GOP Canidates

   

@Jerry Holbert. 2012

Team Member Name: Erin Davies
Publication: Syndicated
Date: March 5, 2012
Cartoonist: Jerry Holbert
U.S./International (circle)
Title of the cartoon: Untitled
Cartoon#24
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
The four republican primary candidates: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul. The topic of Super Tuesday is the basis, but they are all commenting on Superman and Super PAC donations.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) negative framing of the candidate(s)

2) framing is opposed to the candidate(s)
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate(s)?

The candidates are all commenting on “Super Tuesday”. Mitt Romney states that he looks the part.  Point out that he looks like the GOP candidate and presidential, the hair-curl on this forehead a play on a common Superman identity characteristic.   Super PAC donations will be more likely to win the nomination.  Ripping open his suit jacket, much like Superman does when he goes from Clark Kent to his alter ego. Mitt reveals the Super PAC money symbol across his chest, much like Superman’s iconic ‘S’, the money symbol could represent his large campaign funding and his big business attitude. Next Rick Santorum states that Santorum means Superman on Krypton. Krypton being Superman’s home planet that was destroyed as Superman rocketed to Earth. So by having Santorum say that his name means Superman  on Krypton can mean that he is ‘Superman’ or technically ‘president’ on a planet that does not exist. That could mean that he could only be president on a planet that doesn’t exist, possibly highlighting his ultra conservative stances and overzealousness with religion. Newt Gingrich acts like the “Perry White” or chief of the GOP, but is as powerless as the newsroom’s White compared to the ace reporter Kent. Finally Ron Paul, who is “all for ‘Superman’ as long as he is not federally funded;” this reflects Paul’s libertarian agenda: Having someone in power as long as the tax payers don’t have to pay for it, but will be working for the Super PAC and not the taxpayer. This cartoon is using Superman as a metaphor for being the GOP pick and the President.