Tow #13-Visual-Holiday/NSA

Source: http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2013/12/06/114023

      This cartoon is alluding to the suspected fact that the NSA has begun monitoring personal electronic communications, which is seen by most as a breach of privacy. In her cartoon, Lisa Benson uses satire and a cultural connection with her audience to criticize the NSA for its invasive procedures.
      The words in the quote bubble, "The NSA has a jingle?" are used by Benson as a form of satirical humor to criticize the NSA. The words have a rather sarcastic ring to them, and are clearly used to mock/ridicule the NSA. The use of satirical humor tells the audience in no uncertain terms that Benson does not condone the NSA's methods, and in fact is opposed to them.
      Benson uses the holiday of Christmas, and namely, the classic song Santa Clause is Coming to Town to establish a cultural connection with her audience and make her cartoon both humorous and effective. The Christmas theme of the cartoon fits in with the time of its publication/the time of year it was released on the Townhall website. Benson creates a parody of a short section of the song Santa Clause is Coming to Town to tie it into her mockery of the NSA's breach of personal privacy via electronic communications. The parody itself lists some of the things the NSA is able to know about one's personal life, namely, "when you're texting...when you're online...if you've been bad or good." Paired with the satirical thought bubble, the words Benson uses in her cartoon create a humorous, mocking text.
      Benson's cartoon gain an immediate appeal to the ethos of its audience due to the fact that it is published on a renowned, well-respected website, Townhall.com, that is known for its political theme. Her immediate audience is the people of the United States and their government, while her extended audience is anyone in the world who can read English, has an internet, and has access to the website. The fact that her cartoon is published on a public website and not in a newspaper means that it is accessible/view-able to anyone.
      I believe Benson did an excellent job in creating a striking, thought-provoking cartoon that criticizes the methods of the NSA/its violation of the privacy of the people of the United States. Her use of a holiday theme and a parody of a well-known song enables her to connect more with her audience, and elicit a laugh or agreement with her.