Our Response to the Cartoon Controversy

Our latest Obama Nation cartoon has caused quite a stir. It’s gained national attention. Naturally, the shills for the Obama Administration at Media Matters decided to draw national attention to it because, why deal with real issues like the President’s nation destroying budget?

The media was asking for our response to calls that the cartoon is racist. So here they are:

James Hudnall:

As a classical liberal (aka Libertarian) I’m opposed to the nanny state. The first lady has every right to express her opinions about obesity or try to bring awareness to the issue, but when an unelected official starts dictating what industries should do, it deserves our scorn. She’s decided to tell schools what foods and drinks they can sell to kids. And now she started telling the National Restaurant Association (NRA) what they should be doing regarding portion sizes and options. When you combine her actions with recent attempts by other politicians like NYC mayor Bloomberg to legislate salt and transfats, it’s starting to come off like creeping fascism.

The government has no business intruding on citizens personal lives beyond enforcing reasonable laws. But control freaks never tire of interfering with other people’s choices and options.

There is nothing racist about the cartoon. The artist (Batton Lash) merely drew the first couple in caricature, which is what political cartoonists do. All we’ve done was do take a mild poke at the hypocrisy of the first lady. The press has already detailed the kind of foods served at white house dinners. It’s rarely diet friendly. Such as the menu at their super bowl party.

When someone steps out on to the political stage, they have to expect criticism from people who disagree with them. It doesn’t matter what their race is. Race doesn’t give them a free pass. Our criticism was very mild. The reaction the cartoon has gotten, which has been fueled by political agitators like Media Matters, has been over the top. The true measure of success of any political cartoon is how it effects the other side in the argument. Apparently, this one was a home run.

Batton Lash:

Why/How did you decide to create this?

Writer James Hudnall and I collaborate on a political cartoon every week for Big Government.com. We find the “do as I say, not as I do” approach of the Obamas hypocritical and ripe for ridicule. The First Lady seeks to enforce healthy eating on the nation, while indulging on snacks in public appearances. And that White House Super Bowl party menu! If good leaders lead by example, the Obamas are sending mixed messages.

What would you say to critics that are offended about the depiction of the President and those who argue the cartoon is racist?

What’s racist about it? Cartooning–specifically political cartooning– has always been about exaggeration, whether it was Nixon’s prominent jowls, Carter’s toothy smile, or Bush ll’s beady eyes. If our current president is exempt because of the color of his skin, I think that would be racist. By the way, I didn’t depict the First Lady as fat–just a hearty eater!