Even though I do not agree with his politics, I generally enjoy Jeff MacNelly’s cartoons. He is certainly one of the most talented editorial cartoonists in the nation.
But his piece on Martha Stewart in Cuba was extremely mean-spirited and tasteless. (It had Martha Stewart saying, “Today Chef Castro will show us how to make his scrumptious `People’s Flan’ using only onions, powdered milk, Russian vodka and this charming air filter cover from a ’52 Chevy.”) The poverty of people in Cuba is not a source of political humor for any decent person.
I’m sure Mr. MacNelly would say his cartoon was aimed at Mr. Castro rather than the people’s poverty in Cuba. But consider a cartoon of Martha Stewart in an American ghetto. Would that be taken as criticism of our government’s tolerance for such appalling conditions or as making fun of black poverty? I think the answer is obvious.
