Ex-NY Post editor sues paper for racism, sexism

* Complaint alleges retaliatory firing

* Plaintiff objected to Obama cartoon

* Newspaper says plaintiff's job cut amid falling ad sales

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A former New York Post editor has sued the newspaper and its parent News Corp (NWSA.O), saying she was fired after complaining about sexism and racism, including a cartoon that appeared to liken U.S. President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.

According to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, Sandra Guzman, a black and Puerto Rican associate editor, was terminated on Sept. 29 in retaliation for complaints about allegedly pervasive racism and sexism at the newspaper.

Monday's lawsuit said Guzman, the "only female editor of color at the Post," was among those who complained about a Feb. 18 cartoon that depicted a policeman shooting a crazed chimpanzee, a play on a similar incident in Connecticut.

The caption read: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." This led many to view the chimpanzee as a depiction of Obama, who a day earlier had signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus package.

New York Post Chairman Rupert Murdoch later apologized to readers for the cartoon.