After a bit of popular demand, I’ve decided to release some death threat snippets that came in following this cartoon.  Most of the “popular demand” was from Tea (ahem) Partiers who accused me of fabricating the whole nasty death-related emails thing.  So, without further ado . . .

“For this stupid, childish cartoon demonizing the Tea Party protesters (whom only perverts and sexual deviants call "Tea Baggers") Mark Fiore needs to be killed, along with his family.”
And, so there’s no confusion that this is only linguistically-based rage about the term “Tea Bagger,” the author continues in bumper sticker fashion,
“The only good socialist is a dead socialist.”
Granted, he’s no crazy guy from Somalia at my door wielding an ax, in fact, my mental image of him is more of a guy in his underwear at his computer.  (I should talk, I’m wearing pajama bottoms right now, although I do have loads of experience wielding an ax from my days in Idaho. See previous post.) 

Then there was a “Tea Bagger” who apparently didn’t mind being called one, though he was still angry.

“Subject: David the gun owning tea bagger”
Though I get quite a bit of exercise when I’m not working on cartoons, some were recommending I become more physically fit.
“When the knock on the door comes in a few hours, start running.”
I think this next guy (yes, most seem to be guys) is a little more passive, he’s not necessarily prepared to do the dirty work himself.  This one is hardly a death threat, it’s more of a New Year’s Resolution methinks.
"I hope you suffer a
painful demise."
There did seem to be a large number of self-identified “Tea Baggers” who were very angry with me, in part for saying “Tea Bag.”  Some were even very proud and ready to take my ass down.”

Most were considerate enough to keep their language clean, although this one slipped a bit. (Edited for family viewing.)

"SMASH THE SOCIALISTS.  There's hell to pay, very soon, a--hole. F--k you"  
Okay, booga-booga, very scary stuff.  Actually, not really, this is all fairly typical Internet threat-speak.  If you are really concerned about cartoonists who are having their lives threatened for the work they are creating, I strongly urge you to check out and support the Cartoonist Rights Network. They’ve been working with cartoonists internationally who have been variously sued, jailed, beaten and killed.  I’ve met some of these cartoonists and they are true heroes.  CRNI does great work, most importantly by bringing attention to cartoonists in trouble.  If you learn about some of their stories, this whole Tea Bag episode seems about as big a deal as a, well, tea bag.

Now, to prove I’m not hated in all the conservative locales of the United States, here is a gratuitous shot of me last September in Walt Disney’s hometown Marceline, Missouri.