Political cartoonist, Perceptionists cast votes for Kerry

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD It's not just for professional reasons that cartoonist Steve Brodner wants President Bush out of office. This time, it's political. "I have to put my cards on the table: I'm for [John] Kerry," says Brodner, who's just published a retrospective of his work called "Freedom Fries, The Extra Crispy Political Art of Steve Brodner." (His cast of caricatures has appeared in virtually every major American newspaper and magazine.) "For the good of the world, it's important for Bush to leave." Asked about his art, Brodner said he accentuates features that illuminate a person's character. "Kerry's eyes are far apart like an elephant's, and there's a certain worldweariness to them," he said. "But Bush looks like he just hatched out of an egg. . . . His eyes are bright and close together, almost staring at each other." The cartoonist said he rarely hears from his subjects, with one notable exception. "Martha Stewart called me and said, `What kind of lowlife assassin are you? My mother doesn't think I look like that! My mother loves me!' " Brodner recalls. "I began feeling sorry for her."

TALKING HOP The bill for the hip-hop portion of the upcoming NEMO Music Festival looks promising, with Boston's own supergroup the Perceptionists headlining. Made up of Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, and DJ Fakts One, the Perceptionists are sure to steal Friday's show at the Middle East. The band's debut CD, "Black Dialogue," to be released in January, includes an indictment of President Bush called "Memorial Day." (I never thought of this the day that I enlisted/That I'd be dodgin' bullets seekin' weapons that never even existed.) Asked about the song this week, Akrobatik had this to say: "We're just getting some stuff off our chest, being sympathetic to the troops more than putting our foot up Bush's [expletive]," said Akro. "I'm not convinced John Kerry knows anything about people like me, but he's really the lesser of two evils."

GOING FOR THE SWEEP We're told that Red Sox flack Charles Steinberg has taken to calling Bosox broom girl Colleen Reilly a "bawdy Dublin barmaid." But not everyone's crazy about having a ponytailed lass running around the bases in a "League of Their Own" outfit. According to Steve Kettmann's new book, "One Day at Fenway," Sox GM Theo Epstein "squirmed noticeably" when Reilly first appeared on the field. "Don't ask," Epstein told Harvard prof Samantha Power, a contributor to the book. "It's a long story. It's brutal. It wasn't my idea."

TALKING BASEBALL A fund-raiser for Congressman Ed Markey drew a few notables to Fenway yesterday. Hanging with the hosts, Bank of America's Anne Finucane and Sox partner Tom Werner, were Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and his wife, Stacey; team flacks Larry Rasky and Joe Baerlein; and Hill/Holliday president Karen Kaplan. . . . Full-time Sox fans Jack Welch and wife Suzy Wetlaufer were in the house yesterday, as was Stephen King and"Today" show host Katie Couric. . . . And the wrap party for Drew Barrymore's baseball flick "Fever Pitch" was a hit at Sonsie. Joining filmmakers Bobby and Peter Farrelly and star Jimmy Fallon were Sox outfielder Johnny Damon and nightclub owner Patrick Lyons. Apparently trying to extend her 15 minutes of fame, Ben Affleck's ex Enza Sambataro was seated at the bar.

BID ON CUBA Cuba and baseball are inseparable, so it's no surprise that Sox players came up big for Caritas Cubana, Cuba's version of Catholic Charities. Consultants Micho Spring and Consuelo Isaacson hosted a Caribbean fete at Isaacson's Cambridge home yesterday, and Sox players donated several auction items. Among those expected to attend were Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley with Cuban bishop Jose Siro Gonzalez, who's president of Caritas Cubana, and Maritza Sanchez Abillud, executive director of the group. Locals include Jose Mateo, director of the Jose Mateo Dance Company; Cuban shutterbug Abe Morell; congressmen Bill Delahunt, Jim McGovern, Marty Meehan, and Steve Lynch; state Senator Jarrett Barrios; and former congressman Chet Atkins. Auction items include a jersey signed by Pedro Martinez, a base signed by David Ortiz, and a broken bat signed by Damon.

SIGHTINGS Yankee skipper Joe Torre and ex-slugger Reggie Jackson at Davio's in Park Square after the Yankees's Francona-aided win Friday. . . . Later, New York pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez enjoyed a Cuban Cohiba outside the Ritz-Carlton on Arlington Street. (So facial hair's not allowed by team owner George Steinbrenner but smoking is?) . . . Funny guys Mike O'Malley and Seth Meyers were at the ballpark Saturday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Celebrating his 75th, former mayor Kevin White was feted last night at developer Bob Beale's Beacon Hill townhouse. Well-wishers included George Regan, Bob Popeo, Natalie Jacobson, and John Henning.

Al Young of the Globe staff contributed to this column. Names can be reached at names@
globe.com or at 617-929-8253.