I'm not going to bother mentioning the "offending" incident (a google and a glance will pretty much catch you up to speed) but, needless to say, there are many a gleeful conservative chittering out there on the intarwebs about the New Yorker.
I'd say "Republicans" instead of "conservatives" but these days conservatives call themselves "Independents" (that just won't vote Democrat no matter what) while patiently waiting for Bush to leave office and for people to disassociate corruption, mortgage crisises, government mishandling, military misjudgement and general sexual hypocrisy on their favorite brand-- essentially, in 4 years when the old school Democrats fuck it up. Again (4 years? Hell, let's face it, with this FISA bill and the inability to stand up to a hated lame-duck President, it'll be some time in the next 9 months).
These conservative friends of yours are going to say a lot of funny, confusing things-- things like, "Well, if they showed McCain as an old man drooling like a latter-day Reagan (too soon?), there wouldn't BE any controversy (except, of course, McCain really IS old so it's not actually a lie)." And, more likely than not, they're going to use the words "Politically Correct."
Continue on for a basic guide to a confusing idea....
Political Correctness is a funny term which follows the classic conservative model of double-re-think-- at some point it meant one thing, but now it means the opposite. See also: "Video Choice" & "Fair Tax." Political Correctness was the idea that folks should try to be aware of the fact that some parts of their beliefs, upbringing and general conversation may be offensive to others-- for instance, using the words "nigger-rigged" or saying "he jewed me" might be offensive, even if you've been saying it for years and may not actually have anything against the offended groups. Modern examples include "ghetto" which is just a way to say "nigger" without saying "nigger." Hence, "ghetto-rigged" and "ghetto booty." I mean seriously, how could you NOT be obviously associating this stuff with being black? It's pretty fucking obvious, people. But I digress....
Today, for the modern right-wing man on the street, political correctness is an evil term which means "anything that does not offend my finely-honed cultural insensitivity yet still offends humorless minorities--- which are henceforth called 'reverse racists.'" (another fine example of creative double-think, btw). Hence, anything that is "political incorrect," to the right-wing man on the street, is inherently funny-- if only to right-thinking people like himself.
So now that you're up to speed on what you're conservative friend means by "political correct" let me give you some examples so that you will understand where the thin little line that separates "racist" from "politically incorrect."
This is racist:
See there? It says "nigger." Even to the modern conservative, usage of a racist term like "nigger" which is so obvious and loaded, is racist--- especially so if used by a black person.
Now contrast that with this image, which is "Politically Incorrect:"
Why, look at that chain! Those lips! That hat! That's not racist, black people actually dress that way! We've seen it on TV! Definitely not racist-- and anybody who protests is just "sensitive."
Okay, let's try another:
Alright, is this racist or "politically incorrect?"
If you picked "politically incorrect," you'd be right! See, Obama as a monkey-- that's just funny. Ignore years of denigrating comparisons of African Americans to apes, starting in the days of phrenology when "scientists" attempted to prove blacks (and criminals and the irish) were less evolved, closer to man's animal origins-- right-wingers live in a cultural vacuum, using their own anglo-saxon protestant background as the sole lens through which all understanding is filtered (this is what they call "color-blindness" or "non-racism.").
Why, they make pictures of George Bush looking like a monkey-- why not Obama? He has big ears, too, right? If you're saying to yourself, "well, I bet a conservative would say those who thought Obama SHOULDN'T be associated are RACISTS" you're beginning to understand political correctness!
Let's try another:
Racist?
Heck no, that's Political Incorrect! Why, Baby Mama was the name of a movie, starring WHITE PEOPLE- that CAN'T be racist! Moreover, black people use it and if black people say something about or to other blacks, stopping a WHITE person from saying it IS TOTALLY RACIST.
You see, despite the fact that Baby Mama has derogatory connotations and refers to a woman who has mothered one's child but is no longer their primary partner-- despite the fact that the Obama's are and have been happily married, with all two of their children to the same mother-- there is nothing directly offensive to anyone who lives in the finely honed cultural vacuum of the conservative thinker.
I mean, sure, McCain actually DOES have a Baby Mama but to bring her up would be tasteless and hateful.
Alright kids, now here's a REALLY hard one....
Is this image "Politically Incorrect?"
NO!
The black person in question is a Republican and, therefore, using her as a parrot to Bush with over-emphasized thick lips and simpering demeanor is obviously racist!
Hey. Just because your conservative friends rationale doesn't make sense all the time, that doesn't make it wrong....