On Tuesday, I posted a conservative cartoon about Sandra Fluke and the Rush Limbaugh birth control rant on my blog by Gary McCoy, who I syndicate through Cagle Cartoons. Since then, there’s been a firestorm of criticism about the nasty tone of the cartoon coming from all quarters of the internet. Media critic Jim Romenesko even posted this side-by-side comparison on his blog:

Today, Now with Alex Wagner host Alex Wagner brought up the cartoon on her msnbc show and debated the finer points of basic healthcare on International Women’s Day.

Here’s the clip:

Here are just a taste of the emails and comments we received about the cartoon:

Susan S.: “This cartoon (and Limbaugh’s remarks) say more about the originators than they do about Ms. Fluke. When did personal insults and ad hominem attacks become acceptable substitutes for political debate?”

Neil J.: “Since when did Rush draw cartoons? Demonizing is sick & wrong for cartoonists and talk radio. Thanks for continuing to poison the dialogue. Epitome of how wrong republicans have become for themselves and the rest of our great country.”

George B.: “Dear Gary, How would you like someone to do this to your daughter? I won’t take a look at any of your cartoons again. Incredibly distasteful!”

Jon J.: “Not funny, just stupid. Did Rush pay you to publish this piece of s#%t? Really, not happy to see you denigrate your brand with crap like this.”

Chris K.: “Since the woman was specifically NOT asking the Government to cover her birth control but a private organizations health insurance this cartoon is just promoting a lie.”

Robert E.: “That cartoon is just an example of the low intelligence and drivel you’d expect from the foul-minded Limbaughers.”

Sandy S.: “After being totally disgusted by the implied content, I couldn’t help but wonder – with Rush’s sponsors are leaving him faster than the captain did on the sinking Costa Concordia, is he now supplementing his income doing political cartoons?”