power lines
May
14
2013
Dave Granlund's 2013 cartoon captures the IRS scandal with a burly, bare-chested figure dressed in gladiator gear, a belt marked IRS, and a spiked mace in hand. The character clutches his head in dismay, exclaiming that the scandal could ruin their image. Tags such as internal revenue service, taxes, profiling, tea party, targeting, and over-reach underscore the commentary on the agency's alleged scrutiny of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status. The image uses exaggeration to highlight concerns over power abuse in politics, with the figure's shocked expression and muscular build emphasizing the irony of a fearsome entity worried about its reputation. Republicans and GOP elements are implied through the context of the scandal.
