Anti Reform Cartoons

"There's no denying that this is it, it is actually happening. Do you hear that? It is the sound of your country being destroyed." - Stephen Colbert

    These cartoons represent the voices of the public that are against healthcare reform. These illustrations pinpoint the fears of many Americans and further their beliefs against the Affordable Care Act. It is assumed that "Obamacare" will significantly raise taxes and steer the United States towards becoming a socialist nation. Because the lower class, who may not be insured, will benefit from this reform is thought to be detrimental to the middle and upper-middle classes. Fear of loss of certain benefits and the extended wait-times for treatment surround the pending healthcare reform. Not only that, it is believed that individual's current health insurance would be dropped, and people would have to adopt a government health policy. These cartoons depict the viewpoints of many Americans who hold an anti-reform attitude. These fears are brought to life in an article located on National Review Online's blog: http://www.nationalreview.com/critical-condition/304361/top-ten-worst-things-obamacare-grace-marie-turner. 

Team Member Name: Jordan Gee

Publication: The Washington Post      Date: June 19, 2012

Cartoonist: Tom Toles      U.S. Cartoon

Title of the cartoon: Should Make Headlines      Cartoon #: n/a

In this cartoon, a person has recently undergone surgery, left with only his head. His nurse enters the room, telling him that she needs to hear back from Supreme Court Justices to know how the surgery went. 

Tone of the cartoon: 

1) Negative framing of the health care reform

2) Framing is opposed to Obama's health care reform

What "reality" is constructed/framed about health care reform?

    In this cartoon, Tom Toles uses a potential "patient" to represent the health-care law. Because the health-care law was in a sort of limbo during this time, the "nurse" has to ask the Supreme Court Justices whether or not the bill passed, or as portrayed in the cartoon, the surgery. The person only having a head represents the American public; only a portion of the public support the health care reform, and not the whole in entirety. Thus, the person can not be an entire body, due to a lack in support. 

Team Member Name: Jordan Gee

Publication: Rocky Mountain News      Date: 2009

Cartoonist: Ed Stein      U.S. Cartoon

Title of Cartoon: Hand Me a Scalpel      Cartoon #: n/a

Ed Stein's cartoon depicts a surgery scene, where President Obama is the surgeon and health care reform is the patient. Behind him, doctors labeled Insurance Companies, GOP, AMA, and Drug Companies are holding weapons, aimed towards President Obama. The GOP doctor is an elephant rather than a human, whereas the others are humans. 

Tone of the cartoon: 

1) Negative framing of the health care reform

2) Framing is opposed to health care reform

What "reality" is constructed/framed about the candidate? 

    Stein frames the health care reform as a negative impact to society.  Insurance companies, GOP: Grand Old Party, otherwise known as the Republican Party, American Medical Association, and drug companies are against the health care reform. They all believe that health care should be through private markets, as they are currently. These companies, including the Republican Party,  are vehemently against Obama's health care plan. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/medicine-and-politics-america/2012/jun/28/affordable-health-care-obamacare-physicians/. They all share the same viewpoint in believing that our health care system should not make any changes and that there is nothing wrong with our current system. Because we have many varying groups against the health care plan, it causes a rift in our political system. Without the support of pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and the AMA, health care has a vast rift to overcome. 

Team Member Name: Jordan Gee

Publication: NetRightDaily.com      Date: n/a

Cartoonist: William Warren      U.S. Cartoon

Title of cartoon: Racing with Excitement      Cartoon #: n/a

In this cartoon, Obama is the beaming doctor, holding a syringe labeled "social medicine." The patient, terrified, is public opinion, and does not want to be any part of it.

Tone of the cartoon:

1) Negative framing of the health care reform

2) Framing is opposed to health care reform

What "reality" is constructed/framed about the candidate?

    William Warren confirms the American fear: that President Obama is a socialist. The public is terrified of this assumption, and believe Obamacare is a step towards America becoming a socialist country.  His proposed health care reform is different than any previous health care, and the fact of the matter is, it scares some people. Most do not accept change with open arms, and fully reject health care reform. 

Team Member Name: Hillary Dodd

Publication: Chattanooga Times Free Press..............Date: May 15th, 2011

Cartoonist: Clay Bennett ,U.S. 

Title of the Cartoon: Future Looks Bleak

In this cartoon, a citizen is walking down the sidewalk with a very miserable expression on his face. To his left, there is a sign directing people to the hospital. Instead of a normal capital "H" to signify the location of the hospital, the "H" is constructed of dollar bills. 

