By John Moody
Executive Vice President of FOX News Channel

I like political cartoons. They can be subtle or to the point, yuk-yuk chuckly or slyly subversive. They are an art form and therefore entitled to certain latitude in making us think.

They can also be cheap-shot calumny at its lowest, as was a recent offering by Mike Peters of the Dayton Daily News. It showed Hillary Clinton, clearly irked, as Barack Obama held up the hand of his latest superdelegate –- Jesus Christ, complete with halo and burning heart surrounded by thorns.

The point was clear: everybody loves Barack, even God, and nothing Clinton can do will change that. But if Mr. Peters really wanted to make a trenchant statement, why not have Obama holding hands with Muhammad? Wouldn’t that have had even greater shock value?

Ah, but you say, that might offend Muslims who believe that the prophet’s image should not be exposed in any way. They might, you say, take radical action against the cartoonist, as they did in Denmark last year.

That, dear reader, is precisely the point. Jesus Christ is fair game for the likes of Mike Peters because He and His church don’t fight back. Or haven’t until now. Muhammad gets a free ride in cartoons because his followers will riot and issue fatwas if incited.

There is no question that different religions are held to different standards of accountability, at least in the supposedly diverse and tolerant United States. If the Catholic Church condemns abortion –- which is, after all, legalized killing –- it is reviled as anti-female and anachronistic. If Islam is used as the motivation for acts of terror, it gets a pass. To condemn Muslims who say their faith requires them to murder infidels is too risky a step. Someone might get mad.

Of course, I can’t speak for all Christians, a highly fallible group to which I belong. For myself, however, I think the time has come to get a little respect for my God by getting mad at those who would belittle Him.
Jesus-u-Akhbar.