Quinn, Rauner fail as cartoonists

Cartooning is an art.

The work of Sun-Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Jack Higgins and the creators of “The Simpsons” come to mind.

They can cut through the clutter of complicated issues to make a serious point with cutting humor.

But it’s a rare talent.

So here’s hoping Gov. Pat Quinn and his Republican challenger, Bruce Rauner, figure that out sooner rather than later.

Quinn, we are forced to remember, launched Squeezy the Pension Python in 2012. The diabolical orange creature was the governor’s way of showing how critics of his pension overhaul would squeeze state programs like education. It was downright painful to watch a sitting governor talk out loud about an imaginary snake.

This month Quinn launched a YouTube attack ad casting Rauner as the cartoon skinflint millionaire Mr. Burns, on “The Simpsons.” That is, until Fox TV declared a copyright infringement and the ad was pulled.

Rauner has countered with a cheesy imitation of an old “West Wing” TV episode by dressing up a hapless campaign staffer as “Quinnocchio.” Heaven help us if there’s another Rauner volunteer in the wings with a Geppetto costume.

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