Fri Jul 20, 2007 — by Mike Gold

Getting All Ralled Up Again

Editorial cartoonist cartoons editorially

Outside of Michael Moore and maybe anybody named "Clinton," nobody can piss off America's right-wingers better than cartoonist / columnist Ted Rall. Every once in a while, this turns into war.

Last week, Ted did a commentary (shown above) that really rattled "conservative" columnist Michelle Malkin. According to Michelle's blog, Rall threw "another troop-bashing tantrum," saying "he has accused our troops of being murderers for Halliburton, mocked soldiers as sexual deviants, and derided the late Pat Tillman as an 'idiot' and 'sap.' Now, all in one cartoon, he shows his naked contempt for the very traits of the American soldier that helped give birth to this country and secured it for 231 years: willingness to sacrifice, faith, courage, respect for the commander-in-chief, and determination to complete their mission."

Ted responded. He categorically regards only those soldiers guilty of rape and torture as sexual deviants. As for Pat Tillman, whose death by American gunfire was covered up by the Bush Administration, Ted does not regard the football hero as an idiot. "I was reading a list of character traits ascribed to Muslim suicide bombers and was taken by the obvious similarities to traits required to serve in the military: blind obedience to authority, religiosity, etc. Both the suicide bombers and the soldiers are victims of a vicious con: die for someone else's benefit, without questioning whether the sacrifice is worth it."

Stay tuned. With the war being rejected by an ever-increasing majority of Americans, tempers are going to heat up considerably. The graphic art medium will continue to play a role in the debate.

Artwork copyright 2007 Ted Rall. All Rights Reserved.

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