A California newspaper has come under fire for publishing a political cartoon that critics say mocks the combat injuries of a decorated war hero and candidate for Congress.
On July 9, the Imperial Valley Press in El Centro, California, published the following cartoon depicting a caricature of decorated Marine veteran Nick Popaditch, 42, a gunnery sergeant who was famously photographed smoking a cigar after the fall of Baghdad:
 Imperial Valley Press cartoon depicting boys reacting to campaign poster of Nick Popaditch. |
 Marine veteran Nick Popaditch (photo: Nick Popaditch for Congress 2008) |
The cartoon shows a sketch of Popaditch on a poster as two boys discuss his image.
“Who does that remind you of?” one boy asks.
The other boy responds, “A James Bond super-villain? A bald pirate? Uncle Fester with an eye-patch?”
As WND reported, Popaditch fought in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and, more recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2003, Popaditch’s unit helped topple the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad’s Firdos Square. He was awarded the Silver Star for combat action in Fallujah after he was hit in the head by a rocket-propelled grenade and blinded in one eye on April 7, 2004, during Operation Vigilant Resolve. The blast left him with only eight percent vision in his other eye.
Popaditch, nicknamed “Gunny Pop,” had been engaged in combat inside the terrorist stronghold for 36 hours before he was severely wounded, disoriented, blind, deaf and covered in blood. Video of the attack is available at the website for his book, “Once a Marine.” He was medically retired from the Marines in 2005.
 Popaditch receives medical treatment in Fallujah immediately after being wounded. USMC Commandant Michael Hagee stands over him. (photo: “Once a Marine“) |
“Hey, I’m a lucky man,” he told the National Enquirer. “I’m happy to be alive.”
A proud Marine, Popaditch now sports a prosthetic eye emblazoned with the Marine Corps’ eagle, globe and anchor logo.
He’s hoping to win a seat in California’s mostly Democratic 51st Congressional District – a district that runs along the border between California and Mexico – as a conservative Republican. The incumbent, Democrat Bob Filner, has held the seat since 1992.
Popaditch is now campaigning on limited government, strong national defense and secure borders.
“Since returning home, I’ve seen our liberties under assault and our children’s future being sold away by an expanding government that limits individual freedom and responsibility,” he said upon announcing his candidacy.
Popaditch lives in San Diego, California, with his wife, April, and two children, Richard and Nicholas.
“I’m a rookie to this,” he told Fox News. “I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m not a politician; I’m a citizen. I’m a citizen who loves his country.”
The Imperial Valley Press was besieged with calls from veterans and readers offended by the illustration. Amid a firestorm of controversy, Editor Brad Jennings published an apology and response to public criticism, claiming the cartoon was “not meant to offend.”
“Frankly, I interpreted the cartoon as making a comment on how misinformed people are – especially young people,” Jennings wrote. “Many others, apparently, did not take it that way.”
Filner criticized the newspaper for mocking his GOP opponent, saying, “The cartoon was in poor taste and does not reflect the Imperial Valley’s strong support for our troops and veterans.”
Jennings said he apologized to Popaditch, adding:
I got plenty of e-mails and calls from people – most that were not from locals – upset about the political cartoon. Many were angry but reasoned, while some were pretty vulgar and threatening.
But that is not why I am apologizing today. Newspapers are not meant to coddle public officials or public figures – and as a candidate for Congress, Popaditch is a public figure. He is fair game for public comment, even public comment that makes some people uncomfortable. We poke and prod and question. If he gets elected, that will continue to be the case.
I am apologizing because I simply made the wrong call. I support our cartoonist’s right to portray public figures in any way he chooses to do so. He has the First Amendment right to do so, and we have the right to publish it or not. People have the right to then react to it as they see fit. …
Ultimately, the only free press worth having is one that at times makes people uncomfortable or angry or leads them to question authority. …
 Popaditch’s prosthetic eye is emblazoned with the Marine Corps’ eagle, globe and anchor logo. (photo: “Once a Marine“) |
Popaditch told the Los Angeles Times he is concerned other wounded veterans might feel the newspaper’s cartoon indicates it’s OK to make jokes about combat wounds. But he said he’s not personally bothered by the cartoon.
“I’ve got much thicker skin than that,” he said. “It’s not going to hurt me in any way.”
