PLACING THE BLAME:
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Team Member Name: Chase Checketts
Publication: The Cagle Post
Date: September 27, 2013
Cartoonist: Rick Mckee
U.S./International: U.S.
Title of cartoon: Government Shutdown
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In the cartoon, there's a man dressed up in “Uncle Sam” clothing next to an outlet. In his hand, he is holding two plugs that are disconnected to the outlet. On one end of the plug we see President Obama slouched over with his right index finger pointing it at a Congressmen. On the end of the other plug, there's a man with a brief case that says “congress” on the side of it. He as well is slouched over as if turned off with his left index finger pointing at President Obama. The “Uncle Sam” person has a bubble over his head saying. “Now, that’s a government shutdown I can get behind.”
President Obama slouched over with his right index finger pointing it at a Congressmen. On the end of the other plug, there's a man with a brief case that says “congress” on the side of it. He as well is slouched over as if turned off with his left index finger pointing at President Obama. The “Uncle Sam” person has a bubble over his head saying. “Now, that’s a government shutdown I can get behind.”
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
From analyzing the cartoon, you can tell that the “Uncle Sam” person represents the American people as a group. He isn’t leaning towards the congress side or President Obama's side, he is just sick of both groups arguing and pointing fingers at each other. You could say he is “conservative” not choosing either side.
What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?
Both sides are represented in the cartoon:
1. Congress as a group
2. President Obama
The cartoonist shows us in this cartoon that he is for neither side, rather just a normal American person who is sick of politics and having Congress and President Obama arguing and pointing fingers at each other.
In a poll of 803 Americans conducted by CNN between September 27-29th, they asked them questions concerning the government shutdown and Obamacare. Here are some of the questions that were asked.
“ Do you think Barack Obama has acted mostly like a responsible adult or mostly like a spoiled child during the recent debate over the federal budget?
Responsible adult 49%
Spoiled child 47%
No opinion 5%
Do you think the Republicans in Congress have acted mostly like responsible adults or mostly like
spoiled children during the recent debate over the federal budget?
Responsible adults 25%
Spoiled children 69%
No opinion 6%
Do you think the Democrats in Congress have acted mostly like responsible adults or mostly like
spoiled children during the recent debate over the federal budget?
Responsible adults 35%
Spoiled children 58%
No opinion 7%”
(Steinhouser. CNN Poll)
ISeptember 27-29th, they asked them questions concerning the government shutdown and Obamacare. Here are some of the questions that were asked: “ Do you think Barack Obama has acted mostly like a responsible adult or mostly like a spoiled child during the recent debate over the federal budget?
Responsible adult 49% Spoiled child 47% No opinion 5%. Do you think the Democrats in Congress have acted mostly like responsible adults or mostly like spoiled children during the recent debate over the federal budget?Responsible adults 35% Spoiled children 58% No opinion 7%”(Steinhouser. CNN Poll).
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
The “reality” that Mckee illustrates in this cartoon is that the American people are sick of congress and President Obama pointing fingers at each other on who caused the government shutdown.
analysis:
We see in this cartoon that analogy is very clear to the reader. Mckee depicts the common American as someone that is sick of both sides; the congress and President Obama, and shuts them both down when he says, “Now, that’s a government shutdown I can get behind.”