Tone of the Cartoon: 

1) Negative framing of ObamaCare

2)Framing is opposed to Obama. 

What "reality" is constructed/framed about health care reform?

The reality construed in this particular cartoon is that strongly opposing Obamacare. The man in the cartoon is drawn to be an average American citizen that has done nothing to deserve such high costs in health care.

Team Member Name: Jordan Gee

Publication: Newsday.com      Date: n/a

Cartoonist: Walt Handelsman      U.S. Cartoon

Title of the cartoon: Open Wide    Cartoon #: n/a

In this cartoon, a patient is sitting atop an examination table. President Obama serves as the doctor, telling the patient to open wide. His mouth is wide open, and Obama tells him he meant his wallet.

Tone of the cartoon: 

1) Negative framing of the health care reform

2) Framing is opposed to health care reform

What "reality" is constructed/framed about the candidate?

    Walt Handelsman frames this cartoon in such a way to make it seem as if Obama's proposed health care reform is going to be an extremely expensive option for the future of our health care. People believe that more people who would have purchased insurance to avoid breaking the law will take the cheaper tax option, therefore raising the premium for the rest of us. It is under popular belief that this mandates a tax that we can not afford. Many Americans are furious that the health care reform requires them to purchase health insurance. This cartoon confirms their fears: that Obamacare will, in fact, empty their pockets. 

Name: Clayton Leuba

Publication: Star Tribune

Date:

Cartoonist: Steve Sack U.S.


Title of cartoon: Health Reform Operation Game Cartoon # 1

In this cartoon, President Obama is poised over the game “Health Reform Operation” concentrating to remove the heart piece of the man on the game playing board. Behind Obama stands a Republican elephant holding an inflated paper sack labeled “scare tactics.” The elephant has it’s arms spread like it is about to pop the paper bag to startle Obama.

1) This is a negative framing of health care reform


2) framing is opposed to supporters of health care reform

This cartoon is a good depiction of the Republican Party’s desire to foil President Obama’s attempts at passing health care reform, and what lies at stake if it is passed or not. The game “Health Reform Operation” is a reference to the board game Operation in which you must use metal tweezers to carefully remove a mans organs one at a time, and if you bump the edges the entire board buzzes and shakes and you must start over. The man lying on the game’s operation table represents the American people. President Obama is in the act of removing the last piece from the man on the playing board, his heart. This represents the fate of the American people if something goes wrong with the health care reform. The elephant standing behind Obama is symbolic of the Republican Party’s desire to stop health care reform. The bag titled “Scare Tactics” is representative of the attempts to jolt Obama into accidentally losing his game of health care reform.

Name: Clayton Leuba

Publication: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Date: 7.29.09

Cartoonist: Mike Luckovich U.S.


Title of cartoon: Health Care Preexisting Condition Cartoon # 1

In this cartoon a puppet is shown wearing the title “Member of Congress.” A hand titled “Insurance Industry” is controlling the puppet. The puppet is saying, “It’s my preexisting condition…”

1) This is a negative framing of health care reform


2) framing is opposed to supporters of health care reform

This cartoon makes a claim that the insurance industry has a hand in directly influencing the decisions of congress members. One of the big things that the Affordable Health Care Act is supposed to do for health care is make it so that everyone can receive health care regardless of preexisting conditions. In this cartoon the author uses this policy to poke fun at the decision making process of congress, claiming they are highly influenced by the insurance industry who will be greatly effected by the health care reform.

Team Member Name: Jordan Gee

Publication: The Hill      Date: July 11, 2012

Cartoonist: Christopher Weyant      U.S. Cartoon

Title of the cartoon: Back It Up      Cartoon #: n/a

In Weyant's cartoon, an ambulance labeled Affordable Care Act is being driven by two elephants. A person on a stretcher with the label "uninsured" is being wheeled by President Obama. The elephants are exclaiming, "Quick! Put it in reverse!" 

Tone of the cartoon: 

1) Negative framing of the health care reform

2) Framing is opposed to health care reform

What "reality" is constructed/framed about health care reform?

