Jeff Danziger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeff Danziger (born 1943) is a syndicated political cartoonist and author. Danziger served in the United States Army from 1967 until 1971. An intelligence officer and linguist during the Vietnam War, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal in 1970. He has spent time teaching English at Union 32 High School in East Montpelier, Vermont, and worked for the Christian Science Monitor between 1987 and 1997. He now lives in New York City.
Danziger was listed on Bernard Goldberg's list of "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America," which the cartoonist described as "an honor".
In an interview with The Comics Journal, Danziger said, "Keep in mind that I agree with a great many things that the Republicans have been traditionally for. I am in favor of a solid economy. I am in favor of a strong dollar. I am in favor of looking after troops. I am in favor of maintaining a strong army, and I am in favor of the ability to go into business and make a profit and not pay taxes for silly purposes."
Some would say that it is this brand of conservatism that has led Danziger to savage the Bush administration in many of his cartoons, some of which are collected in the anthologies Wreckage Begins with 'W' and Blood, Debt and Fears. In one 2006 cartoon that appeared after the results of George W. Bush's annual physical checkup were publicized, Bush is shown admiring himself in a mirror and saying, "See, if you jog and work out, and spend a lot of time riding a bicycle, and watch your diet, you can still look good when you turn sixty..." "We wouldn't know..." replies a dead U.S. serviceman, standing amid a crowd of casualties.
One memoriable cartoon that won Danziger the ire of the Bush administration was his "Giuliani and Bush" on September 13, 2001; two days after 911. It shows America's mayor among the wreckage of the World Trade towers. A minion runs up with a cell phone. "Mister Mayor...It's the president. He wants to know if it's safe to come to New York now." His rendition of the world trade wreckage also won him accolades.[citation needed]
In addition to his editorial cartoons, he also created the comic strip McGonigle of the Chronicle, which ran 1983 to 1985 in newspapers across the country.
On April 18, 2006, Danzinger was awarded the Herblock Prize for editorial cartooning. [1]