At Flash Report, which, in addition to posting the offensive cartoon, links to this video of Popaditch:
Los Angeles Times has a nice summary, "Imperial Valley newspaper catches heat for political cartoon":
The Imperial Valley Press is being criticized by some readers who believe a political cartoon mocked the injuries of a decorated Iraq war veteran who is running for Congress.Go to Popaditch for Congress 2010 for more information.
The cartoon, published Saturday, shows a poster of candidate Nick Popaditch, who has a patch over his right eye. Two youths with skateboards seem perplexed by the poster
"What does that remind you of?" one says.
The other answers: "A James Bond super villain? A bald pirate? Uncle Fester with an eye patch."
Popaditch, a Marine gunnery sergeant, lost the sight in his right eye during the battle for Fallouja in Iraq in 2004. He received the Silver Star and Purple Heart and now is the Republican candidate in the 51st Congressional District, facing Democratic incumbent Bob Filner.
Among those criticizing the cartoon is Cheryl Perez, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, Military Order of the Purple Heart, unit 49, San Diego.
"I realize Nick is running for a political office and political cartoons are the norm," Perez wrote. "Attack him on his political views, not on injuries he sustained while fighting for other people's freedom and liberties. ... This is not just an insult to Nick, but an affront to every Purple Heart recipient."
4 comments:
This is almost as bad as all of those people who mocked John Kerry's war injuries by wearing purple heart band-aids at the Republican National Convention in 2004. It's as if both sides of the political aisle indulge in similar bad behaviour, huh Don?
Grow up JBW. Mocking a Vet who sustained permanent significant life-altering injuries is quite a bit different than questioning the grounds for a ticket home based on minor wounds and scratches that did not even affect Kerry's duty readiness.
You also seem to imply that if one side steps over the line, then it's fine for the other side to do so too, as if two wrongs make a right.
As for Kerry, I won't mock his service, but I believe he should be tried for treason for what he did after he returned.
No, it's different because the Republicans in question did not believe Kerry's injuries were real but were manufactured to get medals and an exit out of Vietnam. There is no doubt in this case.
The comparison you want to make is Anne Coulter mocking Max Clealand but that doesn't really work either because she didn't mock his wounds or his service but his claims that the wounds were received in combat when they were actually the result of a drunken accident with a grenade. Still it was distasteful to many.
I'm sorry, I don't reply to anonymous comments here at American Power. Please sack up and leave your real names and I'll address your concerns.
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