I am shocked, angered and dismayed by the lack of class and insensitivity that was shown by Clay Bennett and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in the cartoon that was in Saturday’s paper regarding Judge Bob Moon and Judge David Bales. It shows a true lack of respect for Judge Bob Moon and his family.

I am further dismayed that it was included in Saturday’s paper on the day of Bob Moon’s funeral and burial. The editor of the paper that allowed this cartoon to run should be reprimanded for their clear lack of judgment.

It shows that Clay Bennett and his editors truly lack integrity and class.

I am further shocked that the Chattanooga Times Free Press would display Judge David Bales as puppet. It shows a total lack of respect for our local judges by the paper. These judges go in every day trying to make this city and county a safer place to live by locking away the criminals that perpetrate our community. These illustrations only further undermine the judges' authority when those cartoons are posted that show our judges in a negative light.

The lack of character on the part of the Chattanooga Times Free Press is unnecessary and only further demonstrates the need for the paper to reign in their editorial cartoonist. I have to sincerely question the leadership at the top levels of the local paper when they allow such poor decisions. I hope that the Chattanooga Times Free Press reigns in their rogue employees. Otherwise, the paper’s readership numbers will continue to decline.

Mary Ella Taylor
Chattanooga

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I clearly understand the idea of an editorial cartoon. Bruce Plante was a master of that art in Chattanooga for many years while serving at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, all while having some good, clean, fun. His editorial cartoons were entertaining and even well-loved by those at the "butt of the joke."

However, the clear and utter lack of respect displayed in Saturday’s paper by Clay Bennett was simply uncalled for and has left me speechless. The late Judge Moon was a very dear friend to me and my family, and this has shocked and appalled me.

The cartoon, which depicts an empty chair with his name on it and what is clearly a puppet sitting idle at its side with “Judge Bales” clearly marked on it, is a pure lack of respect not only toward a recently passed upstanding citizen and judge, but also to Judge Bales. Our local judges work hard to keep dangerous criminals off the street and run a clean and fair court here in our community that we should all be glad to have.

The gall and lack of respect that the editor and Bennett have not only devised this tasteless garbage, but to print it on the day of Judge Moon’s burial is simply inexcusable, and I hope that not only the editor but the editorial cartoonist are called onto the carpet by the “higher-ups” or whoever is left managing our local daily these days.

I know they are going through some hard times just like all the other traditional print newspapers in the USA, but if they are seriously going to stoop to this low, they’re only going to see those numbers dwindle down lower and lower.

Honestly, I am glad that I no longer subscribe to the Times Free Press due to the lack of quality reporting contained in their overly-priced gift wrapping/puppy training paper, and I hope they call me again this week trying to sell it to me so I can give them a better reason as to why I won’t be subscribing anytime soon.

Thank you, Chattanoogan.com and John Wilson for having integrity while reporting the news and a sense of “taste” and “respect” as well.

F.L. Carmichael
Jasper, Tn.

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After some time to cool down, I'd like to comment on Saturday's Times Free Press cartoon. I generally enjoy Clay Bennett's cartoons, but on the very day of his burial to publish such a distasteful, disrespectful, and blasphemous cartoon of Judge Bob Moon amazes me.

I can only imagine how his wife, mother and brother felt. I know how I felt as his friend. I'm done with their paper and trashy cartoonist, and hope management will take appropriate action against Mr. Bennett. A public apology is in order. Just shameful.

Arlos Dempsey

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On the date of Judge Bob Moon's funeral, the Times Free Press chose to publish an "editorial cartoon" showing their lack of compassion for other people. Their "cartoon" mocks the friendship between Judge Moon and Judge David Bales.

Judge Moon helped so many people in his lifetime. Would the TFP mock all the people who will miss Judge Moon's guidance in their lives? There are many that would be included who will sorely miss Judge Moon's compassion and love for people and guidance in both their personal lives and in their careers.

The TFP allowed Mr. Clay Bennett to hit a new all-time low in integrity, class, and compassion for his fellow man.

Judge David Bales is also a man of integrity, honor, and compassion for other people. He has been a loyal friend to Judge Moon, as countless others have been. Judge Bales does not deserve this public ridicule.

Several months ago, I made a telephone complaint to the TFP about the mean spirit of Mr. Bennett's editorial cartoons. A gentleman told me that Mr. Bennett was well-respected all over this country. I told this gentleman that I could only assume that the TFP approved of the mean-spirited cartoons of Mr. Bennett. I explained that there would be many people like me who were deeply offended by his mocking and mean-spirited representations.

This time, the TFP allowed Mr. Bennett to cross a shameful line. We have already heard several comments expressing the same opinion as ours.

Frank and Judy Bailey
Hixson

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I don't have a dog in this hunt, but I notice there is never a letter castigating the cartoons on the right side of the editorial page. Wonder why? Maybe the host of cartoonists on the conservative side have more "integrity and class." I doubt it.

Clay Bennett pushes the envelope. Sometimes truth, or satire, can be a sharp knife. Everybody, and I mean everybody, has been guilty of errors in judgment in their lives. There aren't any saints anymore, if there ever were.

Herb Montgomery
Hixson

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Amen and amen to Mary Etta Taylor's letter.

Having been repeatedly upset by the inappropriate and mean editorial cartoons of Clay Bennett, I was outraged at the cruel insensitive parody of Judges Moon and Bales.

Starting my mornings by reading the newspaper has long been a highlight for me, but the Times Free Press makes it harder and harder each day to enjoy. I can only hope they put a stop to the ever-increasing offensive content before forcing me to stop subscribing.

Lynda Walker
Signal Mountain

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I have subscribed to the Times Free Press more years than I care to count. Bruce Plante was by far the best cartoonist they ever had. I have enjoyed most of Clay Bennett's since he arrived, but Saturday he reached an all-time low.

Bob Moon was my friend for over 30 years. I knew his father before he died. I know his brother, mother, and his beautiful wife, Debbie.

The cartoon Saturday, the day of Bob's funeral, was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. Clay, be glad Bob Sr. is not still alive.

I have no respect for you whatsoever. A mother, a wife, and a brother saw that on the worst day of their lives.

Carlos Dempsey

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I was thinking the other day how much admiration I have for the kind lady that faithfully delivers my paper every weekend in rain or snow. If it is raining, it is always double wrapped and I cannot for the life of me remember the last time there has not been a paper in my box on time every weekend. She delivers around 4:30 each morning.

Then I open the paper and turn to the editorial page on Saturday, section B6, and catch a glimpse of a cartoon of all things with a huge chair and a puppet sitting beside it and stared in amazement and wondered if the paper actually paid someone that could draw and had no brains. On top of that he has a management staff that allowed it to go forward in Saturday’s edition. So at minimum we are up to at least three layers of incompetence at the paper. I was in between a big bite of Captain Crunch thinking through all of this and needless to say I lost it in disgust from what I interpreted from this idiotic rendering in the cartoon.

My mind wandered back to my friend who delivers the paper so diligently each weekend to deliver me the kind of trash that is displayed in this section. I wondered how much the paper was paying these three layers of incompetence compared to this lady who busts her butt every weekend and is reliable to a fault. I had the phone in my hand ready to cancel and thought of her kind Christmas card she sent me thanking me for the little extra I sent her as a carrier gift and the end of the year along with my subscription renewal and couldn't bring myself to cancel because of her, not the one that somehow made it through life drawing crude pictures and making idiotic assumptions.

I have a three-year-old grandson that draws almost as good and has a better grasp of reality and shows more stable depictions in his drawings.

If you noticed I didn’t mention any names because I feel that is what the "doodler" is wanting in some strange way because he actually scribbled his name under the drawing. I think it is probably because of a lack of attention growing up or just an inadequate education. I should expect much more from a paper that has Chattanooga at the beginning and would have thought they would have had enough respect for a hurting family that they would let this good man be put to rest before spouting nonsense.

Someone wasn't man enough to draw this cartoon while Judge Moon was alive to respond. Too bad we cannot still run someone out of town on a rail, or maybe we can.

Need to check the law with Judge Bales first.

At the very minimum, you, the Times Free Press and your doodler, owe the Bob Moon family an apology. Now.

Totally disgusted
Gail Haronian
Hixson

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Truth be known, I bet Clay Bennett has a number of cartoons ready because he works ahead.  It was probably in a pile of stuff at the Free-Press and some clueless 19-year-old put it in the "to publish" stack, making the accidental look mean and tasteless.

Wes Ellis