Sunday March 10, 2024

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Sunday March 10, 2024

Pierre Poilievre and the Crucial Role of Editorial Cartoons in Democratic Discourse

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party with a pretty good chance becoming Canada’s next Prime Minister, has consistently voiced his disdain for mainstream media. His call to defund the CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, has ignited a contentious debate. In a recent article, CBC journalist Anton Wherry courageously confronted Poilievre’s confrontational approach towards the media. One particularly striking observation in Wherry’s piece elicited a verbal “BINGO” from me as I read it: “Poilievre’s criticisms of and attacks on the media also can be viewed as an extension of a political style that sees everyone as either a friend or an enemy: for Poilievre, if you’re not with him, you must be against him.” Haven’t we seen this play out elsewhere on the North American continent?

Anton Wherry: What, if anything, should voters make of Pierre Poilievre’s attitude toward journalists? – No politician in recent memory has mocked and criticized reporters more than the Conservative leader  

This astute observation resonated deeply, emphasizing the need for Poilievre to “suck it up, buttercup” and recognize the indispensable role of media scrutiny in a thriving democracy. Quit the whining and face the music! Wherry’s article raises concerns about the potential dismissal of critical coverage, turned into an art form by Donald Trump, and a trend not limited to him nor Poilievre but increasingly prevalent among politicians like Ontario Premier Doug Ford. On the federal level, Prime Minister Trudeau, while appearing to answer questions, is a master of dodging any direct answers to many of them, but at least shows a modicum of courtesy to journalists without snarling like his main opponent does. This selective media engagement prompts the question: do voters prefer leaders who control their messaging through sympathetic outlets, potentially fostering lazy leadership? How is this helpful?

As an editorial cartoonist advocating for the importance of visual commentary in a healthy democracy, I stress the vital role of editorial cartoons, especially during election seasons. They transcend partisan boundaries, demanding clear answers from politicians of all affiliations. The power of editorial cartoons lies in their ability to raise crucial questions and priorities, making them an indispensable part of democratic discourse.

Wherry’s article also touches on concerns about government-controlled journalism through subsidies and grants. While acknowledging the compromises to media independence, I strive to point out my autonomy as a cartoonist in critiquing politicians from all parties without influence from corporate overlords. If you don’t like how I treated your hero leader in today’s editorial cartoon, chances are you’re going to love my cartoon in days to follow when I go after the opponent of your beloved prince or princess.

Wherry’s piece further addresses the bias in mainstream media, which leans towards democratic values. As I have said, newspapers without editorial cartoons are likened to burgers without patties—incomplete. Editorial cartoons serve as essential commentary, evoking laughter, tears, or even discomfort. Satire should also be interpreted as free advice politicians and their handlers, adoring apologists, and sycophants should gladly accept for their own benefit. It serves to validate internal conflicts that partisan suck-ups may possess secretly in the deep recesses of the brain – in other words, did my hero just royally screw up? The satire that follows will confirm it before lengthy opinion pieces do!

A growing concern is the tribalism exacerbated by social media, where partisans perpetuate narrow-minded thinking as keyboard warriors and trolls. Social media has transformed political discourse into a chaotic frontier, with reasonable arguments drowned out by partisan cheerleading and buzzwords. Mainstream media, once a regulator of information, now contends with the power of likes and shares and membership sales that are earned registering their support through scrolling on smart phones, and influencing the rise of leaders like Poilievre, Ford, and let’s not leave out, Justin Trudeau, and his social media pile-on brigade.

In the face of Poilievre’s criticism of the media, it is crucial to uphold the role of journalists and editorial cartoonists who challenge the status quo and speak truth to power. As politicians increasingly shun legacy media for outlets aligning with their messaging, it is imperative to question whether this trend aligns with the desires of the average voter. Commentary, opinion pieces, and editorial cartoons, with their nuanced perspectives, remain pillars of democratic discourse. It’s high time politicians, including Poilievre, and their apologists recognize their role and embrace the scrutiny that comes with public office.

Pierre Poilievre, content with his disdain for a local reporter seems pretty proud of himself after this performance in this YouTube clip that it’s shared in its full glory on his fan channel. Here he is mawing on an apple while A&Qing in an Q&A interview. How charming. The tribal bubble of his fan base is on full display in the comments. But like all politicians in the modern age, they’ll all eventually be eating their words of devotion and revelry for him should he ever control the levers of power and falls out of favour. It happens to all of them, yet the useful idiots go on to endorse the next messianic snake-oil salesman.