Cartoonist’s Letters Also Etched in Vitriol

Steve Kelley, the conservative political cartoonist for the San Diego Union, has never been accused of timidity. He shows no mercy when liberal folly, as he defines it, comes within his cross hairs.

“Political cartoonists, by nature, are bomb-chuckers,” Kelley says. Occasionally, however, someone picks up an explosive device of his own and flings it back at the 30-year-old Dartmouth graduate.

When Kelley drew then-Councilman Uvaldo Martinez, during an investigation of his credit-card misuse, as the Frito Bandito, minority groups yelled foul. When he recently lambasted Latino leaders who oppose building a protective ditch at the U.S.-Mexico border, a petition circulated in the Union newsroom criticized the cartoon as racially insensitive.

Kelley posted a mind-your-own-business note on the newsroom bulletin board, saying that reporters should spend their time gathering news rather than gathering signatures.

Rep. Jim Bates (D-San Diego) then wrote a letter to the editor saying that the ditch cartoon was spreading “negative and false stereotypes” by implying that Hispanic leaders condone drug smuggling. Bates was a target of several Kelley cartoons last fall over allegations that he had sexually harassed female staff members.

In response to the letter by Bates, Kelley has written his own letter, showing that his prose is just as flammable as his cartooning. Kelley’s letter to Bates, copies of which were sent to other San Diego County congressmen, begins:

“Thanks for taking time away from your secretary’s leg long enough to share your concerns. . . . I could tell you wrote the letter yourself because it possessed all of the characteristics of your style; it was ill-informed, poorly expressed and pandered to the grandstands.”

The letter concludes:

“Although we could have canned your letter, I asked that it be displayed prominently on our letters page. Having you tell me I don’t know how to think is like having Bozo the Clown denounce me as a lousy dresser. Can’t wait to draw you again. . . .”

Bates, who received the letter Tuesday, said he was startled by its abusive tone. “I’m disappointed,” he said. “All I was doing was expressing the concern of a lot of my Hispanic constituents.”

Kelley said he showed his letter, which was written on company letterhead, to the Union’s editorial page editor before mailing it. He has no regrets but doubts he will write further letters. Bates is a special case, he said.

“I’m not thin-skinned,” Kelley said. “But when the criticism comes from someone with Jim Bates’ lack of character and competence, and when the letter is so bombastic and is strictly playing to his constituents, then I think I should respond.”

A Flexible Performer

His name does not appear in the cast of players, but Gumby is a member in good standing of the San Diego Opera Company. He has his own costumes and wardrobe chest. He’s positioned on the stage so that he is visible to the actors but not to the audience.

It began in 1984, when Gumby appeared during “Don Giovanni” wearing a wig and gown. Since then he’s been part of every production, including road shows to Hawaii, New Orleans and Miami. In his most recent appearance, he wore a kilt for “Lucia di Lammermoor.” No prima donna, Gumby has had only one artistic dispute--when a temperamental director ordered him off the stage.

“The director thought Gumby lacked the self-discipline to stay inconspicuous,” production carpenter John David Peters said. “For a while it imperiled the production, with the crew talking about a strike if Gumby was banished. Magically, he reappeared on the set, and everything was fine.”