your incompetent in office isn’t it?
please, declare “all out war” why don’t you. go get violent somewhere. i would love to see all you rightwing retards locked away. maybe we could finally grow up as a country. stfu.
I’ve sent my complaint to Apple. The caricatures depicted are really quite good. Nancy Pelosi doesn’t look that good in real life!
God, I find Pelosi offensive. Period. She is a creepy lifetime politician. She needs to be thrown out of Congress. Fast.
Lol back to the topic at hand, I do disagree with Apple banning this ad. I support free speech, and the right to look like a jackass from it occasionally as well.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” /> I do apologize for calling Proud American a frelling retard, that was bad form. I just love the fake word “frell”…thank you Farscape!
The caricatures displayed are nothing worse that what is on the cover of The National Review every week. And it appeared to me that conservatives got as much of the cartoon treatment as liberals.
So no harm no foul, let the app through.
@ericdano
She needs to be thrown out of Congress. Fast.
So does GOP Sen. Tom Coburn of oklahoma for being the lone hold-out on passing the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009, which is designed to address the 1.5 million veterans who don’t have access to military health insurance!
2,266 veterans died last year due to a lack of health insurance. In a single year, it’s a disgrace!
Coburn said he couldn’t in good conscience sign off on the bill because there wasn’t enough clarity on how the money is spent. And yet…
He signed off on billion dollar bills for two wars, iraq and afghanistan, and didn’t question where all that money went. He’s a hypocrite and I’m almost certain he’ll buckle under the weight of hypocrisy.
@ericdano
But I feel your pain. The thought of you having to endure her creepiness is more any one man should have to bear.
Ho hum. MDN is such a haven for the nutcase types, who put a wrong-headed political slant on any story that appears here. The comments section has become a waste of time, and running a story like this is just waving a red flag in front of the wacko crowd. Move along, folks, there’s nothing to see here.
Wow. Just wow. Reading the commentary here really reinforced my adopted catch-phrase:
Stupidity is a condition; ignorance, a choice!
There’s so much of both on display that I fear that any latent intelligence will be completely atrophied/destroyed by reading the posts.
There’s no truer indictment of the US educational system than the ravings of these wingnuts. Heaven help the whole planet.
@Hm…
I agree. The wingnuts don’t even bother with the topic anymore, and admittedly, I don’t either once I’ve made my thoughts known on the subject, then I go looking for wingnuts to thwack, but not a moment sooner.
I wish more people here would directly confront those who would change the subject, we’d certainly get more out of these <strike>debates</strike> conversations.
Ri-di-cule?
Re-jection?
RE diculous!!!!!
REally stupid to censor the innocuous but release monkey pissing apps, baby killing apps (briefly), fart apps, etc.
Farting isn’t offensive but caricatures ARE??!!!?
RE DO and make it quick, Apple. This can’t go on. 🙁
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.”
_________
I own Apple stock and love Apple products, but I am competely disgusted with their approach on this one. I thought a company that proudly printed the above words on their posters would be above such petty censorship. How very sad and disappointing.
I love Apple stuff…but boy-o-boy are they getting to be a real politically correct wussy.
I cannot see ANY valid reason for this app to be shot down. It’s not like it focused on one party over the other. And even if it did, SO WHAT?
Hey Apple…. Grow Up, develop a sense of humor and stop being so P-whipped.
Journo hit the nail squarely on the head. G4 and the rest of the communists are out of their minds. We will stop you and your mission to destroy the US. I can promise you that. This nation was not founded under your insane values and we will not let you take us down this proven failure path. Trying terrorist in NYC?????????????? CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I guess Mad Magazine shouldn’t even bother developing that iPhone application.
That would be WAY too much offensive content there, eh?
OOoooohhh…. can’t have that evil satire and cariactures.
Liberals are the plague on the US. MDN I’m positive the posters on here are not astroturfers. Just worried citizens trying to fight off the libs everywhere and anywhere.
as usual the libs are always protective of the sacred cows–and in this instance a real cow. That communist bitch…of course she had something to do with getting it being rejected. She needs the space to launch her own gulag app, that way when you disagree with her, make fun of her, caricature her–POOF you gone, just like the constitution and everything else that made America great. Liberalism really is a mental disease
Of course it’s “objectionable”. It’s Nancy Pelosi for God’s sake!
Here’s hoping Apple reverses the decision to reject this app. I so want an app with Nancy Pelosi’s likeness on it. (Even though it really doesn’t capture her look. The artist did better with McCain & John Kerry.) I’m just hoping the app will allow me to pinch her head off…or at least pull her hair! (So much cheaper than therapy.)