Cartoon depicting Sotomayor as piñata is wrong on so many levels

Ms. Reynolds, I agree that this cartoon isn't funny. However, you may have missed a key point: it's Republican elephants holding the bats. The President, wearing a sombrero (showing Hispanic support) is basically daring them to bash Judge Sotomayor in front of the cameras. That's why the elephants look so confused. Not funny at all, but I can see what the artist was trying to say.

I'm sorry Joni, I have to respectfully disagree. This cartoon is clearly meant to indicate that Obama has placed the Republicans into a bind with his excellent selection of Sotomayor. The eyes of the public are on the Republicans. Part of the message is that beating up a Hispanic woman IS unacceptable, which is why the elephants look nervous and unwilling to begin. The only way this cartoon can be construed as offensive is if you are missing the point of the imagery or if you are deliberately seeking to be outraged. There are legitimate and difficult battles ahead of us in the fight against racism. Let's save our outrage for the real enemies. This cartoon is most assuredly not one of them.

I generally agree with Joni, but this reads like a parody -- "Here's a cartoon that clearly supports a Latina nominee. Obviously, the cartoonist is on your side. Your task is to ignore that and find six things to be offended by. Go!" To begin with, the term "pinata" has come to mean someone who is being bashed blindly by enemies that aren't even trying to do anything else -- this isn't a new symbol, nor is it one that is limited to political cartoons. And it's extremely apt in this case because the GOP was lining up to bash WHOEVER was nominated, regardless of her merits. And they're not finding much in this case, but off they go anyway. As for the notion that, because lynching is associated with the black experience, you can never show any minority being suspended on a string is just ridiculous. Does that also mean we can't depict a black person as a pawnbroker or an Indian eating watermelon? Come on. Quit looking for ways to be offended and start pitching in on stuff that matters.

Spare me your phony outrages! Why is it no Latino can speak Latin? Because "Latino" is as fake as an ethnic branding can get. "Celebrating heritage" is just more PC racist crap. Grow up you insecure retards! TJ is right: stop trying to be so offended all the time.

If Obama was hanging as a pinata with Hillary as middleman, it would still be offensive. People were offended when Obama was supposedly depicted as a Monkey being shot by police. There is no outrage. Joni wrote and article. That's not outrage.

I found NOTHING wrong with the Sotomayor cartoon, in fact, I thought it was funny. Sensative people shouldn't be in public.

Heck ya it's funny!!! It is called "freedom of the press" and she'll have a lot more coming!! HAHAHA ;p

Yes, we are entitled to "freedom of press." Yet, everything has an extend to the way it should be handled & portrayed, this cartoon is way over the edge.

yeah this is pretty dang funny, a racist pro affirmative action pro illegal immigrants i mean c'mon who wouldnt want to hit someone like that?

It appears you can only criticize straight white males. I guess there should have been some female minority elephants depicted in the cartoon also. That would have probably offended fat people. No Muhammad, no jews, no Latinos, no women, no gays, no blacks, no . Where's the tolerance?

She isn't being lynched. It is part of the cartoon's message. This is one of the more thought provoking cartoons I have seen in a while. Obviously it can offend some people. The same way societal criticisms always offend groups. Also "freedom of the press" should be just that. Otherwise, Lin, it would become something that is no longer a freedom if anyone can censor any part of the press. BTW. If you guys can think of a way to depict this message without the imagery of a pinata that is so essential for the message, please share it. I almost think its coincidental.