Rob Tornoe
Encyclopedia
Rob Tornoe is the political cartoonist
for Politicker.com, a network of state-oriented political websites owned by The New York Observer. He is a member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
and provides cartoons to The Press of Atlantic City
, The Philadelphia Inquirer
, The News Journal, and others. Tornoe is one of the only editorial cartoonists in the country who has a staff job for an online media company, and typically draws over 10 cartoons a week on national and local subjects in Politicker.com's network of 15 states. He has drawn political spoof
s ranging from Al Gore
to Peanuts
. In addition to cartooning, Tornoe blogs at Politicker.com on editorial cartooning news and observations.
Tornoe has won several awards for his editorial cartooning, including "Best Cartoon" by the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2007 and second place in 2006.
On July 9, 2008, U.S. Representative
Jim McDermott
(D-Seattle) used one of Tornoe's cartoons as a backdrop for his criticism of officials of the George W. Bush
administration and what he described as their true motivations for the Iraq War:
, maniacally smiling Rep. Steve Rothman
(D-9) about to wield a meat cleaver on Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero
's private parts. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator
Frank Lautenberg
, also wearing a yarmulke, is shown holding Ferriero down for the procedure.
The cartoon poked fun at Rothman’s move to keep Ferriero from endorsing Rep. Rob Andrews
in his bid for Lautenberg’s Senate seat, but both the New Jersey Jewish Standard and the New Jersey Jewish News reported criticisms of the cartoon as antisemitic.
The Anti-Defamation League
and a number of local New Jersey politicians thought that the cartoon gratuitously ridiculed Rothman and Lautenberg as Jews, while mocking a sacred Jewish ceremony. Still others thought the cartoon, appearing in the weeks before Passover
, smacked of the notorious "blood libel
" linking Jews with ritual murder.
"I respect the freedom of the press and recognize that Rob Tornoe’s work is meant to be provocative,” Rothman said in a statement to the New Jersey Jewish News. “Still, I do not understand the relevance of a Jewish ritual to the admitted efforts of Senator Lautenberg and myself to persuade our friend, Chairman Joe Ferriero, to support the Senator’s re-election. The imagery used by Tornoe, unfortunately, plays into an age-old canard often used against Jews and is thus offensive and inappropriate."
Bob Sommer, president of the Observer Media Group, disagreed. He is Jewish, as is Jared Kushner
, owner of Observer Media Group.
“The cartoon was about the use of power, and the senator and the congressman adeptly used their power to the senator’s benefit,” he told the New Jersey Jewish News. “That’s what the cartoon is about and any adept reader would understand that.”
Asked why, then, the cartoon included elements of the politicians’ religion, Sommer said, "Both the senator and the congressman are proud of their religion, and it was a humorous use of how they use their power."
Editorial cartoon
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a commentary that usually relates to current events or personalities....
for Politicker.com, a network of state-oriented political websites owned by The New York Observer. He is a member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists is a professional association concerned with promoting the interests of staff, freelance and student editorial cartoonists in the United States, Canada and Mexico...
and provides cartoons to The Press of Atlantic City
The Press of Atlantic City
The Press of Atlantic City is a daily newspaper based in Pleasantville, New Jersey. It is the primary newspaper for most of southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore, publishing regional editions for Atlantic County, Cumberland County, Cape May County, and southern Ocean County...
, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, The News Journal, and others. Tornoe is one of the only editorial cartoonists in the country who has a staff job for an online media company, and typically draws over 10 cartoons a week on national and local subjects in Politicker.com's network of 15 states. He has drawn political spoof
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
s ranging from Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
to Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
. In addition to cartooning, Tornoe blogs at Politicker.com on editorial cartooning news and observations.
Awards and recognition
On July 9, 2008, U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
(D-Seattle) used one of Tornoe's cartoons as a backdrop for his criticism of officials of the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration and what he described as their true motivations for the Iraq War:
Affiliations
In addition to The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, Tornoe is a frequent contributor to articles on The Daily Cartoonist.Controversy
On April 9, 2008, Tornoe posted a cartoon on Politicker's New Jersey website depicting a yarmulkedKippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
, maniacally smiling Rep. Steve Rothman
Steve Rothman
Steven R. "Steve" Rothman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Rothman attended Washington University Law School...
(D-9) about to wield a meat cleaver on Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero
Joe Ferriero
Joseph A. Ferriero is an American Democratic Party political leader from New Jersey and former chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization. Ferriero, an attorney by profession, resides in Old Tappan...
's private parts. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
, also wearing a yarmulke, is shown holding Ferriero down for the procedure.
Rob Andrews
Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County....
in his bid for Lautenberg’s Senate seat, but both the New Jersey Jewish Standard and the New Jersey Jewish News reported criticisms of the cartoon as antisemitic.
The Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
and a number of local New Jersey politicians thought that the cartoon gratuitously ridiculed Rothman and Lautenberg as Jews, while mocking a sacred Jewish ceremony. Still others thought the cartoon, appearing in the weeks before Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, smacked of the notorious "blood libel
Blood libel
Blood libel is a false accusation or claim that religious minorities, usually Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays...
" linking Jews with ritual murder.
"I respect the freedom of the press and recognize that Rob Tornoe’s work is meant to be provocative,” Rothman said in a statement to the New Jersey Jewish News. “Still, I do not understand the relevance of a Jewish ritual to the admitted efforts of Senator Lautenberg and myself to persuade our friend, Chairman Joe Ferriero, to support the Senator’s re-election. The imagery used by Tornoe, unfortunately, plays into an age-old canard often used against Jews and is thus offensive and inappropriate."
Bob Sommer, president of the Observer Media Group, disagreed. He is Jewish, as is Jared Kushner
Jared Kushner
Jared Corey Kushner is an American real estate entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. He is the principal owner of Kushner Properties, his family’s holding company, and the publisher of The New York Observer. He is the son of American real estate developer Charles Kushner.-Early life:Kushner is the...
, owner of Observer Media Group.
“The cartoon was about the use of power, and the senator and the congressman adeptly used their power to the senator’s benefit,” he told the New Jersey Jewish News. “That’s what the cartoon is about and any adept reader would understand that.”
Asked why, then, the cartoon included elements of the politicians’ religion, Sommer said, "Both the senator and the congressman are proud of their religion, and it was a humorous use of how they use their power."
External links
- Rob Tornoe profile at the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists website
- PolitickerNJ