Conservative Views

Team Member Name: Tess Griffeth

Publication: GoComics

Date: 03/12/14

Cartoonist: Dana Summers

U.S./International: U.S.

Title of Cartoon: Dana Summers

Cartoon #: 1

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

This cartoon is demonstrating the persuasive technique of analogy, or “a comparison between two unlike things,” (Cartoon Analysis Guide) by comparing Obama's way of promoting Obamacare with late-night television infomercials. It indicates that Obama is “desperate,” as the cameraman in the cartoon puts it, to market his proposed Obamacare to America. Television informercials are notorious for playing the “wait, there's more” card. By doing so, it gives the audience the belief that they are getting an amazing deal if they choose to order the item now. Also, in the cartoon Obama states “act now and receive not only our miracle weight-loss belt, but an Obamacare policy!” There lies a common misconception among weight-loss techniques, especially those marketed on television. Many are known not to be effective, so the cartoonist is probably implying that Obamacare is not effective and is just a way to con people into believing his premise of the Affordable Care Act.

Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The cartoon supports a more conservative and Republican view. By using an analogy of Obamacare to late-night informercials, the cartoon portrays that the Affordable Care Act is being forced on the public by attempting to convince them that there are extra rewards that come with Obamacare.

What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?

As previously stated above, the cartoonist portrays Obama's notions to promote Obamacare as a desperate act. It can be assumed that the cartoonist supports the views of Republicans, but it's not exactly clear. According to a story on CBS News, President Obama appeared on “Ellen” and claimed that “White House officials say the President's appearance on 'Ellen' is focused on convincing moms to get their young adult kids to sign up.” (CBS News, 2014) Since the President is pushing for Obamacare, the cartoonist's opinion that Obama is desperate could be a correct perspective among conservatives and Republicans.

What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?

The reality applied in this cartoon is that Obama is promoting the Affordable Care Act full force. Since the enrollment deadline for health care is March 31, it's to be expected that Obama would be marketing and advertising the ACA as much as possible, in a last-ditch effort to meet “it's [The White House] latest goal of 6 million enrolled by March 31.” (Huffington Post, 2014)

Team Member Name: Tess Griffeth

Publication: The Association of American Editorial Cartoons

Date: 3/23/14

Cartoonist: Gary Varvel

U.S./International: U.S.

Title of Cartoon: Cartoonist Gary Varvel: Selling Obamacare to Millennials 

Cartoon #: 2

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

As Obama is making a speech about Obamacare, he declares “I need more millennials to sign up for Obamacare before it's too late!” It portrays Obama with a desperate facial expression while he is reaching in the air with his arm, which represents a form of exaggeration (Cartoon Analysis Guide) due to his over characterized body language. The other important component in this cartoon is McKayla Maroney, an American Gold Medal gymnast who is famous for her “McKayla is not impressed” look after not winning the gold medal in a specific event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. It's clear that the cartoonist is trying to get the point across that McKayla is not impressed by Obama's health care plan. Obama is reaching out to the millennials to convince them to sign up for Obamacare because, according to NPR, “fifty-seven percent of those [young Americans] surveyed said they disapprove of Obamacare, compared with 38 percent who said they approve.” (Wollner, 2013)

Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

Given that the cartoon is showing McKayla Maroney's “not impressed” look, it can be assumed that there is more evidence of a conservative perspective. The number of young adults who do not favor Obamacare is portrayed in a sense as well. 

What evidence can you give that shows the cartoonist supports one side or the other?

The representation of Obama in the cartoon makes him look urgent and eager, but most of all stressed. The cartoonist is likely to support conservatives views based on his depiction of Obama in the cartoon, but it isn't certain. Since young adults, not all of course, are showing a lack of interest in Obamacare, the cartoonist brought in the McKayla Maroney factor to represent that, which doesn't necessarily mean that he himself is conservative but, rather, just presenting the opinions of young American adults. 

What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?

The reality shown in this cartoon is that Obamacare isn't as popular among young Americans as it is with the older American population. According to an article posted by CNN, “In the case of the health care program, for example, it seems that many young people have not been convinced the program is in their best interest. A good part of this has to do with the failure of the administration to explain this complex program to the public since its inception.” (Zelizer, 2014) Obama is urgently trying to get young American adults on board for health care before the application deadline of March 31. 

Team member name:  Ariel Cunningham

Publication: The Augusta Chronicle

Date: March 14, 2014

Cartoonist: Rick McKee

U.S./International:  U.S.

Title of cartoon: Obamacare Leprechaun

Cartoon #: 3

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

A leprechaun is sitting on a rock by a tree begging for money. His surroundings seem to be in the middle of nowhere. He is holding a sign that says, “Forced to switch to ObamaCare. Lost my pot of gold on higher premiums.” He is dressed like a typical leprechaun but his clothes are tattered and his pants do not even come down to his socks. The cup he is using to beg with looks battered and old, and he is smoking a pipe.

