Bye bye Ed Stein

The Rocky Mt. News (12/24/05) page one headline; 2005 Year in Review, Ed Stein used pen to jab Bush; respond to Katrina misrepresents the motives of their political cartoonist. To “jab” would imply good-natured humor, something Ed Stein could never be accused of when it comes to President Bush. Stein never misses an opportunity to impugn Bush’s integrity or honesty. Stein’s repertoire includes: race-baiting, class-envy, misrepresentation and defamation. Stein’s agenda is not to help us laugh at ourselves or the irony of the human condition, rather Ed Stein consistently uses his unique position of influence to denigrate; the President, Conservatives, People of Faith and America. Case in point; June 11th – Stein slams Kansans’ as religious Neanderthals. Sept. 10th – Stein plays the Katrina race card. Nov. 26th –Stein berates the very same country which insures his right to criticize. When did satirists go from being funny to being mean, from being even-handed to agenda-driven and from being a commentator of the news to perpetuators of partisan lies about those they resent? The people of Colorado have a lot to be proud of, but Stein’s vicious hate-mongering and negativity just doesn’t fit in. Here’s hoping that the Rocky’s “Best of 2006” includes a hearty “bye-bye” to cartoonist Ed Stein.