Editorial Cartoonist seeks your support! Lets kick this!

[samplegirl]

My name is Clay Bennett and I'm the editorial cartoonist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. I write you, as activists of progressive politics, for a favor.

As you undoubtedly know, it's a tough time to be in print journalism. Many newspapers have already shuttered their windows, and others have sought refuge in bankruptcy court in response to the cruel economic realities that have beset the industry. Other publications are combating the hard times through cutting their newsroom staffs. When such cuts are being considered, an editorial cartoonist (like me) can seem like an easily expendable luxury item. I may not be able to avoid the axe in the long term, but my chance of survival would better with some tangible evidence that my work is bringing readers to the paper through increased traffic to its web site.

That's where you come in.

Many of you here already make my cartoons a regular part of your daily news diet. I really appreciate that, and enjoy seeing your posts in the comments section under my cartoons (as you can well imagine, eastern Tennessee can use a healthy infusion of progressive thought). For those of you who haven't stumbled across my work, I hope you might give it a look. If you like what you see over the next week, or so, I hope you'll bookmark the page and make it a regular stop, along with the Huffington Post, the Daily Koz, and any other sites you may frequent to get the skinny on the events of the day.

If you're game to give it a try, just go to: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/cartoons/

There, you'll find thumbnail images of my latest eight cartoons (with the very latest on top). Just click on the cartoon's title, and it will take you to a page with a larger version of the piece, and any comments that it may have inspired. If you've followed my work at all over the past thirty years, I hope you'll come see what I'm drawing now. If you not familiar with me at all, I really hope that that you'll give me a try. Either way, if you like what you see, and consider it worthy of your support, I hope you'll come back often to see what I'm up to.

Thanks for your activism on behalf of the ideals I hold dear, and thanks for your consideration of my request. I apologize for what must seem like a totally self-serving plea. I assure you, however, that is this much more about feeding my family, than it is about feeding my ego.

Sincerely,
Clay
--------
Clay Bennett
Editorial Cartoonist
Chattanooga Times Free Press
www.timesfreepress.com

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. You do terrific work,

and it's my pleasure to check it out with alarming regularity.

Kicked and recommended.

Good luck!!

:toast:

[Frustratedlady]

2. K&R - Good luck!

You do good work!

[samplegirl]

3. Welcome to D.U. Clay

Keep em coming and we'll keep posting your incrediable work. Hope D.U.ers will show their support and visit your site and post a comment! You jumpstart my day!

:hi:

[hootinholler]

4. Please obscure his email address such that a bot can't grab it.

Spell out the @ and the dot at least.

Mr Bennett does excellent work I'm happy to give him a daily visit.

-Hoot

[samplegirl]

5. Thanks

I just took care it. Your right!

[BlooInBloo]

6. They're good. I think adding a republican arsonist running away from the fire...

in the 2nd one would be a good thing, though.

[onestepforward]

7. Good work and I'll be visiting often!

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Nice work Clay.

I never cease to amaze at your seemingly bottomless supply of characterizations that reveal the view from Main Street on topics of the day (after day after day).

I hope you can still find inspiration without that boob in the White House helping you compose your visual punchlines.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Kick!

:kick::hi:

[progressoid]

10. Those are really good.

[ozymandius]

11. Great for the Stock Market Watch

I wonder if it would be okay to hotlink?

[claybennett]

15. Well...

... I'd rather folks go to the Times Free Press site to look at the cartoons. Is there any way to hotlink the thumbnails of the cartoons, and then have those click-able to the page with the full-size cartoon?

[ozymandius]

20. I'll give it a try.

Whatta ya know - it worked. That's the first time I've actually tried to link an image. I'll circulate your work through the Stock Market Watch every week. I love your material!

BTW, an elder cousin of mine, now deceased, used to cartoon for the Chattanooga Times. Ever heard of Willie King?

[Career Prole]

22. You've got my support, Clay.

I'll gladly give you a daily click. I work on the nuts and bolts side of a daily that was put up for sale in August with only a few nibbles since. These are some nerve-wracking times, eh?
Best of luck to you and yours!
:fistbump:

[Kaleko]

33. This one absolutely nailed it, CLAY.

My current favorite.

[ozymandius]

36. Check it out.

On the Stock Market Watch.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. I've always liked his work. His toons make the point very well.

Thanks for posting this, samplegirl!

[samplegirl]

13. I take a look

over at his site daily....always worth it!!!

Your Welcome :hi:

[lunatica]

14. K&R

[barbtries]

16. brilliant cartoonist

i blogged him too.

[Uzybone]

17. Kicking

I will also bookmark his page.

[Octafish]

18. Clay Bennett is tops.

A great cartoonist, he and his colleagues should be supported by all who give a damn.

Thank you for the heads-up, samplegirl.

[samplegirl]

19. Hope you'll post over at

his site.

:hi:

[Downwinder]

21. Do we have a cartoon thread here on DU?? n/t

[LiberalLovinLug]

38. That's a great idea....how about it Skinner?

An always open thread where we can post our favorite editorial cartoons.

One of my favorites:



And yeah I'll check in to your page. Great work!

[burning rain]

23. Glad to.

^

[MasonJar]

24. I couldn't get the link to accept my comment. Sorry!

[volstork]

25. Cheers

to a fellow progressive Tennessean!

[katandmoon]

26. Thanks for the link, his cartoons are great!

[GinaMaria]

27. really like your work

thanks for the link.

[rasputin1952]

28. Just went over there...

Darn good work...spot on.

[WillyT]

29. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[mecherosegarden]

30. K&R Very Good! N/T

[FLAprogressive]

31. K&R

[Marr]

32. I've seen your work a lot-- I love it.

You've got a very distinctive style. :D

[Kurovski]

34. Kick.(nt)

[the blues]

35. Talk about economy...

These cartoons get the point across, sharp as a tack, without a wasted word or stroke of the pen.

[radfringe]

37. done and left a comment... n/t

[vinylsolution]

39. I think just about everyone on this site....

.... loves Clay's work. Nice to have such a great Progressive talent 'embedded' down in NASCAR-land.

You and Steve Sack (Minneapolis Star Tribune) must be the two best political cartoonists in America today.

I just added a link from my site: The Liberal Store NewsBlog.

[Karenina]

40. I'm a Fan! Hi, Clay!!

:hi:

[rasputin1952]

41. I sent him an e-mail of support, and he was kind enough to

reply...I was impressed, as one does not usually get replies from e-mails from well-knowns.

However, I did receive very nice replies to e-malis from Helen Thomas and Molly Ivins in the past...:D

[claybennett]

42. Thanks to everyone!

I just wanted to thank you all for the support and for your very generous comments about my work. It's a real bloodbath in the newspaper industry, but with friends like you, I just may be able to avoid the tub.

I'll see you all at the Times Free Press site!

Your comrade,
Clay Bennett