By: Dave Astor Even polarizing politicians often get gentle media treatment when they die, and Ronald Reagan is no exception. Many editorial cartoonists, including some liberals, have been doing positive drawings about the conservative former president.
A number of cartoonists referred to the Berlin Wall in commenting about Reagan, who is credited by some Americans with helping to end the Cold War. For instance, Scott Stantis of The Birmingham (Ala.) News and Copley News Service showed white space where the wall used to be and wrote: "The greatest memorial to Ronald Reagan is the one that isn't there." Rick McKee of The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and King Features Syndicate drew Reagan saying: "St. Peter ... tear down this wall!" To which St. Peter replied: "Heh-heh. You always did have a sense of humor, Ronnie."
Reagan's "morning in America" catch phrase was changed to "mourning in America" by cartoonists such as Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press and Copley and Gary Varvel of The Indianapolis Star and Creators Syndicate. Kevin Siers of The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and King showed an optimistic Reagan in a starry sky giving the OK sign. Steve Benson of The Arizona Republic in Phoenix and United Feature Syndicate drew Reagan's head towering above the other four presidents sculpted into Mount Rushmore.
Other cartoonists compared the current president unfavorably with Reagan. For instance, Jeff Stahler of The Cincinnati Post and Newspaper Enterprise Association pictured George W. Bush wearing a Reagan cowboy hat way too big for his head.
Universal Press Syndicate cartoonist Ted Rall took a different tack in his blog, writing that Reagan was responsible for "an illegal, laughably unjustifiable war against Grenada" as well as for Iran-Contra. He added: "Osama bin Laden and his fellow Afghan 'freedom fighters' got their funding, and nasty weapons, from Reagan. ... Reagan ruined the federal budget, trashed education, alienated our friends and allies, and made us a laughing stock around the world. Hmmmm... sounds familiar...."
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