@ Steve Kelley, The Times -- Picayune, 1/6/2012
Team Member Name: McKay Wells
Publication: The Times – Picayune
Publication: The Times – Picayune
Date: January 6, 2012
Cartoonist: Steve Kelley
Cartoonist: Steve Kelley
U.S./International
Title of the cartoon: Yes and no…
Title of the cartoon: Yes and no…
Cartoon # 1
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
In this particular cartoon, reporters ask Romney if the allegations of him being a “flip-flop” are true. Romney simply answers, “Yes and no.”
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
Mitt Romney has repeatedly been accused of being a “flip-flop” and changing his answers to certain questions depending on his audience. Whether it is about English as the primary language for the United States, or health care reform on a national level, he has repeatedly been accused and caught changing his answers and not sticking to one opinion. He has been called out for changing his views since the last election, his position as governor of Massachusetts, and as well as between certain states in the primaries. He has been known to change according to the audience in order to acquire more votes and popularity. The artist does seem to have an opinion, but the context is not straightforwardly rude or accusing. He merely is just stating a topic of debate and giving a positive response to the questions being asked. He acknowledges the accusations but does not drive the point too far.
@ David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star, 1/15/2012
Team Member Name: McKay Wells
Publication: The Arizona Star
Publication: The Arizona Star
Date: January 15, 2012
Cartoonist: David Fitzsimmons
Cartoonist: David Fitzsimmons
U.S./International
Title of the cartoon: Romney in a nutshell
Title of the cartoon: Romney in a nutshell
Cartoon# 2
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
Mitt Romney is having a conversation with the elephant representing Republicans. Romney is making statements and the elephant is trying to get Mitt to stop making those statements because he says they, “Reinforce your image of being an out of-touch-one percenter.” He asks Mitt if he thinks he can do it, Mitt replies, “By golly I can!” The elephant is skeptical, and Mitt says he will bet him $10,000. The elephant, frustrated, has lost motivation and thinks to himself, “I give up,” with Mitts final answer.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
Mitt Romney has repeatedly, however unintentionally made it clear to the American public that he has been extremely successful financially. But he says it in ways that has made it so he seems to have absolutely zero connection and cannot relate with the general public. One specific example is during a New Hampshire debate, discussing individual insurance mandates, Rick Perry states that Mitt Romney “was for individual mandates”. Mitt Romney disagrees. Perry pushes his point, and Romney merely reaches out a hand and offers to bet him $10,000 on the matter. This kind of high stakes gambling is not the kind of act we want to see our potential presidential candidates making in times of an economic recession. He has made it clear that although the majority of the American public has had to make hard adjustments in this economic time, he apparently, has been just fine. This has made it hard for voters because Romney, as stated in the cartoon, is labeled as “an out of touch, one percenter,” referring to the one percent, people with incomes starting at $386,000 and up. The other 99 percent is the vast majority of the voting pool. The artist seems to have a negative view and opinion towards Romney and does not think very highly of him as a person to relate with.
@ Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News, 1/28/2012
Team Member Name: McKay Wells
Publication: The Buffalo News
Publication: The Buffalo News
Date: January 28, 2012
Cartoonist: Adam Zyglis
Cartoonist: Adam Zyglis
U.S./International
Title of the cartoon: Show me the Romney
Title of the cartoon: Show me the Romney
Cartoon# 3
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
A sign that is promoting Romney for president has been in a sense vandalized and taken apart and the letters “o” and “m” have been switched to spell the word “money” instead of Romney.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
This cartoon is a stab at Romney’s wealth. Him being a multi-millionaire businessman has caused him a lot of flak. In fact one of the most common “issues” with Romney how much he is worth financially. It also doesn’t help that he repeatedly makes the mistake of verbally expressing his wealth as though it were a daily norm for every American to be a multi- millionaire. He has stated such things like his wife “drives a couple Cadillac’s”, or even the fact that $374,000 from paid speeches is “not that much.” This repeated occurrence has made it hard for people to believe he can connect with the average American citizen. The artist clearly labels Romney as a man of money using simply the word itself as his symbol. He isn't taking a bold stand on the issue, be he does drive the point that Romney is known for his wealth. And that is what he will be getting a lot of attacks for. This cartoon, along with others, doesn't have a major point to persuade, but more an issue meant for the individual to make their opinions, however there is a slight negative feel. But not overly pushy.
@ Glenn Foden, MRC
Team Member Name: McKay Wells
Publication: MRC.org
Publication: MRC.org
Date: November 21, 2011
Cartoonist: Glenn Foden
Cartoonist: Glenn Foden
U.S./International
Title of the cartoon: 100% Conservative
Title of the cartoon: 100% Conservative
Cartoon# 4
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
What action is taking place in the cartoon?
Two birds sit atop a rhinoceros, named Mitt, pretending to be and elephant by tying “tusks” labeled 100% conservative. One bird asks, “Elephant?” The other bird simply answers, “So he says.”
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
1) Positive or negative framing of the candidate.
2) Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about the candidate?
Mitt Romney does not share the beliefs that a typical conservative might have. With hot topics like abortion and immigration, he stands firm in ways that most conservatives might not agree with. He constantly tries to argue the fact that he is a conservative. He even released an ad that has Rick Santorum, an opposing GOP candidate, stating, “… if you want a conservative …you must vote for Mitt Romney.” However, no matter how much Romney presses that he is a conservative, time and time again there have been issues that he has a less-than-conservative stand on it. So with the reference of a rhino trying to be an elephant is merely stating that Romney is saying he is something that a lot would argue he is not. The rhino is also a stab at a term RINO, which means Republicans in Name Only. The artist mocks Romney about doing just that, saying he is a Republican, but his actions and beliefs say otherwise. He seems to have a more negative view on Romney. but as with most other, he cant find something to be extremely against. He states one of Romney's faults, which is claiming to be a conservative, but that is about all he does. He gets the point across, and does not do much more with it. I found the cartoon to be less persuasive than more informative.
