Got A Letter From "Conservative" Cartoonist Scott Stantis Today

[Mark E. Smith]

A few weeks back nationally syndicated "Prickly City" cartoonist Scott Stantis published a whopper that equated heckling Ann Coulter and throwing a pie into the face of Bill Kristol with some kind of ubiquitous liberal tendency to oppress the conservative point of view. How these vastly over-exposed talk show demagogues are oppressed by public displays of disgust over their undemocratic viewpoints is beyond me. And while pie throwing could be considered controversial, isn't heckling not only a fine American tradition as well as a Constitutionally protected form of free speech?

You can view the cartoon here:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/uclickcomics/20050413/cx_prc_uc/prc20050413&e=8

Anyway, the strip in question ran right around the same time that right wing terrorist and serial murderer Eric Rudolph was allowed to exercise his right to free speech (sans heckling or pie) while escaping the death penalty at the same time. (After all, he only killed gays and bombed medical clinics, so why shouldn't he have been allowed to speak his mind?) This was something I thought made an interesting contrast.

My letter:

Scott: While most civilized human beings express their horror at the murderous actions of right wing terrorist Eric Rudolph, you - and it doesn't get any wackier than this - reserve your outrage for "conservative commentator" Billy Kristol getting a pie in the face?

Why is it your strip is at its funniest when you're attempting to be serious?

John

Scott's letter:

John: Thanks for writing. Whether you realize it or not, these issues ARE important. Pies in the face and petty theft are important when the goal behind these actions is to silence an opposing voice. Though you may not believe it, I would feel the same if it were conservatives attempting to silence a liberal speaker. Though I may not agree with most liberal politics, i do believe that dialogue between liberals and conservatives (as well as the whole free Speech thing) are vital to this country.

Scott Stantis, creator
Prickly City

I will be writing Scott back soon, and when I do I will point out instances where "conservatives" (hecklers, etc) have attempted to silence those expressing a liberal viewpoint. The most recent presidential election will be my starting point. I will then ask him to honor his pledge to defend the "whole Free Speech thing" by citing those incidents in his strip so that they can be read in the many daily papers that carry his strip.

You can do the same if you like. Scott's e-mail address is [email protected]

[ET Awful]

1. I'm sure he'll address people being removed from Bush events

because of their bumperstickers right?

[trotsky]

2. Make sure to mention

the "invitation only" campaign stops for *. Lots of articles out there where people with a Kerry button were prevented from attending, even for events that weren't expressly campaign stops but presidential appearances.

What a jackass. Coulter expresses her desire that liberals be executed as traitors, and WE'RE the bad guys because we don't like her saying that?

[Jo March]

5. This is what I wrote him back

If you were truly concerned about that "whole free speech thing," you would be drawing cartoons showing the travesty that is President Bush's travelling road show, otherwise known as "drumming up support for Social Security reform." You would be showing how taxpayers, who are footing the bills for these little town hall meetings, are not allowed in if they are Democrats. You would be drawing cartoons showing the hypocrisy of Bill Frist and his attempts to *now* stop fillibusters, which are the only way for the minority to defend against the majority's attempts to ram bad judges down our throats. You would be drawing cartoons showing the loyalty oaths that people had to sign before they were allowed to enter any of President Bush's campaign speeches.

Alas, you have to go for the pie-throwing. While it is vile and disgusting (and condemned by both sides), it pales in comparison to any of the items I have listed above. What this administration has done to stifle free speech far surpasses anything that Joe Schmoe can do with a pie.

You are partisan, sir, and only clamor for free speech when it suits the right. To pretend otherwise is dishonest.

[spooky3]

7. excellent reply!

[trotsky]

8. Outstanding.

Should be interesting to see him reply to that!

[Jo March]

12. Wonder if he will? nt

[rooboy]

3. Yeah, Dr Laura's son kicking the shit ouf of some lady was dialogue. n/t

[Krupskaya]

10. What, what?

I missed this! What happened?

[lateo]

14. It happened last November...

During the RNC in New York. He beat up a girl.

[Jo March]

4. I got the very same letter!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3552113

I wrote him back too. He is an ass.

[Mark E. Smith]

6. The Hussy!

And here I thought Scott and I were engaging in an honest dialog..

[Jo March]

11. I feel equally betrayed and cheapened

Scott apparently is no better than Jeff Gannon.

We were had!!

[paineinthearse]

9. Consider including in your letter how the WH is excluding citizens with

views opposing theirs from participating in the choreographed "town hall" and stacked "round table" meetings.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1747569

[Bridget Burke]

13. Glad to see that "Mallard Fillmore" has some competition.

Also glad the Houston Chronicle doesn't carry Stantis's strip.