Michigan's Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel is razzing Michigan Radio over a political cartoon that appeared to show her makeupless alongside her heterosexual counterparts, Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson.
Cartoonist John Auchter depicted the women scowling at a room full of men partying at the "Lame-Duck Bash" of 2018. A speech bubble above one of the revelers read, "Don't worry about the mess, gents — let the girls clean it up!"
On Twitter, Nessel responded that she appreciated the cartoon, a nod to the whirlwind Lame Duck session that produced a number of controversial bills — including one that would userp power from the incoming attorney general by allowing the GOP-led legislature to have a say in lawsuits involving the state.
But what was up with the single black line used for Nessel's lips, when the women on either side of her were given a full three — plus a swath of color — to create the image of a fuller lip?
Nessel responded saucily on Twitter, offering Michigan Radio "a friendly reminder that some lesbians actually wear lipstick,"
Dear @MichiganRadio-totally appreciate the sentiment, but just a friendly reminder that some lesbians actually wear lipstick. I have 7 tubes plus lipgloss in my purse right now. Auchter's Art: Someone will have to clean up this mess https://t.co/zdRYBNMdx2
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) December 21, 2018
(The cartoonist, we should note, also gave Nessel's eyes far less definition than Whitmer and Benson's.)
Twitter commenters ate up Nessel's clap back, saying "I'm going to frame this tweet" and "OMG I adore you." One even called for Michigan Radio to apologize.
But — to the likely well-meaning Auchter's defense — Nessel's make-up choices do appear more natural than Whitmer and Benson's.
Here's a side-by-side for your perusal:
hate to shoot down a saucy tweet but... AG-elect *does* rock a more neutral lip pic.twitter.com/wK8EjBQ6LQ
— violet ikonomova (@violetikon) December 21, 2018
