Is Barrack Obama a Monkey?

State and local lawmakers picketed the New York Post building Wednesday in protest of a political cartoon they say is outright racist.

Days after a chimpanzee on a rampage was fatally shot in Connecticut, the cartoon shows police officers shooting a chimp and hinting that the ape is the author of the federal stimulus bill.

Critics say it infers that President Barack Obama is a monkey, and that it plays into an age-old stereotype and is outrageous and irresponsible.

They are now calling on the paper to apologize.

"It's clear that you are out of touch with this entire country. Americans went to the polls to elect a man of honor from its country, not a monkey not a chimpanzee. This is not funny, this is not a cartoon, this is disgusting," said State Senator Eric Adams.

Sharpton was the first to publicly criticize the cartoon, and is organizing another demonstration outside News Corp headquarters Thursday at noon.

In a statement, the New York Post says, "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs addressed the controversy telling reporters "I have not seen the cartoon, but I don't think it's altogether newsworthy reading the New York Post."