Cartoon Depicting Kavanaugh's Accuser Demanding Roses, M&Ms For Her Testimony Draws Outrage, Apology

[appalachiablue]

Source: Business Insider

By Sinead Baker, 6 hrs. ago.

A newspaper has apologized for publishing a cartoon that showed Christine Blasey Ford, who is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, of making unreasonable demands like roses and M&Ms as she publicly testifies.

Ford, who is due to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, has said through her lawyers that she wants conditions that would make it a fair hearing and has previously requested an FBI investigation. The Indianapolis Star published a cartoon of Ford in front of the committee, where she makes different demands.

"Here are my demands," she is depicted telling the panel. "No questions from lawyers, dim the lights, I want roses, sparkling water, a bowl of green M&Ms."

Ronnie Ramos, the executive editor of the Indianapolis Star, said in a note on the newspaper's website on Monday that the paper "has a responsibility to promote a civil discourse and to present diverse viewpoints in a way that does not demean or appear to belittle anyone who says they are the victim of a sexual assault." "Our readers deserved better in this case," he wrote. "The cartoon did not meet our high standards." Many people online had expressed opposition to the way it depicted Ford...More...


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/cartoon-depicting-kavanaughs-accuser-demanding-roses-mandms-for-her-testimony-draws-outrage-apology/ar-AAACmMI?li=BBnb7Kz

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The artist, Gary Varvel stated, "My cartoon was focused only on Ford's demands, not on whether she was telling the truth," he said. "This is a point I should have made clearer in my cartoon. As a husband and father of a daughter and granddaughters, I take sexual harassment very seriously."

Michael R. Bromwich, a lawyer for Ford, said that the plan for Thursday's public hearing including possibly bringing in an outside counsel to question Ford rather than senators, risks turning it into a trial, a "circus" and "does not appear designed to provide Dr. Blasey Ford with fair and respectful treatment."

[Solly Mack]

1. And he quickly hides behind the women in his life.

How could I possibly be hostile to a sexual assault victim?! I'm a father and husband and a grandfather!

[3Hotdogs]

6. --- father, husband, grandather, douche ---

[Solly Mack]

18. I was thinking fucklepus.

[trc]

21. Hmmmm, "Fucklepus"

An awesome description and one I shall borrow from time to time

[Solly Mack]

22. It flows.

[lark]

16. Regardless -

He's an ass.

[Solly Mack]

17. Yes. Yes, he is.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. Just another version of "some of his best friends are...".

I see shit like this WAY too often.

[Solly Mack]

20. It is. You are so right. On both counts.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

27. I think I've heard this before but with a different slant

It goes like this: "I'm not racist. I have Black friends."

[RhodeIslandOne]

2. Whatever you say, Gary

We have a political cartoonist in Rhode Island, Charlie Hall, who likes to job at "the absurdity of politics" but like this guy it always comes from that nasty right-wing viewpoint.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

28. Kind of like Stiglich and PRamirez.

I have never found their toons even remotely amusing.

[sarge43]

4. Surprising there weren't thought balloons "I wonder what she did to provoke him."

just in case.

[Liberalagogo]

5. But you still published it, Ronnie.

And Gary, just ES&D.

[LiberalFighter]

7. He has worked at the Indy Star since the early 90's.

Maybe late late 80's. Always has been a scumbag.

[LoisB]

8. If the cartoon "did not meet (your) high standards", why was it published?

No where that I've seen has Mrs. Ford made any demands as trivial or stupid as he depicts. That is more befitting the orange one squatting in the White House.

[Adrahil]

9. I live near Indianapolis...

The outrage was swift and loud.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. Classless low lifes everywhere.

[dalton99a]

11. Same racist asshole who drew this cartoon in 2014:

[BumRushDaShow]

23. Yup. And then they tried to edit it to play at making it palatable

And then they finally pulled it.

But they know what they are doing - sending a message. It went out "as is" and got widespread coverage, which is what they wanted.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Liar

The artist, Gary Varvel stated, "My cartoon was focused only on Ford's demands ..."

She didn't demand those.

[turbinetree]

15. Yepper, spot on..........................putting words in Dr. Fords mouth...........................

no wonder Indiana is what it is......................

[turbinetree]

13. Hey Gary Varvel, I just gotta ask, did you get your talking points from the black robed "guy"

because he said the same shit in his fucking job interview while he was perjuring himself last week.........................................or is that past you pay grade......................another right wing talking point hypocrite

[Archae]

14. Gary Varvel reminds me of Ben Garrison.

Right-wing, total asshole.

[babydollhead]

24. Anyone else know what green m&m's were for?

It was supposed to make you horny.

[Jokerman]

25. I subscribed to the Indy Star for a couple of decades...

Now, when they call during a subscription drive we tell them no chance as long as Varvel is an employee.

[appalachiablue]

26. Good for you, maybe they'll get the message, one day.