Which Side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The framing of the cartoon supports the Republican party. The framing of this cartoon supports a detrimental outcome of the healthcare bill.

What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other? 

The framing of the cartoon supports that the healthcare plan has affected everyone negatively. It supports the Republican view of the bill that “premiums would go up (FactChecking, 2011).”

What reality is constructed/framed by your issue?

Leprechauns are always portrayed as having a pot of gold that they hide at the end of a rainbow. They love their money and don’t want to give it away no matter what. They are known to outsmart anyone who tries to find their pot of gold. However, because of the healthcare reform, this leprechaun was forced to switch plans and lost his pot of gold due to increased premiums. He was not even able to outwit the new healthcare bill and had to join like everyone else. The irony (“an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been expected (irony).”) of this cartoon is that the plan has negatively influenced even imaginary beings, and that no one is exempt. It is also interested that he is portrayed to be begging in the middle of nowhere. He is not even by a street. This suggests a feeling of helplessness. Everyone will be forced to pay higher premiums and there is nothing anyone can do about it. There is no one to help relieve the mess in which citizens find themselves.

Analysis

This cartoon was published just days before Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “told Congress… that any ObamaCare premium hikes would be modest (McCaughey, 2014).” In the same article, however, it states that, “Health-insurance executives are starting to warn of double- and even triple-digit premium hikes for health plans sold on the ObamaCare exchanges for 2015.” The increase of premiums verifies the prediction made in 2012, that the blanket policy of O’bama putting a low cap on the highest deductible available for health insurance has raised premiums. A family, that previously was able to pay a $10,000 deductible, is now required to have a deductible of no higher than $4000 (Barnes & Divine, 2012). ObamaCare prevents insurance companies from providing “’affordable’ plans and still cover cost (McCaughey, 2014).” Insurance companies are going bankrupt and needing to be bailed out by the government.

Another reason that premium rates are increasing is due to “the requirement for insurers to cover high-risk consumers (ObamaCare Facts).” This ensures that everyone, no matter their current or previous medical conditions, is guaranteed to receive health insurance. This, however, makes it almost impossible for insurance companies to not go bankrupt. Having to take on high risk consumers, without being able to require a higher deductible, necessitates that insurance companies will have to pay more out of pocket for medical bills. In order for insurance companies to stay in business, then, they must require higher premiums.

In conclusion, this cartoon illustrates the effect of higher premiums on the populous, due to ObamaCare.

Team member name: Ariel Cunningham

Publication: politicalcartoons.com

Date: December 23, 2013

Cartoonist: Dave Granlund

U.S./International:  U.S.

Title of cartoon: Obamacare Holiday Assembly

Cartoon #: 4

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

This cartoon depicts Obama sitting with a concerned look on his face next to a Christmas tree. He is in his pajamas and looks to be trying to assemble the (ACA) Affordable Care Act before Christmas. The date of the cartoon is from the 23 of December, only 2 days before Christmas. The directions read “Some Assembly Required,” with only a few lines of directions. He is holding a screw driver and wrench and is surrounded by a mess of parts that don’t seem to fit together at all.

Which Side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The Republican side is supported by the framing of this cartoon.

What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?

This cartoon shows a very worried Obama. He looks like he is very stressed and disappointed. It seems that he wants to assemble the Affordable Care Act, a Christmas present that he just received. He is dressed in pajamas and has the body of a small boy. He is excited about his new present, but he realizes that the directions are brief and poor. It supports the Republican view that ObamaCare is not completely ready to be used. It still has many problems and cannot be put together in a short time, even if it says that it will be easily assembled.

What reality is constructed/framed by your issue?

The reality that is framed is that the Obama plan was authorized and put in place before it was ready for use. This cartoon usually symbolism to illustrate its point. Obama is like a child opening up a new and fabulous toy, but then he realizes that it’s a lot harder to assemble than he expected. This symbolizes Obama’s excitement in getting the ObamaCare law passed, however, after its implementation, he realized that it’s not as easy as he thought that it would be to implement. Problems are appearing that he never anticipated.

Analysis

Obama promised that this new law “could save families $2,500 in the coming years.” Unlike Obama said, the law has actually caused an increase in insurance premiums (FactChecking, 2011). The Republicans believed that this increase would be even more drastic than it actually is, but, nonetheless, an increase has occurred.

The fact that insurance premiums have risen is causing the Obama administration a lot of stress. They are “scrambling to rewrite the law” so that the increased premiums will be modest. The administrations is working so that the warnings from “health-insurance executives… of double- and even triple-digit premium hikes” will not occur (McCaughey, 2014).

