Outrage Erupts After Brutal Political Cartoon Shows What Ford Really Looks Like to the Rest of Us
IndyStarA political cartoon by artist Gary Varvel published by the Indianapolis Star was criticized for poking fun at sexual assault accuser Christine Ford. (IndyStar.com)
The Indianapolis Star came under intense scrutiny after a political cartoon dared to criticize Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has drawn massive mainstream coverage after being the first to come out and accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
The cartoon shows the back of a woman sitting in a chair labeled “Christine Ford,” sitting in front of a Senate committee.
Cartoon Ford then promptly begins rattling off her list of demands.
Sunday, the Indianapolis Star published this editorial cartoon by Gary Varvel. Today, the editor of the paper is apologizing: "Our readers deserved better."indystar.com/story/opinion/…
“Here are my demands: No questions from lawyers, dim the lights, I want roses, sparkling water, a bowl of green M&Ms,” the cartoon Ford is seen saying.
The outrage was both vocal and palpable.
Don't really know what @indystar is thinking publishing this Gary Varvel cartoon. Since when is alleged sexual abuse a joking matter? pic.twitter.com/z8220ZGbA6
@suzyscribe @indystar Varvel’s pathetic “cartoon” making fun of a sexual abuse survivor is it. I’m canceling my physical and digital subscription. The Indy Star won’t ever see another dime from me.
@indystar decided to give the thumbs up on publishing this Gary Varvel cartoon. Things like this are why women don't report their assaults. I understand posting different political views so you can show Indianapolis how "unbiased" you are but this is appalling. Do better. pic.twitter.com/andeqkIaYq
The feedback was so overwhelmingly negative that Star editor Ronnie Ramos penned an apologetic Op-Ed on behalf of the cartoonist responsible, Gary Varvel.
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“Our editorial pages, which include columns and cartoons, strive to present diverse opinions across the political spectrum. In Sunday’s paper, for example, Varvel’s work ran next to another syndicated cartoon that presented an opposing view,” Ramos wrote.
He continued about needing to do better for the Star’s readers.
Did this cartoon warrant an apology?
“But the Indy Star also 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,” Ramos said. “Our readers deserved better in this case.”
Varvel also issued a statement through the Op-Ed.
“My cartoon was focused only on Ford’s demands, not on whether she was telling the truth,” Varvel 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.”
And that’s really the crux of it.
No sane or decent person should discredit a sexual assault accuser due to a lack of evidence. By that same token, however, no sane or decent person should ascribe guilt when there is a stark lack of evidence.
Ford should get the opportunity to speak her case against Kavanaugh, no matter the optics or timing. Sexual assault is heinous, period. At that same time, we shouldn’t blindly believe any and all accusers. That’s dangerous and antithetical to how the American justice system should work. But they should still get the opportunity to present their testimony.
Given that, however, it’s hard to argue the biting truthfulness of Varvel’s cartoon. Ford deserves to be heard, but at what cost? To what lengths must Senate Republicans bend over backwards to accommodate Ford? How many times should the hearing be pushed back so Ford’s circumstances are just right?
Varvel’s controversial cartoon aimed to skewer that particular absurdity. Calling out that type of behavior shouldn’t require an apology.
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