    This cartoon is geared towards Republicans. The elephant ambulance drivers prove that this cartoon is mostly a Republican frame of mind. The common misconception about the health care reform is that it is mainly beneficial to the uninsured and the poor. This is shown by the writing on the ambulance: "Affordable Care Act" and the blanket wrapped around the person on the stretcher, labeled "uninsured." The person atop the stretcher being pushed by President Obama represents that the health care reform is being put into action by him, and is essentially "his fault." These viewpoints are shared by the majority of Republicans and many Americans as well. They all believe that the health care reform is going to skyrocket in health insurance premiums and payments for middle and upper-class Americans, only assisting the lower-class or uninsured because they won't have to deal with the consequences. This cartoon frames the health care reform as an extremely negative bill and that it should be repealed. It is constructed in a way that supports the negative viewpoint fostered by many. Along with that, President Obama is framed in a negative way, what with his giant ears and the elephants exclaiming to reverse the ambulance, essentially running him over, or "ending" the health care reform. The problem associated with the health care reform is that people believe it will not benefit them. However, the real problem lies with them being misinformed, or not at all.

Name: Clayton Leuba

Publication: The Columbia Daily Tribune

Date: 8-28-10

Cartoonist: John Darkow U.S.


Title of cartoon: Cartoon # 1

An elephant, representing the Republican Party, is depicted garbed in a military uniform. It is exclaiming that when the republican said the health care reform would be Obama’s Waterloo, they should have specified who would play the part of Napoleon.

1) This is a negative framing of health care reform


2) Framing is opposed to supporters of health care reform

This cartoon draws comparisons to the effect of the health care reform and the end result of the Battle of Waterloo. The elephant is exclaims that they (the republicans) should have been more specific on who would play the part of Napoleon in the metaphorical “Waterloo” that was the health care reform. In the Battle of Waterloo the French, lead by Napoleon Bonaparte, were struck down and defeated by the opposing Seventh Coalition. This cartoon points out that the republicans initially had hoped Obama would play the part of Napoleon in the health care reform and would end up badly defeated, but that they may have fallen in defeat instead.

Name: Clayton Leuba

Publication: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Date:

Cartoonist: Clay Bennett U.S.


Title of cartoon: Failure To Stop Health Care Reform Cartoon # 1

A man dressed in a traffic conductor’s uniform with the Republican elephant emblazoned on his hat is shown holding a stop sign that reads “Stop Health Care Reform.” The man is covered in tire tracks indicating that he was unable to stop oncoming traffic but was instead run over.

1) This is a negative framing of health care reform


2) framing is opposed to supporters of health care reform

This cartoon expresses the utter inability of the Republican Party to stop the health care reform, despite their efforts. The Republican Party wishes to see less government interaction with citizen’s lives and choices and attempted to vote to stop the pass of health care reform. In the end the bill was passed leaving the Republican Party battered and beaten.

Team Member Name: Addison Hall

Publication: Star Tribune 5/13/2011

Cartoonist:  Steve Sack    US/ International

Title of Cartoon: Bad News Mitt

What is taking place? What is the context?

Mitt Romney is at a paternal testing clinic and the doctor is showing that his plan for “Romneycare” is from the same DNA as “Obamacare.”

Tone of Cartoon:

Positive or negative framing of subject?

Framing is supportive or opposed to the subject?

What “reality” is constructed / framed by the cartoon?

The reality formed is that both Romney’s and Obama’s health care plans are essencially the same. If anyone is opposed to one, they should be opposed to the other as well.

Team Member Name: Addison Hall

Publication: 14- Oct. 2012

Cartoonist: Clay Bemnet       US/ International

Title of Cartoon: The Paint Job

What is taking place? What is the context?

Two people in republican attire are painting a hearse white and labeling it “Ambulance.” The hearse has “GOP Medicare Plan” written on it.

Tone of Cartoon:

Positive or negative framing of subject?

Framing is supportive or opposed to the subject?

What “reality” is constructed / framed by the cartoon?

The constructed reality is that the GOP’s plan is to let people die if not speed up the process.

Team Member Name: Addison Hall

Publication: 6/29/12

Cartoonist: Joel Pett       US/ International

Title of Cartoon:The Death Panel Cometh

What is taking place? What is the context?

Three elephants symbolizing the republican party are dressed up like Death as they march into a hospital room. A man is in the hospital bed and has the label “Afford. care act” on his bed.

Tone of Cartoon:

Positive or negative framing of subject?

Framing is supportive or opposed to the candidate?

What “reality” is constructed / framed by the cartoon?

The reality constructed is that the true death panels are the republicans trying to repeal the act. It shows them as murderers.