Oriana Zwerdling

Pd. 4
Political Cartoon Analysis: Tom Stiglich

Date: February 10, 2016

Publication: The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
(http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/148439/)

This cartoon shows Bernie Sanders as Cupid, shooting people with arrows from a
socialism sheath. Bernie Sanders is known for proposing many things that are currently very
expensive to become funded by the government. There are also a large number of Bernie
supporters that are somewhat enamored with Bernie because of his ideas. By including speech
bubbles that say things such as, Free stuff! and Free HBO! Stiglich is making a point that
people are not interested in Sanders actual points and policy ideas, but love the thought of things
that are free. Cupid is also commonly depicted as a baby or young boy. By depicting Sanders as

Cupid, Stiglich could also be making a point about Sanders behavior sometimes being viewed as
somewhat childish.

Date: January 28, 2016

Publication: The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
(http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/148077/ )

The comic depicts a Republican debate. The judge is saying that a clown will be taking
Trumps place in the debate. Next to Chuckles the Clown are Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush. Both the
caption and the drawing make it clear that Stiglich is calling Trump a clown, saying that a clown
could serve as an equal replacement to him. This cartoon in particular makes it quite clear that

Stiglich thinks Trump is a ridiculous candidate, that shouldnt be taken seriously. By including
the FOX News logo in the right hand corner, he may also be implying that the network is
ridiculous. FOX News is also thought of as being more pro-Republican than Democrat, making
them the more obvious candidate to be covering the Republican debates

Date: January 26, 2016

Publication: The Virginian Pilot (http://pilotonline.com/opinion/editorial/cartoons/tom-stiglichsnowbound/image_4cca7585-11da-51a5-ad47-12f635535cce.html )

This cartoon is in reference to the heavy amounts of snow received in the D.C. area. That
shut down many places. Stiglich begins the cartoon by stating that D.C. is unable to work and is
nonfunctional, meaning that nothing is getting done in the government, a common joke about
the U. S. government. In the drawing, the Capitol building is covered in snow, while snow is

following, which is confirmed by the caption in the right hand corner. By using an ellipsis, it
makes it clear that Stiglich is making a joke. If there were no caption in the right corner, it would
be assumed that the government isnt working because of the snow. But the caption on the right
is saying that the government wasnt working even before the snow happened.

Date: December 15, 2015

Publication: Tom Stiglich GOP and Donald Trump
(http://www.tomstiglich.com/editorials.html)

The cartoon shows an elephant wearing a sweater with Trump 2016 written across it.
The cartoon is titled GOP and Donald Trump, confirming that the elephant is meant to
represent the Republican Party. The caption/heading, Ugly Christmas Sweater implies that
Trump is like an ugly Christmas sweater. Ugly Christmas sweaters have more than one meaning.
One idea of an ugly Christmas sweater, is a sweater one receives, and has to wear because it was
a gift. This goes along with the idea that the GOP doesnt like Trump, but they are forced to be
associated with him. Ugly Christmas sweaters have also become a trend despite their
unpopularity in a way similar to how liking Donald Trump has become a trend among some.

Date: February 10, 2016

Publication: Creators Syndicate (https://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/tomstiglich/34262.html )

This cartoon came out the day after the New Hampshire primary. The drawing shows a
woman, Hillary Clinton. It is clear that it is Hillary, because of the campaign button, as well as
the pantsuit, which is part of a Hillary stereotype. Hillary is shown holding a document that says
New Hampshire Primary Results. The right side of the cartoon is dominated by a slogan that
fans of Bernie Sanders use, Feel The Bern. Hillary is shown with smoke around her and is
covered in ashes, and has singed/burnt off hair. Bernie Sanders won with 60% in the New
Hampshire primary, more than 50%, while Hillary only got 38% of the votes. When someone is

burned it implies a joke has been made at their expense, or they do badly. Hillary is shown as
being burned because she did not do particularly well, and it goes with Feel The Bern.

Date: December 10, 2015

Publication: Creators Syndicate (http://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/tomstiglich/33817.html )

Novelty items are items that serve no practical purpose, but can be used for
entertainment. The character in the drawing is made out to be Donald Trump based on his
campaign pin and the hair. By labeling Trump as a novelty item, Stiglich is classifying Trump as
unimportant and an impractical presidential candidate. Items that say I love you this much and
show a character with open arms are common novelty items. Stiglich drew Trump with his arms
outstretched, with the caption, I Hate You This Much rather than I Love You This Much.
Trump often says things that are racist, and often turn people off. Trump is well known for his
anti-immigrant statements, and more recently has been compared to Hitler after making antiMuslim statements. By saying you Stiglich is saying that Trump hates everyone.

Date: December 31, 2015

Publication: Creators Syndicate (http://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/tomstiglich/33970.html )

This cartoon takes place at a party on New Years Eve, as is made clear by the man
saying Happy New Year! This one of few cartoons done by Stiglich that are purely about pop
culture, and have nothing to do with politics. The man in the picture is Bill Cosby. The man is
wearing a sweater with a design on it that would be called vintage, which in todays terms
means it looks like something from the later end of the 1900s, the same time that The Cosby
Show was popular. Bill Cosby has been on trial for and has been accused in many cases of sexual
assaults. The cartoon shows Cosby offering a drink with an odd gas coming out of it to a young
woman. The depiction of Cosby with the spiked drink shows that Stiglich may believe Cosby to
be guilty.

Date: December 20, 2015

Publication: Creators Syndicate (http://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/tomstiglich/33900.html)

The cartoon shows a couple sitting on a couch watching a Democratic Debate on ABC
News. On the television, one podium is missing a speaker. Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley
can be seen at the podiums surrounding the empty one, leaving Hillary Clinton missing. The fact
that Hillary is missing is confirmed by the blonde woman sitting on the couch asking, Hey,
wheres Hillary? One of the biggest scandals surrounding Hillary Clinton is her supposed use of
a personal email server to communicate official government business that may have been
classified. Stiglich is poking fun at the scandal by having the brown haired man on the couch
replying to the blonde woman with, Deleting emails.