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Subscribe to RSSOn Tuesday, I posted a conservative cartoon about Sandra Fluke and the Rush Limbaugh birth control rant on my blog by Gary McCoy, who I syndicate through Cagle Cartoons. Since then, there’s been a firestorm of criticism about the nasty tone of the cartoon coming from all quarters of the internet. Media critic Jim Romenesko even posted this side-by-side comparison on his blog:
Now with Alex Wagner host Alex Wagner brought up the cartoon on her msnbc show and debated the finer points of basic healthcare on International Women’s Day.
Here’s the clip:
Here are just a taste of the emails and comments we received about the cartoon:
Susan S.: “This cartoon (and Limbaugh’s remarks) say more about the originators than they do about Ms. Fluke. When did personal insults and ad hominem attacks become acceptable substitutes for political debate?”
Neil J.: “Since when did Rush draw cartoons? Demonizing is sick & wrong for cartoonists and talk radio. Thanks for continuing to poison the dialogue. Epitome of how wrong republicans have become for themselves and the rest of our great country.”
George B.: “Dear Gary, How would you like someone to do this to your daughter? I won’t take a look at any of your cartoons again. Incredibly distasteful!”
Jon J.: “Not funny, just stupid. Did Rush pay you to publish this piece of s#%t? Really, not happy to see you denigrate your brand with crap like this.”
Chris K.: “Since the woman was specifically NOT asking the Government to cover her birth control but a private organizations health insurance this cartoon is just promoting a lie.”
Robert E.: “That cartoon is just an example of the low intelligence and drivel you’d expect from the foul-minded Limbaughers.”
Sandy S.: “After being totally disgusted by the implied content, I couldn’t help but wonder – with Rush’s sponsors are leaving him faster than the captain did on the sinking Costa Concordia, is he now supplementing his income doing political cartoons?”
Leave a Comment:
I agree that Limbaugh was wrong but so is Maher when he called Palin a slut and @!$%#. The President adminstration and Democrats spoke out about what Limbaugh did was wrong but he did not call out Maher and Maher has given a Million dollars supporting Obama campaign. Do you think the President would accept a million dollars coming from Maher going to a super pack to help him get re-elected if Maher had called his wife the same thing?
Well they are politicians and I know most politicians have tunnel vision.
They are both entertainers who just happen to appeal to different audiences. Rush appeals to the trolls and troglodytes, and Bill appeals to those with a well developed sense of humor.
The "slut" statement was crude, but at least printable compared to Mahre's invective. The cartoon is, however, spot on, timely and focuses exactly on the issue. For a political cartoon it really couldn't be much better. The noise is simply people who don't agree with the point being raised. My favorite is Chris K's statement about her not asking the government for payment; just the private insurers. I suppose the best way to ask for free stuff from private companies is to appear before congress so the government can use its force to give you what you want... one step from communism; can you say central planning?
The comparisons between Rush and Maher are laughable. For one thing, who actually watches Maher? Is his audience anything but a blip next to Rush's? I highly doubt it. Do liberal politicians grovel before him when Maher criticizes them, as they do with Rush? No. If anyone cared about Maher, there'd be a mighty conservative gnashing of teeth and sponsors pulling out. He's no Jon Stewart, that's for sure.
Regardless, just because someone did something first doesn't make it right. Both men are beneath contempt, and anyone defending either of them can't possibly think their party is better than the other. If you want to think you're better than the other, you have to ACT better than the other.