-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York Post Cartoon Has Paterson's Seeing Eye Dog Resigning
First Posted: 03- 5-10 03:29 PM | Updated: 03- 5-10 04:51 PM
The New York Post cartoonist who made headlines for his infamous depiction of the author of the stimulus (presumably President Obama) as a crazed ape is stirring up controversy again with a work that makes fun of New York Gov. David Paterson's blindness.
This past Thursday, Sean Delonas drew a cartoon that showed Paterson's seeing-eye dog entering his office with a letter of resignation -- signed with a paw print. In the background Paterson is seen crying and saying, "Not You Too!!!"
This past Thursday, Sean Delonas drew a cartoon that showed Paterson's seeing-eye dog entering his office with a letter of resignation -- signed with a paw print. In the background Paterson is seen crying and saying, "Not You Too!!!"
It's a provocative swipe -- designed, of course, as a commentary on all the allies ditching the governor as he becomes immersed in ethics scandals. But it can also be interpreted as a cheap shot at Paterson's disability. The first legally blind governor to hold the office of governor, Paterson doesn't in fact require the aid of a seeing-eye dog to get around.
Still, this is far from Delonas's most envelope-pushing work. The Obama-as-a-dead-ape depiction was widely panned as offensive if not racist, and spurred much controversy and dissension within the Post's newsroom. And in 2001, Delonas depicted then New York City mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer kissing the butt of Al Sharpton in a cartoon which was widely condemned.
Still, this is far from Delonas's most envelope-pushing work. The Obama-as-a-dead-ape depiction was widely panned as offensive if not racist, and spurred much controversy and dissension within the Post's newsroom. And in 2001, Delonas depicted then New York City mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer kissing the butt of Al Sharpton in a cartoon which was widely condemned.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions.[2] Since 1993, it has been owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which had owned it previously from 1976 to 1988. It is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. by circulation.[3] Its editorial offices are located at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, in New York City, New York.
NEW YORK — News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch threw down the gauntlet to The New York Times on Tuesday, announcing plans to launch a New York edition of The Wall Street Journal next month.
Murdoch, in a speech to the Real Estate Board of New York, did not mention The New York Times by name but he was clearly referring to the newspaper which has long dominated the city.
"We believe that in its pursuit of journalism prizes and a national reputation, a certain other New York daily has essentially stopped covering the city the way it once did," Murdoch said.
"In so doing, they have mistakenly overlooked the most fascinating city in the world -- and left the interests and concerns of people like you far behind them," the News Corp. chairman and chief executive said.
"I promise you this: The Wall Street Journal will not make that mistake," Murdoch said.
Murdoch, who also owns the tabloid New York Post, said he could not reveal more details about the venture but "I can tell you that the new section will be full color -- and it will be feisty.
"It will cover everything that makes New York great: state politics, local politics, business, culture, and sports."
Murdoch noted that the expansion comes as other US newspapers, suffering from a severe decline in print advertising revenue, are cutting staff.
"I challenge you to find a story about newspapers today that isn't about reducing coverage, laying off reporters, or cutting back on delivery services," he said.
"When you open up a paper today, the most depressing news is often about newspapers themselves," he said. "Here in New York, we're doing just the opposite.
"We're adding a whole new section and taking on reporters and editors."
Murdoch also repeated previous criticisms of newspapers for not charging readers of their websites.
The Wall Street Journal is one of the few US newspapers charging readers for full access to its website and Murdoch has announced plans to eventually make readers pay for online access to all of the newspapers in his stable.
"All across America, city newspapers are cutting back on coverage," he said. "Then these same newspapers set up websites where they give away their most valuable commodity -- content -- for free.
"That's no way to do business."
"People tell me you can't charge for news," he said. "I think they are making the same mistake some make with cities, confusing costs for value.
"It's true that people will not pay for mediocre reporting -- or for reporting that speaks to the pet causes of an editor rather than the most pressing interests and concerns of the readers.
"News is like anything you want to sell: if you want people to buy it, you have to give them something they value," Murdoch said.
Why probe Charlie Rangel -- but not Mitch McConnell?
Rangel faces charges over fundraising for a center named after him. Didn't the Senate GOP leader do the same thing?
AP
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell of KY.
Near the top of the ethics docket, they are sure to mention, are allegations concerning the Harlem congressman's fundraising for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York, a $30 million project at his alma mater. Rangel has acknowledged using his congressional stationery to solicit funds for the center, a violation of House rules. But he has denied more serious charges -- based on an investigative report in the New York Times -- that he may have exchanged legislative favors for corporate donations to the center.
