Cartoonist Criticizes Ted Rall in Drawing

By: Dave Astor An editorial cartoonist has taken the highly unusual step of criticizing another editorial cartoonist in a drawing.

Jeff Koterba of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and King Features Syndicate tweaked Ted Rall of Universal Press Syndicate. in the four-panel cartoon, Koterba shows a man saying: "Ted Rall's at it again. He says Reagan's turning crispy brown in hell." A woman replies: "Who's Ted Rall?" Man: "A cartoonist who apparently likes to get attention by shocking people. A while back he called Pat Tillman an idiot." Woman: "The ex-NFL player who was killed in Afghanistan?" Man: "Yep. Before that, he took a jab at 9/11 widows." Woman: "I've got news for Ted Rall. He's not shocking ... he's boring." The cartoon concludes with the man thinking to himself: "I'm just grateful we're not characters in one of his cartoons."

Koterba, when asked if he'd like to make any further comment, said he preferred to let the cartoon speak for itself.

Rall response to the cartoon? He told E&P: "It's a free country. Unlike Mr. Koterba, I believe that the First Amendment affords cartoonists -- not just apologists for the Bush and Reagan administrations -- the right to comment on any topic they like. I do, however, find it odd that he chose to criticize a fellow cartoonist in a cartoon. Not wrong, but odd. Almost as odd as his punchline, considering how dull and unoriginal his work is day after day."