The cartoon, Kelly's over reach, the Holocaust and fact-checking the NYT

Happy Independence Day everyone! Following is the response I sent the Associated Press and to the New York Times about the cartoon. I wanted to be sure the UNCUT version was out there after they edit me... let's see how right they get it!

Happy 4th!!

From: Dane Hicks 
Date: Sat, Jul 4, 2020 at 6:34 PM
Subject: Fwd: Questions
To: michael levenson

Hi Mike- The person who has my old cell number forwarded me your message
(remember- it's a small town!!) here's a Q&A I did for our local AP guy. If
you have any other questions reply to this email. Thanks!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dane Hicks 
Date: Sat, Jul 4, 2020 at 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Questions
To: Hanna, John D. 

John- I am the owner of the Review, we are an independent weekly.

1) I am a member and former president of various civic organizations
locally, none of which influence the newspaper or vice-versa. I am and have
been chairman of the county Republican party for a number of terms (I can't
remember how long off hand).

2) I photoshopped the cartoon. I'm no artist.

3) Political editorial cartoons are gross over-caricatures designed to
provoke debate and response- that's why newspapers publish them – fodder
for the marketplace of ideas. The topic here is the governmental overreach
which has been the hallmark of Governor Kelly's administration: absconding
with Kansans' additional federal tax refunds after Trump's change to the
tax law; a disastrous statewide shutdown that torpedoed businesses and
schools in scores of counties in Kansas that had no Covid-19 cases-
treating them just like virus hot spots in Johnson & Wyandotte counties; a
second blanket dictum that every Kansan would have to wear a mask in public
places, which would have certainly led to a resurgence in the "freak out
factor" with Kansans being reminded of the virus everywhere they turned,
resulting in a new wave of economic malaise. The most telling example of
authoritarian government I can think of is Nazi Germany – you'll recall
various media personalities and Trump Haters constantly making the analogy
between the president and Adolf Hitler – I certainly have more evidence of
that kind of totalitarianism in Kelly's actions, in an editorial cartoon
sort of way, than Trump's critics do, yet they persist in it daily.

Other Republicans? I have no idea- you would have to ask them.

4) Criticism and troll attacks: I've been in this business 35 years come
this December. Churchill said of criticism: “You have enemies? Good. That
means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” I've found
that a poignant mantra in this business.

5) Apologies: To whom exactly? The critics on the Facebook page? Facebook
is a cesspool and I only participate to develop readership. I post much of
my writing there and my trolls are like family. I like to refer to them as
my narcissistic flea circus - I make them jump and I give them free rein
to attack me for my views and only rebuke them for vulgar language. I would
never apologize to them. They're liberal Marxist parasites who are
literally applauding and in some cases taking part in the burning and
commandeering of both public and private property in our country. As a
traditional American, they are my enemy.

If there are holocaust survivors or their relatives or Jews who take
offense to the image, I would certainly apologize and I intended no slight
to them. But then again they better than anyone should appreciate the
harbingers of governmental overreach and the present but tender seedlings
of tyranny.

6) Publication: I got the idea for the cartoon after last week's paper came
out so I put it on Facebook. It will run in the July 7 edition.

Sorry this took so long- if you have other questions reply and cc both this
address and 

On Sat, Jul 4, 2020 at 12:37 PM Hanna, John D.  wrote:

Mr. Hicks,

               I am a reporter for The Associated Press, and I would like to talk to you about a cartoon posted on the Anderson County Review’s Facebook page that is getting some notice. It’s the one about Gov. Kelly’s mask order with the caption that ends, “and step onto the cattle car.”

               My questions, to start:

• You are listed on the state GOP’s website as the Anderson County GOP chairman. Do you still hold that position?
• Did you post the cartoon yourself, or did a staffer do it?
• If a staffer did it, did you sign off beforehand?
• What was your thinking in posting the cartoon?
• How do you respond to criticism of the posting as “offensive” and “repulsive” from critics who think the comparison between the mask order and the Holocaust is inappropriately extreme?
• Does this cartoon represent the views of your fellow Republicans?
• Will you apologize?

John Hanna

Correspondent

Associated Press

300 S.W. 10^th Ave.

Room 37H-E

Topeka, Kan., 66612

785-234-5654 (office)

The information contained in this communication is intended for the use of the designated recipients named above. If the reader of this communication is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error, and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify The Associated Press immediately by telephone at +1-212-621-1500 and delete this email. Thank you.