Texas Gov. Perry responds to Sac Bee's Texas Explosion Cartoon

[LezJepzin]

From Texas Gov. Rick Perry:

Re "Business is booming in Texas" (Editorial cartoon, April 25): It was with extreme disgust and disappointment I viewed your recent cartoon. While I will always welcome healthy policy debate, I won't stand for someone mocking the tragic deaths of my fellow Texans and our fellow Americans.

Additionally, publishing this on the very day our state and nation paused to honor and mourn those who died only compounds the pain and suffering of the many Texans who lost family and friends in this disaster. The Bee owes the community of West, Texas an immediate apology for your detestable attempt at satire.

-- Gov. Rick Perry, Austin, Tex.

Response from Stuart Leavenworth, editorial page editor, The Sacramento Bee:

Jack Ohman's cartoon of April 25 made a strong statement about Gov. Rick Perry's disregard for worker safety, and his attempts to market Texas as a place where industries can thrive with few regulations. It is unfortunate that Gov. Perry, and some on the blogosphere, have attempted to interpret the cartoon as being disrespectful of the victims of this tragedy. As Ohman has made clear on his blog, he has complete empathy for the victims and people living by the plant. What he finds offensive is a governor who would gamble with the lives of families by not pushing for the strongest safety regulations. Perry's letter is an attempt to distract people from that message.

Gov. Rick Perry weighs in on Texas explosion cartoon - Letters to the Editor - The Sacramento Bee

 

[ugksam]

oh wow, i had no idea this rick perry character is not to be trusted

 

[NZA]

it's borderline tasteless, but it does have a poltiical point. i give them a pass.

 

[The Real]

it's borderline tasteless, but it does have a poltiical point. i give them a pass.

Yeah, it's not the best, but any response made against it by Rick Perry, especially one arguing that it's in bad taste, is a 100% bad faith argument meant to dismiss and evade, which is even worse. They should just ride with it.

 

[the cac mamba]

i was like

and then i read that ether from the editor

shyts still pretty tasteless tho

 

[Rarely-Wrong Liggins]

That shyt was hilarious.

 

[tru_m.a.c]

it's borderline tasteless, but it does have a poltiical point. i give them a pass.

Yeah, it's not the best, but any response made against it by Rick Perry, especially one arguing that it's in bad taste, is a 100% bad faith argument meant to dismiss and evade, which is even worse. They should just ride with it.

yeah I want to say its tasteless, but the policy point keeps me from saying that *ye shrug*. Is that weird?

Like I guess it's tasteless because it seems slightly insensitive/opportunistic right? I need a word that best describes that.

 

[NZA]

yeah I want to say its tasteless, but the policy point keeps me from saying that *ye shrug*. Is that weird?

Like I guess it's tasteless because it seems slightly insensitive/opportunistic right? I need a word that best describes that.

opportunistic and insensitive are perfect descriptions. the point is real, but it seems tone deaf to actually make a funny cartoon about this, especially so soon. my relatives in west texas still have not been allowed back into their house.

it allows perry to seem more mature while he is actually changing the subject and avoiding the policy point in the cartoon.