WaPo’s Cartoonist Dumbfoundingly Defiant on Cruz Kids Cartoon as Editor Hiatt Shows Class

Joe ConchaDec 23rd, 2015, 2:46 pm
 

wapoIt’s been another tough year for print media. Profits continues to shrink. Staff continues to shrink. Interest in old-school, hard-copy editions are suffering significant shrinkage as a whole, and we’re not referring to the phenomenon of what could happen upon emerging from a cold pool.

Internet media and the speed and bravado that goes along with it appears to be forcing the old, seemingly stogy print world to attempt to be more bold, more edgy. With that mindset potentially comes ignoring standard rules that go along with, say, editorials and cartoons. And one rule almost everyone can agree on when it comes to politics on any level is this:

Leave the kids out of it. Adding: Lest anyone think this is a red/blue selective outrage thing…I defended the Obama daughters against an equally-uncalled for attack last year.

So you have to wonder exactly what Ann Telnaes — who’s only won a Pulitzer — was thinking exactly yesterday when she decided to dream up a cartoon that included depicting Ted Cruz’s two young daughters (ages 5 and 7, respectively) as monkeys. Ms. Telnaes has declined comment to this publication and others like the New York Times, only cowardly taking to Twitter to make her one-way argument instead:

So if Ms. Telnaes’ criteria is such as outlined above, then it must mean she also drew up a cartoon depicting the current president’s children as some kind of non-human creatures as well, correct? Because back in 2012, Telnaes’ own paper ran this story with the following headline and lede:

First family is front and center in campaign ad

A new Internet ad by the president’s reelection campaign features a portrait of the first family asking supporters to “help the Obamas stand up for working Americans.” The appeal, a departure from the typical Obama messaging, provides an early glimpse of the role the president’s wife and daughters are likely to play in his campaign.

In the months to come, political strategists expect to see the first family used as a political asset.

“The value of the family is enormous,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. “The more you know this family and the more you think of Barack Obama in these terms, the harder it is to vilify him.”

Yet in going through the Post‘s archives, there is no cartoon in any capacity from Telnaes criticizing Mr. Obama for putting his family into a campaign ad, nor should there be. Running for president means presenting the complete brand of the candidate, and that always includes a wonderful portrait of a healthy, exemplary family: Democrats, Republicans… doesn’t matter.

Cruz responded this way:

Now usually from here in these situations — a situation when anyone with an ounce of objectivity or pragmatism sees how wrong the Post is here — cooler heads prevail and an apology comes from the messenger (Telnaes) while any tweets exacerbating the controversy — like the one above — are removed (it hasn’t been). Given Talnaes’ only (defiant, angry) statement on the matter, however, any “remorse” would be seen as fake, forced or both.

So an extraordinary thing has happened instead: An explanation came — in the publication it occurred and not on Twitter — and from the editorial page editor himself. As you’ll see, Fred Hiatt does so without excuses or playing the oft-used “For those who were offended…” card, and did so with what looks to be complete candor: “I failed to look… I do not agree.” The full statement below:

“It’s generally been the policy of our editorial section to leave children out of it. I failed to look at this cartoon before it was published. I understand why Ann thought an exception to the policy was warranted in this case, but I do not agree.”

The cartoon has since been removed, but will live on the Internet forever regardless. No matter — the Post’s editorial editor in Hiatt showed himself to be a standup guy in an industry shrinking in that department as well.

The only question that now remains is: What happens to Telnaes? Likely nothing, since Hiatt stated he at least understood her perspective.

But can you only imagine — even for three seconds — the wall-to-wall coverage we’d be seeing if the Washington Times — DC’s conservative alternative to the Post — had sketched a cartoon about the Obama children in the same fashion? A guy in Hiatt’s position would be fired on the spot. Telnaes would be forced to surrender her Pulitzer from an unrelenting Twitter mob and be banished from the industry forever. And that’s not hyperbole…

Another day, another head-stretching journalism crime committed by veterans who absolutely should know better.

Lucky for the cartoonist, the target was Ted Cruz’s two daughters… and not the two girls of the father he’s looking to succeed.

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Follow Joe Concha on Twitter @JoeConchaTV

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

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