Coincidence or plagiarism for Jeff Stahler?

Yesterday’s editorial cartoon by Columbus Dispatch cartoonist Jeff Stahler has a striking similarity to a 2009 New Yorker cartoon by David Sipress (see both above).

I asked Jeff for a response to which he’d only say, “my only explaination [sic] is that it’s a coincidence.” This is the second coincidence this year.

Jeff Stahler has had the privilege of apppearing on this blog once before this. This is the second high-profile plagiarism case this year in US political cartoons, which has sparked discussion about ethical guidelines.