Effigy of Sarah Palin hanging by a noose creates uproar in West Hollywood

[MonsterMash]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...,3849487.story

A West Hollywood Halloween display showing a likeness of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging by a noose has caused a furor among some residents who reported it as a hate crime, authorities said Monday.

But Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said the mannequin sporting a beehive hairdo, glasses and a red coat does not rise to the level of a hate crime because it was part of a Halloween display.




"I'm not defending this; I'm not criticizing it. It doesn't rise to the level of hate crime," said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who said he went out to the house himself to look at the display this morning.

"Now, if there was a crime against bad taste . . . "

Sgt. Kristin Aloma of the Sheriff's Department's West Hollywood station said that since Sunday she had received five to 10 calls from residents offended by the display. Officials are monitoring the house to make sure the situation doesn't get out of hand, she said.


West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang said although he recognizes residents' right to free speech, he found the display problematic and felt it should be removed.

"While these residents have the legal right to display Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin in effigy, I strongly oppose political speech that references violence -- real or perceived," Prang said in a statement. "I urge these residents to take down their display and find more constructive ways to express their opinion."

Whitmore said that potential hate crimes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the same display had been made of a Barack Obama-like doll, for example, authorities would have to evaluate it independently, Whitmore said.

"That adds a whole other social, historical hate aspect to the display, and that is embedded in the consciousness of the country," he said, adding he's not sure whether it would be a hate crime. "It would be ill-advised of anybody to speculate on that."

Chad Michael Morrisette, who lives in the house, told a local TV news crew that cars and buses have been stopping near his home and that people have been snapping photos of the Halloween display.

The home's decorations also feature a doll of John McCain surrounded by decorative flames in the chimney, and other more typical Halloween items, such as skeletons and spider webs.

Kim is a Times staff writer.

(Now you can't tell me that if this was a likeness of Obama that people wouldn't be screaming hate crime and calling the FBI to come investigate.....and they would show up and charge the homeowner)

[Jenna]

I'm surprised they don't have it taken down as an incitement to assassination. If it just showed her as a witch or devil it might just be a matter of taste, but couldn't an effigy of her being hung be interpreted as a "shouting fire in a crowded auditorium" type of speech that might encourage crazy people to try to assassinate her?

[MonsterMash]

I'm surprised they don't have it taken down as an incitement to assassination. If it just showed her as a witch or devil it might just be a matter of taste, but couldn't an effigy of her being hung be interpreted as a "shouting fire in a crowded auditorium" type of speech that might encourage crazy people to try to assassinate her?

Shes on McCain's side so no one cares. But like I said, let it be Obama and they'd go mideval on the owner.

[Twan007]

it should be compared more to "what if someone hung a mock up of Obama from their house with a noose around his neck"

i mean really? - i'm so tired of double standards

i swear, if someone did the same thing for obama and biden, heads would roll (no pun intended) and the homeowners would find themselves on the bad end of a hefty law suit...

[Buttercup]

I saw a report of that on the news today and I think that it's awful and should be removed. The neighbors who were interviewed on the news report felt the same way.

[snuffy2202]

It just goes to show the new double standard in our country. You can't say or do anything against a black person, but white men, and now, white women are free game. What gives? You are right, Monstermash, let it be Obama and the uproar would be tremendous. Also, it would immediately be listed as a hate crime and the subjects would be arrested.

[Ducky]

I somehow don't think they'd buy the idea that they were just hanging the white half of BO either.

[Caveman]

it should be compared more to "what if someone hung a mock up of Obama from their house with a noose around his neck"

i mean really? - i'm so tired of double standards

i swear, if someone did the same thing for obama and biden, heads would roll (no pun intended) and the homeowners would find themselves on the bad end of a hefty law suit...

It doesn't even have to be a mock up of Obama to incite the race card. All it has to be is an insinuation of Obama and is causes a shit storm.

Trust Me shit like this is only the beginning. If Obama gets in no one will ever be able to challenge his policies without being labeled a racist by the mad left.

[Captain America]

Real nice. That is class right there. And I agree with everybody who brought up the point that if this was a mannequin of Obama hanging from a tree there would be racist uproars and drivebys.

[Buttercup]

I have to say I was kind of surprised when, on this same news report, they showed a home in another area that had a white ghost figure with "Obama" written on it hanging from a tree but they just kind of glossed over it. Significantly more emphasis was placed on the Palin effigy.

[Bob Loblaw]

Significantly more emphasis was placed on the Palin effigy.

DANGED CONSERVATIVE ELITE MEDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ryan]

I somehow don't think they'd buy the idea that they were just hanging the white half of BO either.

[Willowdared]

Interesting.

Because an Obama effigy was hung from a tree at a small Oregon college campus back in September.

And, as Bcups mentioned, from a tree in front of a house in Ohio two weeks ago.

But I guess no one heard about it?

[TXCharlie]

Where's the Homeowners Association during all this?

There's never an "Ordinance Nazi" around when you need one.