Even the Cartoonists Are Afraid of Gov. Christie

The Face of Corruption

Take a Look – Whose Face is That?

Political cartoonists are supposed to be bold and irreverent – to poke fun at and caricature the powerful and hold them accountable through humor. They can depict things in cartoons that more sober “objective” journalists can’t touch and even intrepid editorial writers can only suggest.

So, political cartoons play an important role and serve as a kind of barometer of our politics.

But what does it say when not even the cartoonists can tackle a politician?

Take a look at the face in that cartoon above. Is it anyone you recognize? The use of the words “aid application” even affirmatively diverts attention from the real issue, which was a no-bid contract.

And the powerful people lining up for the taxpayer money were not the little old ladies depicted in the cartoon, but a politically connected greedy corporation.

So the cartoon is not only lame, it’s misleading.

We all know that it refers to the AshBritt contract sandal. There were specific powerful people involved in and responsible for that scandal. Why the depiction of an anonymous faceless bureaucrat?

For those not paying attention, in the wake of last week’s AshBritt scandal, the faces sitting at the desk should have looked like Christie’s Rebuild Czar or the Governor himself –

By depicting an anonymous face, not only does the cartoonist fail to meet his professional and ethical obligations to target the powerful people who are responsible for the problem, but he falsely implies that other worthy agents, like FEMA Emergency Response officials, might be corrupt too.

So in case Jimmy Margulies somehow forgot what they look like, take a look at the faces responsible for the AshBritt Affair – as well as the Sandy Rebuild Madness (TM):

Gov. Christie's Rebuild Czar operates behind closed doors and without oversight or legal constraints, virtually inviting, at minimum, the appearance of impropriety

Gov. Christie and his Rebuild Czar at press conference in Union Beach (2/5/13)

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin (L) talks with Rebuild Czar. Banking & Insurance Commissioner (R). Martin was involved in deregulating debris removal, opening the door for AshBritt and contractors to avoid undergoing criminal background checks under NJ's A901 program. A901 was enacted to keep the mob out of NJ's solid waste industry.

*[Note: The cartoon is used without permission of the cartoonist or the Bergen Record – I see this as a “fair use” under copyright law, as I am embellishing its meaning and using the cartoon to make a political point. I’ve had this argument with Margulies and Record lawyers in the past. I post this note in anticipation of another take down order from the Record. end]