Political cartoons.Political cartoons express an artist's opinion about people, issues, or events in the news. The cartoons on this page focus on this November's election. The first cartoon concerns the swing voter--a voter VOTER. One entitled to a vote; an elector. who does not belong to or support a particular political party. Swing voters Noun 1. swing voter - a voter who has no allegiance to any political party and whose unpredictable decisions can swing the outcome of an election one way or the other floating voter elector, voter - a citizen who has a legal right to vote tend to be unpredictable in their choices, and their votes can "swing" the outcome of an election. The second cartoon focuses on computerized computerized adapted for analysis, storage and retrieval on a computer. computerized axial tomography see computed tomography. voting, also called "e-voting." Several states will use computerized voting to replace the mechanical voting machines voting machine, instrument for recording and counting votes. The voting machine itself is generally positioned in a booth, often closed off by a curtain to assure secrecy for the voter. that inaccurately recorded thousands of votes in the 2000 presidential election. Some critics, however, fear that e-voting is not secure from computer hackers. What are the opinions reflected in these cartoons? Study the drawings and answer the questions. Questions Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Cartoon #1 1. Who is "Ed Quigley" and why does he look puzzled? 2. Why do you think President Bush and Senator Kerry appear as butlers in the cartoon? 3. What comment is the artist making about the presidential candidates? 4. Do you think this cartoon portrays the presidential candidates in a positive or negative way? Explain your answer. 5. Do you think this cartoon is effective? Explain your answer. Cartoon #2 1. Who is the man seated behind the desk? 2. Why is he surprised by the election results? 3. What comment is the artist making about e-voting? 4. Do you think this cartoon is effective? Why or why not? 5. What do you think is the most reliable system of recording and counting votes? Explain your answer. Answers Cartoon #1 1. Ed Quigley is an undecided voter. He looks puzzled because he is unsure which candidate he should support. 2. President Bush and Senator Kerry are portrayed por·tray tr.v. por·trayed, por·tray·ing, por·trays 1. To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of. 2. To depict or describe in words. 3. To represent dramatically, as on the stage. as butlers overeager o·ver·ea·ger adj. Excessively eager; too ardent or impatient. o  ver·ea to serve their employer, in this instance, the American voter. The artist suggests that the candidates do almost anything to get elected. 3. The artist is critical of how the presidential candidates make unrealistic promises and offers to gain a voter's support. He suggests that candidates do not always fulfill ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. such promises once they get elected. 4. The artist does not favor one candidate over the other. Both Bush and Kerry are drawn in similar styles and are quoted making outlandish out·land·ish adj. 1. Conspicuously unconventional; bizarre. See Synonyms at strange. 2. Strikingly unfamiliar. 3. Located far from civilized areas. 4. Archaic Of foreign origin; not native. promises. 5. Answers will vary. Cartoon #2 1. He is a journalist reporting the results of a political election. 2. He looks surprised because he is reporting shocking news that a teenage computer hacker--and not a political candidate--is the winner of the election. 3. The artist believes e-voting is not reliable, and could be corrupted by computer hackers. 4. Answers will vary. 5. Answers will vary. |
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