On 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:

Today, 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?”

There has been an intense debate from both sides of the political aisle over the decision, and reversal, of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut their funding to Planned Parenthood.

Click to enlarge

One of our strongest conservative cartoonists, Gary McCoy, drew the cartoon to the right, juxtaposing Susan G. Komen’s mission to aid women’s health with the fact that Planned Parenthood performs abortions.

It’s a tough cartoon, as are most cartoons dealing with abortion, and several of our readers wrote in about it. Here are some of the opinions we received:

Rob C.: “This cartoon is obviously by a right wing evangelical. Obvious because he uses the term “pro-abortion” rather than the correct term “pro-choice”.  As with many of his ilk, he wants government out of people’s lives but, wants government to dictate his beliefs. I think the dictionary defines him as hypocrite.”

Bruce G.: “The cartoon was totally off-the-point but not surprising given how far off-base politics has gotten these day.  Komen wasn’t paying Planned Parenthood for abortions but for other testing.  Unfortunately, rhackos (right-wing whackos) think: Planned Parenthood = abortion. Not valid!  Planned Parenthood provides a lot of services for women, including abortions.  Go back to Venn diagrams folks — there’s some overlap but they’re not equivalent.”

James B.: “Apparently it is allowed to murder unborn babies while trying to cure cancer? Hypocrites!”

Phil K.: “While giving startling visuals, it factually devoid of any real accuracy.”

Vicky K.: “Since none of the funds received by Planned Parenthood from Komen were used for abortion, the cartoon was foul.  Perpetuating a myth for political purposes is dispicable.”

Paul K.: “This is the most absurd cartoon you have ever shown. I am always fine with differing views, but this is ridiculous. Taking a serious health issue like breast cancer and politicizing it with their emotional issues of abortion is outrageous. It is sickening and represents how broken things are right now – you should not be encouraging this kind of gutter politics in my view.”

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