Team member name: Ariel Cunningham

Publication: caglecartoons.com

Date: October 30, 2013

Cartoonist: Eric Allie

U.S./International: U.S.

Title of cartoon: ObamaCare Problem

Cartoon #: 5

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

This cartoon contains a picture of a plane with a flat tire that is going down in flames. Obama is the pilot of the plane that has ObamaCare written down the side of it. Obama is saying, “There is no doubt- I admit it- we have a flat tire.”

Which Side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The Republican side is supported by this cartoon.

What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?

It depicts that ObamaCare is an utter and complete failure, but that Obama does not acknowledge the big problems in the plan, but only the little ones.

What reality is constructed/framed by your issue?

The reality that is constructed is that there are more problems to the healtcare bill than meet the eye. Around the time that this cartoon was published, Obama had just apologized for the website issues that they were having with healthcare.gov. This cartoon is ironic that Obama recognizes the website problem but he didn’t see the other problems surrounding the healthcare bill that, in a sense, are bringing his plane down in flames.

Analysis

On October 21, 2013, Obama publicly apologizes for the glitches in the healthcare.gov website. He promised that they will take care of the issues and stated, “It’s time for folks to stop rooting for its failure (Lovett & Friedman, 2013).” However, the plane going down in flame could signify two different aspects of the situation. “Technology experts say healing what ails the Healthcare.gov website will be a tougher task than the Obama administration acknowledges (Fowler, 2013).” But just fixing the website may not be the big problem that is bringing Obama’s ObamaCare plane down in flames. One of the bigger problems are rising premiums. Instead of bringing families’ insurance costs down, as Obama had promised, premiums have risen (FactChecking, 2011).

Team member name: Leann Fox

Publication: GoComics

Date: 3/14/2012

Cartoonist: Lisa Benson

U.S./International:  U.S.

Title of cartoon: Running with Obamacare

Cartoon #: 6

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

The action taking place in this cartoon is portraying how the Democrats and their health care plans aren’t keeping up with the Republicans. The cartoon portrays an Elephant (Republican) and a Donkey (Democrat) running in a race. Benson shows a very clear picture of who is winning “the race” in the battle between the two parties and healthcare. The elephant looks focused and determined. The donkey looks confused, flustered, and upset, which shows the author’s opinion of the two party’s plans and goals. Benson used the image of the elephant and the donkey to express her opinion.  For a long time, both parties have been portrayed by these animals. By putting these animals into a real life setting (race), Benson was able to show the viewer the difference in the two parties and who she thinks has the better plan.

Which Side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The side supported by this cartoon is the Republican party.  It is shown by the Elephant winning the race by a long shot. The cartoon is framed so that the reader thinks the Republican party has their act together and a firm plan of what to do about healthcare.

What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?

The cartoonist obviously supports the Republican party, shown by the evidence of the elephant winning the race as discussed in the question above.

What reality is constructed/framed by your issue?

The reality constructed here is that the each citizen has his or her own opinion about what is to be done about healthcare. The picture shows a stander by intently watching the race, but having no REAL part on who runs the race. Benson was probably trying to show how each individual citizen doesn’t have a large say on what is to happen, even if they are actively involved.

Analysis

We see in this cartoon the cartoonist has a very strong opinion about health

care. She shows how the ACA didn’t have a large impact and doesn’t help as many people as it said it would. Benson clearly has a very skewed view. http://www.factcheck.org/2013/08/obamacare-by-the-numbers/

Team member name: Leann Fox

Publication: Cagle Cartoons

Date: 3/15/14

Cartoonist: Gary McCoy

U.S./International: U.S.

Title of cartoon: Healthcare Reset Color

Cartoon #: 7

What action is taking place in this cartoon? What is the context?

This cartoon exemplifies Obama “resetting” the healthcare button. McCoy is trying to depict all of Obama’s different tries and attempts to come up with a healthcare plan that will benefit everyone. He clearly has a strong opinion about Obama and his efforts.

The context is exaggeration. McCoy exaggerates Obama’s action of hitting his head against the reset button. He also makes his nose extra long, signifying lies that Obama has told Americans. McCoy used art to dramatize Obama’s appearance and his actions.

Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?

The cartoon supports the Republican party. They don’t support Obama’s healthcare plan.

What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?

The cartoonist obviously supports the Republican side, as explained in the question above.

What reality is constructed/framed by your issue?

The reality constructed in this image is that many people are dissatisfied with Obamacare. The cartoon depicts two ladies looking at Obama and looking very disgruntled. Many people are upset with Obamacare and make their opinions known. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Analysis

We see in this cartoon the Republican’s view of Obamacare quite clearly. Yet, we have so many different peoples’ views and opinions that it is hard to make everyone happy.

http://www.factcheck.org/2012/03/how-many-would-repeal-obamacare/