When ranting on about Rangel, however, what the Republicans surely won't mention is that he's not alone in questionable fundraising for a vanity academic institution that bears his name. Leaders on both sides of Capitol Hill have done likewise for years -- notably including the odious Trent Lott -- but the most troubling example is none other than Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who now holds Lott's former post. If the term "Senate Ethics Committee" weren't an oxymoron, he would be enduring an intense investigation, too.
McConnell is a graduate of the University of Louisville, a place of higher learning that he is seeking to transform into a display case for his limitless narcissism (as well as that of his wife, former Bush Labor Secretary Elaine Chao). Lots of nice things at the university are named after him, but above all there is the McConnell Center for Political Leadership, a special program much like the Rangel Center at CCNY. In such places, young and idealistic scholars are introduced to the tradition of public service represented by these great men, etc.
According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which has named both Rangel and McConnell to its annual lists of the "most corrupt" legislators, the list of donors to the McConnell Center was kept hidden by university administrators. When the Louisville Courier-Journal sued to obtain the names of those donors, the Kentucky Supreme Court handed down a curious decision. Future donors to the center would have to be revealed, the court ruled in August 2008, but 62 past donors could remain anonymous.
But thanks to the newspaper's diligent reporting, names of several of the bigger donors have emerged over the past several years. They include Toyota, which gave $833,000 to the McConnell Center and considers the Kentucky senator among its main Washington assets during its current crisis; RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris, which gave $150,000 and $450,000, respectively, and which know they can count on him as a staunch backer of tobacco interests; and Yum Inc., the huge KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell franchiser and a $250,000 donor, whose management was surely pleased when McConnell sponsored a special-interest bill protecting the fast-food industry against lawsuits alleging that their products cause obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Yet of all the dubious donors to the McConnell Center, the worst smell emanates from BAE Systems, the British-based defense firm that just settled a years-long, transatlantic bribery investigation last month by paying a record $450 million fine negotiated by prosecutors in London and Washington. BAE subsidiary United Defense Industries gave $500,000 to the McConnell Center because, as a spokesman proudly explained to the Courier-Journal, "We have a very good relationship with Senator McConnell. We appreciate all he's done for our company and our employees in Louisville."
What has he done for BAE? In the fall of 2007, to cite just one notorious instance, he secured three earmarks worth $25 million for the firm in the defense appropriations bill for programs that the Pentagon had not requested. By then, everyone knew that BAE was crooked and under investigation by the Justice Department, but McConnell continued to perform favors for the company and accept donations from its political action committee.
"Most politicians decide that a scandal is a good time to stop doing business with a company, at least until the scandal is over," remarked CREW executive director Melanie Sloan at the time. "Particularly when we're talking about a criminal investigation over bribery. You would think that a member of Congress would want to steer clear of anyone accused of bribery."
Unless you're Mitch McConnell, that is, who can rely on his fellow senators to do nothing about his corrupt earmarking -- and on the mainstream media, whose deep thinkers will swoon over Rangel's wrongdoing while McConnell's trespasses are simply never mentioned.
15 Sep 2009 // Washington, D.C. - Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its fifth annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress.
CREW’s Most Corrupt Members of Congress provides a detailed analysis of the unethical and sometimes illegal activities of 15 congressmen and women who have most egregiously betrayed the public’s trust.
CREW also has launched the report’s tandem website, www.CREWsMostCorrupt.org, which offers short summaries of each member’s transgressions as well as the full-length profiles and all accompanying exhibits.
New to this year’s list are Senators Roland Burris and John Ensign, and Representatives Nathan Deal, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Pete Visclosky. After a two year absence, Rep. Maxine Waters has reappeared in the study for unethical activities unrelated to the conduct that landed her on the list in the past. A detailed list of those who have previously graced the report can be found on the website.
Of this year’s list of 15, at least 12 are under investigation: Reps. Ken Calvert, Jerry Lewis, Alan Mollohan, John Murtha, Pete Visclosky and Don Young are under Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations, while Sens. Roland Burris and John Ensign and Reps. Charles Rangel and Laura Richardson are under congressional ethics committee investigations. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is under investigation by both the DOJ and the Office of Congressional Ethics and Rep. Vern Buchanan is being investigated by the Federal Election Commission.
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, “With the economy in a free-fall, unemployment rates at record highs and health care solutions still nowhere in sight, members should be spending their time looking for answers to the nation’s problems, not finding new ways to enrich themselves.”
Sloan continued, “The members of Congress profiled in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have betrayed those who voted them into office. This report holds them accountable for their bad choices.”
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress are:
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Click here to visit CREWsMostCorrupt.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment