There are two things you can say about Boston Globe cartoonist Dan Wasserman’s rendition of Governor Jane Swift and lieutenant governor wanna-be Jim Rappaport this past Sunday: 1) it was pretty amusing; and 2) it was almost exactly the same as a two-week-old drawing by Boston Herald cartoonist Dale Stephanos.

In both cartoons, Swift and Rappaport are standing before a minister in full wedding regalia. In Stephanos’s, when the minister says, "If there are any objections ...", a panic-stricken Swift turns around and bellows, "For the love of God, I’m available!" In Wasserman’s, as the minister says, "If anyone present knows a reason why these two may not ...", a panic-stricken Swift raises her hand.

Stephanos — who’s also a Phoenix contributor — absolves Wasserman, saying it’s hardly unusual for two cartoonists to think alike. "It was so blatant that there’s no possible way that he could have seen what I did," Stephanos says. "The same thing has probably happened to him." Dropping his voice in mock seriousness, he adds: "If you talk to Dan, tell him if he does it again I’ll kick his ass."

Wasserman’s response: "I never see the Sunday Herald. I’m sorry that it happened. You’re the first one to tell me about it." As for Stephanos’s threat, Wasserman says, "I’m worried, because he’s younger and bigger than I am. So I’ll take his warning to heart."

Issue Date: December 20 - 27, 2001

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