Fox News is reporting that The New York Times will stop publishing political cartoons after the international edition of the paper took a lot of well-deserved flak in April for running a cartoon depicting a blind Donald Trump in a yarmulke being led around by a dog with Benjamin Netanyahu’s face. The Times deleted it, saying in a statement it included anti-Semitic tropes (duh), but if there was an apology in there, we didn’t see it.
So the solution is to just stop printing political cartoons? Patrick Chappatte weighs in:
THE NEW YORK TIMES WILL END ALL POLITICAL CARTOONS I just learned, weeks after they published a syndicated Netanyahu cartoon that caused a scandal. For me, this is the end of an adventure that began 20 years ago. But the stakes are much higher. READ HERE: https://t.co/o8y43v88Yd pic.twitter.com/NBH0uyw9Jf
— Chappatte Cartoons (@PatChappatte) June 10, 2019
Dang, we were hoping the Times would get around to running a political cartoon depicting Allah, but we guess we’ll never see that.
This decision is a non-sequitur. They took a lot of understandable flak for the Netanyahu cartoon flap, but that was caused by the NYT’s failure to have an overseeing editor in place to catch ill-advised cartoons. The solution is to hire an editor, not to ban political cartoons.
— Signifying0 (@Signifying0) June 10, 2019
What an awful decision!
— Cindy Walas (@steedmrspeel) June 10, 2019
In my view, "ending political cartoons" is a colossal error of judgment. They are more essential than ever.
All the best with your future ventures
— Deflating the Ridiculous Don (@Ridiculous_Don) June 10, 2019
Political cartoons are my favorite art form. ?
— Jubal Harshaw (@JubalEHarshaw0) June 10, 2019
Recommended
The NY Times made this decision and no one else. Don't blame anyone but them.
— Stacie Cohen (@stacieco13) June 10, 2019
This is horrendous and scary! Pure censorship!
— Waiting for Godot (@GodotIsLate) June 10, 2019
So sad to read this! Punishing all cartoonists for the decision of one bad editor is far from being fair. We need to get together as cartoonists and protest this situation.
— pxmolina (@pxmolina) June 10, 2019
Some decades ago, the NYT was criticizing West Point cadets for being humorless, and one of them put up a sign saying any newspaper that doesn't carry the funnies is in no position to criticize.
— Bill Stewart (@BillStewart415) June 10, 2019
They should go back to having an ombudsperson or public editor. Instead they think they can rely on, I don't know, Twitter or something for feedback.
— pbasch (@pbasch) June 10, 2019
Appalling.
— The Trauma Lady (@Hawkfeather) June 10, 2019
Terrible decision
— Augustasaurus (@Augustasaurus) June 10, 2019
Terrible decision @nytimes We have a long history of political cartoons. This should be continued.
— 10000 lumens (@BrooklynMillers) June 10, 2019
PC at its worst I imagine. The best of luck to you. Sad news indeed for freedom of expression.
— sara evangelista (@saraeva33716566) June 10, 2019
Political cartoons provide a much needed voice with a special perspective. The New York Times has become less of itself lately and this is just one more example of the decline.
— JudiPhilly (@JudiPhilly) June 10, 2019
boy they are really pulling all the stops on the road to get everyone to hate them don't they?
— Juan Irungaray (@jirungaray) June 10, 2019
The @nytimes is led by weak minded cowards. I am SO very glad I ended any subscriptions I had years ago. They are the worst of the worst in political coverage today.
— ladyljd (@ladyljd) June 10, 2019
Is this for real?
— Topcat108 (@TmcuseoCuseo) June 10, 2019
Thomas Nast is rolling over in his grave.https://t.co/ZQfJVE9mMc
— Rocksteady (Warren-Harris) (or vice-versa) (@pcpablow) June 10, 2019
Has the @nytimes made a GOOD decision lately?
— Kay Vandenberg (@kay_vandenberg) June 10, 2019
Thanks for saving me money on my subscription renewal @nytimes
— d_mcc (@d_mccarthy37) June 10, 2019
So basically the @NYTimes admits they lack judgment and can't be trusted to avoid anti-Semitism?
— ((( Cajsa ))) (@Cajsa) June 10, 2019
I remember how in high school they made us analyze political cartoons from WW2. Cartoons are part of history and it’s a mistake to remove them. Except it’s not a mistake, it’s a willful decision which is even more worrisome.
— M. (@mariagraciap) June 10, 2019
Vox should be pleased by this policy. https://t.co/ts2QibKgxY
— WhiteHousePressCorps (@whpresscorps) June 10, 2019
New York Times editorial page editor James Bennet told Fox News that the paper was considering removing political cartoons for “well over a year” and will no longer be printing them beyond July 1.
How shameful of the @nytimes. Trump succeeded at destroying an iconic newspaper.
— Ange (@civilagain) June 10, 2019
Yes, blame Trump — he practically runs The New York Times, you know.
Related:
NY Times tries to backpedal after publishing ‘abhorrent’ anti-Semitic cartoon in international edition https://t.co/uYLqgG3RBF
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 27, 2019
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