The Herald published an editorial cartoon on the opinion (Your Voice) page back in September that characterized GOP candidate John McCain as abandoning his principles for political gain by employing imagery of the devil and the candidate as having reached this accommodation: McCain’s principles (soul) for a shot at the presidency.

A few Herald readers have characterized Lukovich’s editorial cartoon as having crossed the line from acceptable political critique to that of unacceptable personal attack. While no reader has told me that Lukovich is literally saying McCain would exchange his soul for a chance to be president, the cartoonist’s over-the-top imagery does suggest McCain is willing to ditch his principled stands for political office.

More than a few Republicans, Democrats and even some Independents registered opposition to McCain online or in the ballot box. And that’s part of the freedoms that Americans enjoy as part of their 1st Amendment liberties.

However, when do opinion makers, i.e. editorial cartoonists, columnists and talking head commentators on the right and on the left, cross the line from acceptable but vigorous public commentary over into the lane of character assassination? And does, The Herald, by publishing such a cartoon become a co-assassin of McCain’s character?

Do you think Lukovich crossed an ethical line with the McCain cartoon? Lukovich’s anti-McCain cartoon can be viewed at: http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/opinion/luckovichsept08/  … send me your thoughts at: alan_blanchard@cornerstone.edu

After about 30 years of newspaper experience, I’ve come to learn a few things about newspaper reader reaction that can sometimes put an editor in “between a rock and hard place,” whether a novice student editor or a grizzled daily newspaper editor. I’ve experienced reader reactions at each and every newspaper where I’ve worked :from the Mission Viejo (Calif.) Mirror newspaper to the Orange Coast (Costa Mesa, Calif.) Daily Pilot, to The (Vacaville, Calif.) Reporter to the Clovis (New Mexico) News-Journal to the Ironton (Ohio) Tribune to the Peru (Indiana) Tribune to The Daily (Greenville, Mich.) News to the Ionia (Mich.) Sentinel-Standard to The Clare (Mich.) Sentinel.

Until next time, God willing and the crick don’t rise.

Known for his sometimes over-the-top cartoons, Lukovich is an equal opportunity satirist, as evidenced by this anti-Obama cartoon: http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/opinion/luckovichobamaelex/ … The Herald also publishes cartoons from Chuck Asay, a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist, recently retired from the Colorado Springs Gazette and a fine Christian gentleman with whom I had the pleasure of meeting in New Mexico once. His work can be viewed at: http://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/chuck-asay.html and from cartoonist Benson.

Benson,  who happens to be a Mormon who has on occasion drawn cartoons critiquing the Mormon church — http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/

One reader suggested the Lukovich cartoon published in The Herald was tantamount to an endorsement of Obama. However, as  this institution’s record shows, Cornerstone has never endorsed, nor opposed for that matter, any presidential candidate, present or past, since its founding in 1941. There are legal, not to mention philosophical, reasons why Christian universities refrain from endorsing candidates in political elections.

Furthermore, editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the editorial cartoonist and not even necessarily the opinion of the student-run newspaper, which does not serve as the official publication of Cornerstone University or of its senior administration. In fact, to the left of the editorial cartoon, The Herald prints a statement, which reads in part: “… We strive to meet high journalistic standards, print timely news articles and to provide a forum to freely express and encourage student opinions. These opinions do not reflect those of the university as a whole.”

In the interest of disclosure, The Herald has run editorial cartoons that have made politically satirical statements about Barak Obama, the Wall Street bailout and many other political issues … not just about (former) candidate McCain.

The Herald strives to run a multitude of opinions on both sides of a variety of local, state, national and world issues from students, staff, faculty and syndicated cartoonists and columnists. Its intention is to encourage critical thinking and discussion about issues in society, not to promote or denigrate any single candidate.

However, editorial cartoonists and opinion writers, Christian or not, would be best served to avoid the temptation – even on the opinion page – of crossing over from vigorous critique of political issues into the arena of personal attack and vilification. While the press practice goes back to this country’s earliest presidential contests in the 1700s, it only serves to appeal to our basest instincts.

Thanks for your continued readership of The Herald, the student newspaper of Cornerstone University.

Alan Blanchard, associate professor of journalism, Illinois native and former competitive chess player, can be emailed at: alan_blanchard@cornerstone.edu – or you can find him at his stand-up desk on the 2nd floor of Faber Hall in office 201B.