Sarah Palin effigy: a Halloween trick gone too far?
A West Hollywood home is making news this Halloween season for displaying a mannequin dressed as vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging by a noose.
According to The Times' story, the Palin effigy "does not rise to the level of a hate crime because it was a 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...."
Do you think the Halloween display constitutes a hate crime? Should the homeowner be forced to remove it? Or is it just all in good fun?
Update: KTLA has this news report about the effigy with some pretty funny and interesting interviews from the neighbors in West Hollywood:
Photo: Ric Francis / Associated Press
no, absolutely not, until McCain and Palin are elected it's still a free country...
Posted by: richard Rahn | October 27, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Yes . I feel like slapping the home-owner across the face. How disgraceful on the American people. I hope they get punished for pulling this publicity stunt.
OBAMA in office = 4 GOD-AWFUL YEARS OF PAIN.
Posted by: smmiller | October 27, 2008 at 05:48 PM
One question:
How long would it take to bring it down if it were Obama hanging there?
The LA Times would lead the parade!
Posted by: frjimt | October 27, 2008 at 05:55 PM
So let me get this straight...if I lived in West Hollywood, and I put an effigy of Barack Obama in a noose, hanging from the eaves of my house, it would be OK?
Posted by: Curmudgeon10 | October 27, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Yes it should be taken down, it is a hate crime. What if someone did that to obama? I bet that the police would have them take it down now
Posted by: Michael Griffith | October 27, 2008 at 05:58 PM
You know whether you like Palin or not, it is a matter of respect. People just need to behave. Put yourself in someone elses shoes. Would you want someone to talk about your children or your mother that way? Grow up.
Posted by: Mary Ann | October 27, 2008 at 05:58 PM
This is insane! If this were Obama it would be a hate crime!
Why the double standard?
Posted by: Jecuis | October 27, 2008 at 06:00 PM
You should be embarrassed of yourselves. How would you feel if others had done this to Barack Obama?
Posted by: Teresa | October 27, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Hmm, what do you think people would do if that Palin "dummy" was a Barak "dummy".
Posted by: Jessica | October 27, 2008 at 06:02 PM
If this was Obama hanging instead, the press would have no doubts about it being a "hate crime."
If wanting to hang someone because of their politics isn't hate, what is it?
Posted by: Wayne Day | October 27, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Yes, of course I think it should be removed, but in accordance with the First Amendment, voluntarily by the creator. No one with any sense at all will display political materials that express or depict violence. And please don't try to con me by saying it's not a political statement. I assume the creator of this obscenity is a liberal; if so, we don't need his type.
Posted by: Bill Becker | October 27, 2008 at 06:03 PM
HELL YEA IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN. IF IT WAS OF OBAMA THERE WOULD BE HELL TO PAY. AND YEA I WOULD BE UPSET ABOUT IT TOO. BUT IT REALLY MAKES ME MAD THAT THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD WITH PALIN. IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM
Posted by: LILBIRDY | October 27, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Imagine if it was a depiction of Barack Obama hanging from a noose at a house in Alabama. What would the reaction would be?
Posted by: Martha Barrett | October 27, 2008 at 06:06 PM
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the media will play it off as it was nothing.."if" somone did this to obama the country would be outraged and there would be riots in the streets..Just another prime example of doubble standards in america.and if your not offended by this then..................
Posted by: Jeremy | October 27, 2008 at 06:06 PM
This is as much of a hate crime as the hanged effigy of Obama was. It's tacky, stupid and should be removed. The guy who did that is an idiot. And I am a HUGE Obama supporter.
Posted by: Frecklesmom | October 27, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Yes it needs to come down. No other coments. Just take it down
Posted by: Marilyn Powell | October 27, 2008 at 06:09 PM
If it were an effigy of Barrack Obama would you have to ask people what should be done? Don't think so, would already have been taken down. If it represented Obama that would be A HATE CRIME....BIG TIME.
Posted by: Kay Griffith | October 27, 2008 at 06:12 PM
I wonder what the media at large would do if this was Obama instead of Palin?? hmmmm... Can you say hypocrisy??
Posted by: Michael T | October 27, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Not a hate crime? Are you kidding? If this was an effigy of Barrack Obama, I am sure it would be considered a hate crime. This is ludicrous. This gentleman just shows what a liberal hell hole West Hollywood and the whole LA area has become. I thank God I got my family out of there. Between the liberals and the illegals, it is no place for families or obviously, any values.
Posted by: Susan | October 27, 2008 at 06:14 PM
The fact that we are even questioning whether this is right or wrong is ridiculous. Yes, it is a hate crime and it is so much more than that. It is proof that some of the people in our society are heading down an extremely dangerous road.
Perhaps someone who found this humorous could explain to me what the difference is between the death threats made today to Barack Obama and the image of Sarah Palin hanging?
And one last note, Chad-Michael Morisette - get some class.
Posted by: Kelly Jo Blake | October 27, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I believe this to be in bad taste. Anytime you say or do something against/negative towards another human being, you are putting another nail in the coffin of lack of maturity, respect, tolerance, compassion, love for humanity. You are saying to others that it is okay to say/do such things. You are tearing humanity down, instead of building up. You are part of the problem, instead of the solution. It shows lack of compassion, care, concern and love for others. It doesn't even cut it anymore to ask "how would you like to be treated this way?", because most people just don't care one way or the other anymore. It is truly a sad commentary for this country.
Posted by: Linda in Los Angeles | October 27, 2008 at 06:18 PM
A noose on a dorm door and the Media goes cracy.
A noose on a magazine and the Media goes cracy.
A noose around the neck of Sara Palin in effigy is ho hum.
Something badly wrong with the Media in this country.
Posted by: Bob | October 27, 2008 at 06:18 PM
The display should be removed. If it was against Obama then racist remarks would be flying everywhere. It was done in bad taste and could start riots or heaven forbid death, then who would be responsible. This is an election that each person should think about completely and not just for the 5 minutes that one hears in a speech that pretains to them. Your vote is confidential, unless you tell it, and each of us should be proud that we live in a country where we have the right and freedom to cast a vote without the threat of death.
Posted by: S E Sparks | October 27, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Looks like hate to me.
What if that was obama?
Posted by: Guy Gillis | October 27, 2008 at 06:22 PM
I'm sure we will not hear a word about this from the far left media. Can you imagine if this was your precious Obama you socialist would be crying bloody murder. If you get Obama you in the whiite house it'll be your money going to all the free loaders. The markets are collapsing in anticipation of your beloved leader winning .
Posted by: Tom Young | October 27, 2008 at 06:24 PM