I've long loved political cartoons. I was lucky to grow up in Chicago where the work of one of the greatest cartoonist, Bill Mauldin, was regularly published in the Chicago Sun-Times. I even dreamed of being a political cartoonist.
Cartoons are meant to be simple, superficial, and taken in at a glance. The superficial, simple, at a glance reading of the New York Post cartoon would be to recognize the classic racial stereotype of a black man who was behind the stimulus bill, Obama, as the chimp.
(The New York Post does not seem to have permalinks to its content. To view the original cartoon, go to http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm then enter February 18, 2009 to retrieve the original from their archives.)
Not only did the cartoon touch on racial stereotypes, it touched on assassination of Obama.
The New York Post and right wing media commentators are claiming that we are misinterpreting this. They claim the chimp represents House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate head Harry Reid or the Democratic party which has devolved to the level of chimps. That's way too complicated and obviously a cover for their racial insensitivity and their insensitivity to the higher assassination risk Obama is under.
One has the First Amendment right to say or publish most anything, unfortunately including hateful things. The First Amendment prohibits the government from censoring such speech before publications or prosecuting it afterwards.
However, the First Amendment does not shield one from others' reactions. The First Amendment also protects reactions such as public condemnations and calls for a boycott of the New York Post.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What will make Burris resign?
The same lack of integrity that Burris exhibited by accepting the Senate appointment from Blagojevich now prevents him from doing the honorable thing by resigning.
What would move such a personality to resign? I think Burris has enough megalomania that he would rather resign than need to chisel into his burial monument:
1. First African-American senator censured by the Senate.
2. First African-American Senator expelled by the Senate. That would be particularly humiliating as all but one of the previous 15 expulsions were for supporting the Confederacy.
3. First African-American Senator asked to resign by the first African-American President.
4. First African-American Senator indicted for perjury or any one of a number of crimes to be revealed by ongoing investigations. While criminal prosecution does not necessarily result in loss of his seat, he may wish to avoid adding an indictment to his legacy by making some type of plea bargain, resigning in exchange for a promise of no prosecution.
In his resignation statement, Burris could use the standard fall back of needing more time with his family. That probably would not soothe his pompous ego. More likely, he will blame everyone else. He may charge that he is the victim of a vast media conspiracy which has made it impossible for him and President Obama to do their jobs.
What would move such a personality to resign? I think Burris has enough megalomania that he would rather resign than need to chisel into his burial monument:
1. First African-American senator censured by the Senate.
2. First African-American Senator expelled by the Senate. That would be particularly humiliating as all but one of the previous 15 expulsions were for supporting the Confederacy.
3. First African-American Senator asked to resign by the first African-American President.
4. First African-American Senator indicted for perjury or any one of a number of crimes to be revealed by ongoing investigations. While criminal prosecution does not necessarily result in loss of his seat, he may wish to avoid adding an indictment to his legacy by making some type of plea bargain, resigning in exchange for a promise of no prosecution.
In his resignation statement, Burris could use the standard fall back of needing more time with his family. That probably would not soothe his pompous ego. More likely, he will blame everyone else. He may charge that he is the victim of a vast media conspiracy which has made it impossible for him and President Obama to do their jobs.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
How will Burris deal with this on his monument?
How and when will Burris leave office?
1. Resignation? Probably the least likely as his ego won't allow it.
2. Expulsion by the Senate through one of its procedures other than than impeachment? Reasonable and possible.
3. Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate? A long, cumbersome, and politically costly process which makes it less likely.
4. Loss in the 2010 Senatorial primary? A very likely possibility especially since the revelations of the past few days cost him most meaningful support from Illinois Democrats.
5. If he survives the primary, loss in the general election? That might be the worst outcome as it will give the Republicans another Senate seat, the last thing President Obama needs.
Unfortunately, Burris is so self centered that he is incapable of seeing how harmful he has become to President Obama. Just as the Republicans are putting ideology before the good of the nation, Burris will probably do the same with his ego. That will look great on his grave marker.
1. Resignation? Probably the least likely as his ego won't allow it.
2. Expulsion by the Senate through one of its procedures other than than impeachment? Reasonable and possible.
3. Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate? A long, cumbersome, and politically costly process which makes it less likely.
4. Loss in the 2010 Senatorial primary? A very likely possibility especially since the revelations of the past few days cost him most meaningful support from Illinois Democrats.
5. If he survives the primary, loss in the general election? That might be the worst outcome as it will give the Republicans another Senate seat, the last thing President Obama needs.
Unfortunately, Burris is so self centered that he is incapable of seeing how harmful he has become to President Obama. Just as the Republicans are putting ideology before the good of the nation, Burris will probably do the same with his ego. That will look great on his grave marker.
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