For readers who go crosseyed at the huge paragraphs of text in our newspapers, the editorial cartoon is the page we turn to for a little comic relief – literally.

Sending up celebrities, politicians, or whatever takes the artist’s fancy for the day, they illustrate what we think but can’t put in words.

Take Tiger Woods. Tiger, the people’s champ who fell from grace when the details of extra marital affairs emerged. The tabloids tore what little reputation he had left after the news broke. Face it, he knew what he was doing when he did it, but the salt on his fresh wounds was really rubbed in by the editorial artists

That’s why golf fans,  satirists and those turned on by celebrity downfall will be disappointed to find out Apple has rejected Daryl Cagle’s editorial cartoon app.

Is it political correctness or hypocracy gone mad? Apple permit other satirical cartoon apps by Cagle its store, including an app sending up Barack Obama. An 800 word blog summed up his feelings.

Cagle copied in the email he received from Apple’s app review team on his blog which cited Apple’s clause:

“Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory.”

It appears the app was rejected on grounds that it could be defamatory.

Some of the cartoons which led to Apple rejecting the application are pure satirical gold:

Hitting back at Apple’s decision, he said “It is chilling to see Apple pick and choose which topics can be discussed in the mediums they control. By positioning itself to control the new methods of delivery for news and opinion, Apple assumes a special responsibility to allow for a full and free debate on all topics and personalities in the news.”

He later posted a clarification stating that Apple recognise his work, but are sticking with their decision of not making the app available.

You can see a selection of other Tiger Woods editorial cartoons that didn’t make the app here.