The Wizard of Id comic strip above, originally penned in 2004 had the last box containing the comment by Wizard as, "Then the best liar wins." It has since been altered, replacing the original comment by Wizard with "Then the Democrat wins." Get it? Democratic voters are stupid. It didn't take long before that hysterical bit of rework found itself around the Internet. That, in itself, is absolutely fine. After all, forwarding emails has become the highest level of American attachment to clever non-think.
"Look how funny I forward."
I wouldn't be surprised if the same cartoon had also been altered to read, "The Republican wins." But when it becomes a comment on how politicians feel about their constituents, along with the big guffaws, it gives us all a better idea of how our representatives think about us. I mean, if a politician thinks you're stupid and you still vote for him no matter how he demeans you...well, then, the joke is on you.
So it is that I come to the Republicans of Middletown Township in Bucks County, PA, especially their Board of Supervisors. Drew Kreiling, recently elected Middletown Supervisor sent the doctored cartoon around to his cronies, complete with the header...
"Can't add a thing to this.... this Wizard of Id cartoon says it all!"
Obviously, Kreiling believes that the Democratic voters are stupid and that it's a pretty funny notion, though I don't remember that in any of his campaign literature. Since there are more registered Democrats in Middletown than Republicans, one might surmise that Kreiling received votes from those stupid voters.
For the most part his email went to all the Republican supervisors - there is only one Democrat on the board, and he didn't receive it. It also went to the local state representative, Republican Frank Farry. The only Democrat of note to receive the cartoon was Bucks County Commissioner - the only Democratic Commissioner - Diane Marseglia. Marseglia, all 4'11" of her, is no weak-sister, having gone verbal toe to toe with Rush Limbaugh when he tried to push "Operation Chaos" on Pennsylvania during the '08 election. Marseglia took umbrage.
"Bucks County is privileged to have people of superior intelligence, and they don't listen to Rush Limbaugh." Obviously, Marseglia has a complete different take on local voters than Kreiling. For standing up to him, Limbaugh railed against her branding Marseglia "The Democrat Babe."
Marseglia doesn't have the foggiest why Kreiling sent the cartoon to her but she doesn't get the joke.
"I don't see it as funny. But when Democrats go out to vote I am certain they will remember what these elected officials think of them."
My guess is no matter the IQ of those Democrats who voted for these Republicans, next election they'll be much the wiser.
Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful...Mistakes, Adversity, Failure and other Steppingstones to Success." (www.greatfailure.com)