Senate leaders say 'no' to spoof ; State House: But the Democratic Web site keeps featuring a cartoon of the minority leader.

MARK PETERS Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
03-03-2005
Senate leaders say 'no' to spoof ; State House: But the Democratic Web site keeps featuring a cartoon of the minority leader.
Byline: MARK PETERS Staff Writer
Edition: Final
Section: Local & State
Memo: ON THE INTERNET DEMOCRATIC PARTY Web site: www.mainedems.org

AUGUSTA --

Republican state senators presented Minority Leader Paul Davis with a flannel shirt Wednesday to match the outfit his caricature wears in an Internet cartoon produced by the Maine Democratic Party. The joke gift came amid continuing disapproval of the online lampoon by Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Several Democrats in the Senate are backing a call by Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, for their party to remove the 2 1/2-minute cartoon from its official Web site.
"I thought it went too far," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Brennan, D-Portland.

The cartoon features a caricature of Davis, R-Sangerville, saying "no" countless times to policies that Democrats favor. The Davis character does this while riding a rocking horse and hiding in a house plastered with signs reading "no."

The state Democratic Party continues to keep the cartoon on its Web site, www.mainedems.org. But it was no longer the site's main feature by Wednesday afternoon.

The change wasn't made in response to lawmakers' criticism, but rather as part of an effort to keep Mainers involved with the party by having new information on the site daily, said Rich Pelletier- Simpson, the party's executive director.

Pelletier-Simpson said the feature, produced by Boston-based Alipes, is political satire pointing out an obstructionist role that some Republicans have played. He said party leaders have not discussed whether they will use Alipes again to produce new features for the site.

"I think they are trying to find cover on this," Davis said.

Although state senators had concerns that the cartoon may hurt negotiations over the state budget and a borrowing package, neither side said it is fracturing the relationship.

"It was done despite Senate leadership's disapproval," said Sen. Kenneth Gagnon, D-Waterville.

Staff Writer Mark Peters can be contacted at 623-1031 or at:

mpeters@pressherald.com

Copyright 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.