November 4, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tanzania: Politics: State Government: Akron Beacon Journal: Judge denounces "racist" election cartoon depicting local incumbents riding in a golf cart with Gov. Bob Taft
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November 4, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tanzania: Politics: State Government: Akron Beacon Journal: Judge denounces "racist" election cartoon depicting local incumbents riding in a golf cart with Gov. Bob Taft
Judge denounces "racist" election cartoon depicting local incumbents riding in a golf cart with Gov. Bob Taft
Judge Edna Boyle, who was appointed by Taft last December, called a news conference Thursday at the Sojourner Truth Building in downtown Akron to denounce the ad, saying it exaggerated her features in the manner of racist caricatures of the past. Ohio Governor Robert Taft served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania in the 1960's.
Judge denounces "racist" election cartoon depicting local incumbents riding in a golf cart with Gov. Bob Taft
Judge calls election cartoon racist
Edna Boyle denounces Democratic Party ad; Democrats reject claim as political
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
An Ohio Democratic Party ad mailed to Akron area voters this week offended an African-American municipal court judge, who is caricatured in a cartoon depicting local incumbents riding in a golf cart with Gov. Bob Taft.
Judge Edna Boyle, who was appointed by Taft last December, called a news conference Thursday at the Sojourner Truth Building in downtown Akron to denounce the ad, saying it exaggerated her features in the manner of racist caricatures of the past.
The ad shows a cartoon of Boyle, Judge Alison McCarty, Judge Kathy Frazzini Culver and Clerk of Courts Jim Laria. The three judges all were appointed by Taft; Laria was appointed by the local Republican Party. Laria and McCarty have since won elections for their positions.
In the color cartoon, all four ride in the cart, driven by Taft, across a golf course as loose cash and coins tumble out -- references to Taft's August conviction for accepting free golf outings without reporting them and to several investment and campaign finance scandals involving Republicans.
The facial features of everyone in the golf cart are exaggerated in the style of political caricature.
Boyle called on the Ohio Democratic Party to pull the ad.
``This is nothing to do with politics,'' Boyle said. ``It's a matter of doing the right thing.''
Democrats counter that her complaint has everything to do with politics.
``She's trying to get spin on this to turn this into some race issue, which it's not,'' said Summit County Democratic Party chairman Russ Pry. ``She is unhappy because she is being linked with the Republicans and Bob Taft.''
This year for the first time, candidates for judge in the general election can advertise their own party affiliation and that of their opponents.
The change in the Ohio Supreme Court's code of judicial conduct is significant because under the Ohio Constitution, the general election of judges is nonpartisan and candidates' names appear without an R or a D next to them.
Pry said the Democratic candidates for municipal court -- two of whom are African-American women -- had nothing to do with the ad. He reviewed it before it was mailed and said it was sent to several Democratic strongholds, including the predominantly African-American wards in Akron: 3, 4 and 5.
``I thought it was a good piece,'' Pry said. ``I thought it linked the candidates to Bob Taft and the Republican Party.''
Terry Casey, media consultant for Ohio Republican candidates, said Republicans would be accused of racism if they had run such an ad against a Democrat.
``Why aren't (the Democrats) appropriately sensitive to a person's ethnic background?'' Casey asked.
Democratic incumbent Annalisa Stubbs Williams, who is African-American and is defending her seat, said the ad was not racist.
``Why would the Democratic Party racially try to offend someone else when it has two African-American candidates running (for Akron Municipal Court judge)?'' she asked. ``It's not a racial ad against Edna Boyle. It's a caricature of Republican candidates.''
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or 1-800-777-7232 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com
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Story Source: Akron Beacon Journal
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Tanzania; Politics; State Government
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