Rhetorical Analysis on Political Cartoon: NRA vs. Congress Luis Garza Texas A&M International University Abstract Rhetorical Analysis on Political Cartoon: NRA vs. Congress Murder. Massacre. Mourning. Sorrow. In the recent months, the United States has gone through two of the most devastating serial massacre in history. One which took place in Aurora, Colorado and another in an elementary school located in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. With this said, Congress, along with President Obama, have been trying to regulate the availability of weapons around the nation.
The National Rifle Association, also referred as the NRA, is nonprofit organization which was founded in 1871 (quote) that “promotes the right of citizens to bear arms. ” Due to these massacres, the United States Congress and the NRA have been constantly debating whether or not gun laws should be restricted. In this political cartoon, the an NRA representative is shown holding their “favorite assault weapon” which is what we see as a Fox Newscaster. (continue…)
Creator Rob Tornoe has been featured in various websites such as the New York Observer and The Philadelphia Inquirer to name a few. (cite) His credentials include numerous awards such as “Best Cartoon” given by the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. (cite) One of his cartoons was also used to challenge the George W. Bush administration towards the Iraq War. (cite). This specific cartoon was featured on “Media Matters” website which is very analytical when it comes to political topics. These are the guys you should be listening to and reading.
They portray the actual news that we’re supposed to be listening to. Yet, millions of followers listen to their so called “news” and base their public votes over what they cast. This is very sad, but true. The author creates humorous cartoons of very serious topics going on in the United States. As many other cartoonists, he plays a very important role in journalism and getting the citizens of this country the right information. Although some of them are bias. For quite some time, Fox News has been known very bias towards the Republican Party.
It’s very clear that this party is very influential in the NRA. The author clearly shows how Fox News is used as an “assault weapon” (cartoon) used to make the people believe their side of the story. Making President Obama be portrayed like a dictator trying to control the people “just like Hitler” (cartoon). By using humor, the author uses his influence to support President Obama. Due to recent conflicts, the NRA has been bashing his administration, and blaming him for the two massive events that happened.
They argue that if Congress bans the right to own a weapon, they won’t be able to defend themselves when it’s needed. A perfect example came with the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, a troubled teenage boy got a hold of some very powerful weapons and in one of his break downs and he proceeded to kill the lives of innocent kids and adults. But this would be a double edged argument. The troubled teenager had legal weapons and nobody in the school had any due to gun free school zones. So you as a voter make up your mind.
Should we have guns completely banned all together? And should we have completely gun free school zones? And that is what this cartoonist is trying to do, make you understand that Fox News is only trying to support the NRA and keep gun laws as they are. Reference Tornoe, R. (Artist). (2013). How the right-wing media inflames the gun debate. [Web Drawing]. Retrieved from http://mediamatters. org/blog/2013/01/14/how-the-right-wing-media-inflames-the-gun-debat/192217
