Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: batton lash, cartoons, Comics, obama, political

James Hudnall And Batton Lash Cartoons Labelled Racist On MSNBC

Published Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:20:42 -0600

The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC last night tackled the Obama Nation political cartoon series by James Hudnall and Batton Lash, calling them racist and a "hateful vision".

James Hudnall is best known as the creator of ESPers and Harsh Realms, which was turned into a TV series. Batton Lash is the creator of supernatural legal sitcomic Wolff And Byrd, Counselors Of The Macabre, later Supernatural Law.

In these strips hosted by BigGovernment, Michelle Obama is caricatured as an obsese aggressive woman, as part of criticism of Michelle's very sensible and pragmatic food policies for Americans, justaposed with the White House's lavish parties.

These cartoons aren't actually particularly well created, but are they racist?

Lawrence O'Donnell mistakes much of how political cartoons and caricatures needs to look just like a person, rather than taking on attributes as seen by the cartoonist. Sometimes the caricature can look nothing like the person, but simply taking on a couple of attributes and portraying them physically- the context gives all that's necessary. Steve Bell reduced Tony Blair to a single staring Big Brother-like eye. And I still see political caricatures using animal aspects – but in this case, it's just giving Obama big ears. And he has big ears. So did Tony Blair and I drew them as whoppers.

Because, yes, I'm a political cartoonist too, for the right wing libertarian blog Guido Fawkes. While I don't share many of the blogger's' political beliefs I do enjoy their anti-politician rhetoric and that's the attitude I take when creating a piece ever weekend. I believe that the abuse of politicians by the public is a necessary, cathartic and time honoured practice that, over centuries, has kept them on their toes. And that means mocking, tasteless cartoons. Doesn't mean they are racist, however.

I could see a similar cartoon having run about Bill and Hillary, over healthcare, say, with Hillary as a smoking, whisky drinking, junkie. And it would be equally as unfunny, laboured and depressing. But no one would have accused that of racism.

O'Donnell also calls on Jackie Estrada, Batton's wife, and one of the organisers of the San Diego Comic Con to intervene – "Jackie Estrada, get help for your husband". He's equally personal calling on James Hudnall's father to get help for his son.

Something tells me it's the naming and that association that may give this story even more legs.

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