To the editor:

I reference the editorial page cartoon in today’s (Saturday, April 17) Record, wherein the Tea Party is subject to mischaracterization and ridicule.

I understand and “get it” that the Record editorial philosophy is progressive-left leaning, and caters to a predominately Democratic majority on South Whidbey. What I don’t “get” is why you continually insist on distorting traditional and conservative ideals with exaggeration and outright lies. It is one thing to promote honest public discourse to encourage open and meaningful dialogue among opposing viewpoints; it is something else entirely to purposely malign and distort the truth to further a political agenda.

Rather than seeking independence from governmental authority as your cartoon suggests, the Tea Party movement is rapidly spreading among an American populace who are alarmed that elected representatives increasingly ignore the will of the electorate.

As a political independent, I am alarmed over a president whose reaction to widespread protest over unbridled spending is “amusement,” and “they ought to thank me.” Such arrogance has never emanated from the White House in my lifetime, until now.

Your editorial cartoons may provide smug humor to some readers, but more importantly they spread the flames of resentment toward the Record and extinguish any hope for honest debate over real issues. Someone has well said, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. It seems the Record is part of the problem.

Art Angst

Langley