David Horsey and Sarah Sanders

David Horsey is a cartoonist and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and a jerk.

In a piece about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, Horsey wrote:

Sarah Huckabee Sanders does not look like the kind of woman Donald Trump would choose as his chief spokesperson. Much like Roger Ailes when he was stocking the Fox News lineup with blonde Barbie dolls in short, tight skirts, the president has generally exhibited a preference for sleek beauties with long legs and stilleto heels to represent his interests and act as his arm candy.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and wife Melania are the apotheosis of this type. By comparison, Sanders looks more like a slightly chunky soccer mom who organizes snacks for the kids' games. Rather than the fake eyelashes and formal dresses she puts on for news briefings, Sanders seems as if she'd be more comfortable in sweats and running shoes. Yet, even if Trump privately wishes he had a supermodel for his press secretary, he is lucky to have Sanders.

Excuse me? Where are all the "feminists" responding to this @latimes piece by @davidhorsey?https://t.co/KQXcdGSrQS pic.twitter.com/Vl97RxjUJI

— RacheldelG (@LRacheldG) November 3, 2017

Horsey has removed this garbage and apologized.

I want to apologize to Times readers — and to Sarah Huckabee Sanders — for a description that was insensitive and failed to meet the standards of our newspaper. It also failed to meet the expectations I have for myself. It surely won’t be my last mistake, but this particular error will be scrupulously avoided in my future commentaries. I’ve removed the offending description.

— David Horsey

This guy is a disgrace, marveling at the fact President Trump didn't choose a "Barbie doll" to be his press secretary.

With all due respect, what an idiot!

I have so much respect for Sarah Sanders. The way she handles the press is masterful. She is doing a superb job.

Watching the White House press briefings, I have never thought she looks like a "chunky soccer mom." I have never thought she'd be more comfortable in sweats. Good grief! That kind of stuff doesn't cross my mind. Horsey, apparently, operates differently.

Horsey's "chunky soccer mom" comment was the source of attention and resulted in his retraction and apology. However, much of the ugliness in his column remains.

In the revised version of his column, he writes:

Donald Trump is lucky to have Sarah Huckabee Sanders as his chief spokesperson.

I wouldn’t have said that when she first got the job. In fact, I sharply disagreed with a friend of mine who expressed admiration for the way Sanders performs her duties. She is confident and unflappable, my friend said. I had trouble seeing that those strengths outweighed the fact that pretty much every statement coming out of the press secretary’s mouth was a distortion of the truth.

But now I get it. Anyone who is going to be tasked with the job of explaining this president to the news media needs to be comfortable with saying things that are demonstrably not true. That was the problem with Sanders’ predecessor, Sean Spicer. Lying seemed to fluster him. When he was challenged on any blatantly erroneous statement, he would get red-faced and petulant.

...Sanders betrays no qualms about her role. She delivers the daily load of fibs and evasions in a flat, emotionless voice and, if questioned, keeps her cool, repeats her fallacious statements and sneers as if she hopes there is a firing squad waiting outside for the upstart journalist.

So, Sanders is an unapologetic liar, according to Horsey.

Not very flattering, is it?

The cartoon that accompanies the column is extremely unflattering as well.

LA Times Cartoonist @davidhorsey Mocks Sarah Sanders as 'Big Mother,' 'Chunky Soccer Mom' https://t.co/shpqyBSheR "Compassionate" male! pic.twitter.com/BgS6rsxl3i

— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) November 3, 2017

While Horsey was shamed into changing his column and issuing an apology to Sanders, he should also apologize to Ivanka and Melania. Horsey suggests they are first and foremost "Barbie dolls in short, tight skirts" and "sleek beauties with long legs and stilleto heels." That's not OK.

Ivanka and First Lady Melania are intelligent, competent women and they should be given the respect they deserve.

Also, Horsey should apologize to the president. Horsey insulted his wife and his daughter. Horsey declared that President Trump was more interested in physical beauty, "arm candy," than in one's abilities and talents. He thinks the president may "privately wishes he had a supermodel for his press secretary."

In short, Horsey's attacks reveal that he is nuts.