A Jeff Danziger cartoon that appeared in Saturday’s Washington Post has drawn the ire of critics that claim the cartoon is racially charged.
The cartoon, dated July 21, shows Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) perched on a fire latter with a sniper rifle. The caption reads, “Senator DeMint Can’t Wait to Kill Health Care.” An elephant representing the GOP exclaims, “Metaphorically, Jim! For God’s sake!”
The cartoon aims to jab DeMint over his comments that it would be politically advantageous for Republicans to halt President Obama on his health care reform initiative. “If we’re able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo,” DeMint said. “It will break him.”
Critics claim that the drawing is reminiscent of photos of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where James Earl Ray shot and killed Dr. Martin Luther King.
“Supposedly the target is “healthcare,” but the cartoon obviously refers to DeMint’s remark about breaking Obama,” a poster remarked on the conservative website Hot Air. ”
“It’s not much of a jump to believe that the cartoonist intends us to imagine that DeMint’s target is Obama.”
Jeff Danziger was contacted but prefers not to respond, allowing the cartoon to speak for itself.
