NY Daily News Cartoon Suggests “Gagging” Sen. Gillibrand

Cartoonist Bill Bramhall over at the New York Daily News thinks he has a sense of humor, when it appears he only has a serious sense of misogyny.

Take a look at this cartoon published today that tries to “shut up” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for exceeding her time during the Sonia Sotomayor hearings.

Feminist organizations such as NOW are pushing back against the New York Daily News saying that the cartoon is inciting violence against women.

“Bramhall's phallic symbols send a clear message that women are good for only one thing. And the disrespectful cartoon certainly touches on concerns feminists have had for centuries. What contributes to violence against women is the general attitude about women in general. Indeed, we of NOW-NYS is pleased with Senator Gillibrand's standing up and speaking truth to power. We demand that the Daily News  show respect for our Senator. And know that our Senator won't sit down, and won't shut up, and won't stand still for the old boys club,” said Marcia Pappas, President of NOW-NYS in a public statement.

Another popular cartoonist is holding a poll on the subject asking readers: Do you think that this Bill Bramhall cartoon is sexist?

So far a majority of the 294 votes have been, “No” –and I'd urge the readers of Change.org to turn the tables on these responses by voting, "Yes" in response to this cartoon.

If you aren't sure why this cartoon is offensive, just take a look at what blogger Jill Miller Zimon over at Writes Like She Talks wrote in response:

The cartoon is sexist, period. Show me the portrait of Bill Clinton going on too long at the DNC convention, or anyone else for that matter, and having “Gags” pushed toward his face. If you can show me that, I’ll back down. However, not all manners of showing certain sentiments with illustrations work the same on men as they do on women - to wit, the commenter who mentioned the “dickhead” arrow on Reagan’s head. We don’t call women “dickhead” for the most part, so that would not work on a woman.

Would the socks, corks and gags have worked as well with a man having his mouth shown wide open as Sen. Gillibrand’s is shown?

No. Why not? Because the stereotype is of a “loud-mouthed women” and bolsters the notion that women talk more than men, can’t stop talking, etc.

Again, show me some portraits in political and editorial cartoons that show loudmouthed men in elected office - and there are many who drone on (Mark Sanford - anyone do a corks, socks and gags one of him after his four hour chat with the AP?), and then I might back down.

Otherwise - yes, it’s sexist, no matter what rationalizations in fantasyland you come up with.

Please go to the poll and vote "Yes" - this cartoon IS SEXIST. And then also send your thoughts to the New York Daily News at: voicers@nydailynews.com.