Despite coming out against Proposition 98 this weekend (as did the Contra Costa Times, Santa Cruz Sentinel, and Riverside Press Enterprise), the San Francisco Chronicle printed a “Yes on 98” cartoon – drawn by conservative Lisa Benson of rural San Bernardino County. “Cartoons are the sole opinion of the artist,” said opinion editor John Diaz. “We don’t necessarily agree with them, but we believe in running different points of view.”

But by publishing this cartoon, the Chronicle allowed the Prop 98 debate to be framed under a right-wing lens. Benson’s cartoon featured the “big bad wolf” of eminent domain facing a “straw house” of Proposition 99 and a “brick house” of Prop 98. Ironically, many have pointed out that Prop 98 is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” that abolishes rent control, guts environmental laws and endangers water projects – while Prop 99 would still protect homeowners from eminent domain.