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

Comments

[richard Rahn]

no, absolutely not, until McCain and Palin are elected it's still a free country...

[smmiller]

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.

[frjimt]

One question:

How long would it take to bring it down if it were Obama hanging there?

The LA Times would lead the parade!

[Curmudgeon10]

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?

[Michael Griffith]

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

[Mary Ann]

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.

[Jecuis]

This is insane! If this were Obama it would be a hate crime!
Why the double standard?

[Teresa]

You should be embarrassed of yourselves. How would you feel if others had done this to Barack Obama?

[Jessica]

Hmm, what do you think people would do if that Palin "dummy" was a Barak "dummy".

[Wayne Day]

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?

[Bill Becker]

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.

[LILBIRDY]

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

[Martha Barrett]

Imagine if it was a depiction of Barack Obama hanging from a noose at a house in Alabama. What would the reaction would be?

[Jeremy]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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..................

[Frecklesmom]

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.

[Marilyn Powell]

Yes it needs to come down. No other coments. Just take it down

[Kay Griffith]

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.

[Michael T]

I wonder what the media at large would do if this was Obama instead of Palin?? hmmmm... Can you say hypocrisy??

[Susan]

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.

[Kelly Jo Blake]

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.

[Linda in Los Angeles]

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.

[Bob]

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.

[S E Sparks]

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.

[Guy Gillis]

Looks like hate to me.
What if that was obama?

[Tom Young]

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 .

[Gail B.]

Not a hate crime? Get real! You can bet your boots that if it was Obama hanging on that noose there would be a HUGE outcry because he's black. Come on Mr. Whitmore. TELL THEM TO TAKE IT DOWN!

[Paula]

This is an outrage! It most certainly is a hate crime. This is just further testimony of what pitiful shape America is in.

[shaquida johnson]

so if it was an obama likeness would that be a hate crime...or just a halloween display????

[sue]

If this had been aimed at Obama there would be a hue and cry from California to New York But the far left of your state is protected from anything like this.It is sickening.

[Doug Kinney]

Does this mean that if I hang Barak Obama in effigy, strictly as a Halloween decoration mind you, it's not a hate crime?

Come on, you got to be kidding!!

[Maas]

I think this is terrible!!! If this isn't considered a hate crime - what is? I'm glad I don't live nearby because I would NOT want my 5 year old grandson to see such a thing. It's one thing to show some display of support for a cause but this is ridiculous. What kind of action would be taken if this figure was Obama instead of Palin?? I'm sure it would have been ordered removed immediately.

[Sherri]

Nah. Leave it up. At least it's not a polar bear.

[rebecca]

I am writing this email in response to the Los Angelas Times story;

YES!!! I think this whole hate thing is going to far...
This Sarah Palin effigy is definately by means of a mean spirit. If they wanted
to put up something funny, there are a million ways to be funny. In my opinion,
this effigy shows a sign of political immaturity.

"What if one of Sarah Palins' family members happened to walk by and saw this?", "Did you even stop to think how that would affect her family too?" And,
"What about her children?"

In my opinion, this is simply stupid to do such a thing as to even think to put
up a mannequin like that...anyway, the depiction of it alone is by means from
a person with a sick mind, let alone to laugh at something so sick as that...it's
RIDICULOUS!!!!!!

Thank You for your time,

Rebecca

[Thomas McLain]

This may not be considered a hate crime but if the Halloween display with the rope was around the Obama character, it would be called a hate crime and the creater would be arrested immedately. Is there a double standard?

tmclain, Lenexa, KS

[Faye Francis]

Of course it's going to far and should be removed. This country is going insane with hatred.

[Karen G.]

Tasteless and ignorant. It should be taken down. What would the reaction be if that was an effigy of the Democratic Party's Presidential candidate?

[Tatiana]

Let's face it, if someone hung up such an effigy of Obama, everyone would be in an uproar to take it down (as they should be of course) and there would be no excuses about it being Halloween. It sounds like someone is using Halloween as an excuse to portray a really hateful message.

[S. Smith]

This is giving all kinds of ammo to conservative TV stations all over. In San Diego they play it at every newscast, giving strength to McCain-Palin. Since I know the intent is opposite, it should be removed. We want to get rid of the horrible politics of the Republican Party, not mimic the hateful tactics of skinheads and the people we despise.

[Bill]

I am a little confused here.
If hanging Sarah Palin is not a hate crime?
Why is a hate crime if Obama is the hanging person"
Maybe I got the wrong message.

B

[sdogger]

It's free speech. It might be in bad taste, but the government should not regulate non-criminal speech. Besides, McCain can't raise his arms up that high, so the effigy can't be him.

[Mike of Atlanta]

This is horrible. Take it down immediately. I am an Obama supporter. I voted early, so my mind is set. But that's a separate issue. This is a horrible display and an affront to anyone with faith in God.

[Shaina]

You have got to be kidding me. If this same thing were done with Mr. Obama as the mannequin hanging from a noose, there would be riots in the streets. Definately wouldn't even be a question if she were black. This is absolutly not appropriate.

[jo]

hate is bad enough but to hide hate behind holloween is cowardly,the idiot that decorated this house to show a hanging to suggest ms palin is being hung,should be locked up

[Marcy]

It seems to be poor taste and judgment on the part of the person displaying this. I know it's Halloween but I am not sure I would want youngsters seeing Palin on TV and then viewing this cruel display of someone's opinion in the neighborhood or the internet. Even if this weren't an effigy of Palin, I wouldn't want this kind of Halloween display in my neighborhood. It's a little too creepy. Leave the effigy hanging to the middle ages.

[castaway5555]

Yes, it should be removed ... because it resembles Palin. I'm a proud Democrat, a bone-headed liberal ... but any suggestion of lynching is detrimental to our character. I can't stand Palin - she'a a first-class threat to our nation; a pawn for the fascists. And McCain, poor man, is no better. But we need to be great in our views. Yes, I vote for replacing it with a scarecrow or a skeleton.

[FLYOVERCOUNTRY51]

Shame on this homeowner - shame on LA - shame on a news media for demonizing this woman so mercilessly-you may not like her or her beliefs but to trash her day in and day out - call her names that I would not even type here - SHAME ON ALL WHO THINK THIS IS CUTE behavior or deserved by Gov. Palin. It is sinister behavior and very dangerous.

[Native Californian]

Halloween or not, the display is not creepy, spooky, scary or even tacky -- it's blatant disrespect for a public figure meant to incite hatred, disgust and disapproval.

Lynching is a particularly heinous means of death, not typically associated with a fully-dressed pubic figure for Halloween. I say, take it down or risk being charged with inciting a riot or a hate crime or implying a threat. At the very least, a threat of violence is implied. As any child or teen in a public school classroom who would try drawing this on the chalkboard or even in his own notebook. Of course, that might be allowed, but what if we switched the "costume" and put Sen. Obama's wife Michelle's face on the mannequin?

Since it's in full view of a public street and sidewalk that makes it fair game for discussion, unlike what the resident does on the inside of his house.

[Laura]

I agree with the West Hollywood Mayor. A display that evokes violence against real people is not appropriate or acceptable. I don't like seeing displays that feature violence against Obama, and the same is true for the other party. I may not agree with the politics of McCain and Palin, but I don't need to see that.

[Pete C]

The question which needs to be asked is if it was an effigy of the democratic ticket would the response be the same? The term "Hate Crime" is utter nonsense, all crimes are crimes of hate, all americans are offered equal protection under the law.

[Susan]

While I am voting for Obama , this Halloween display IS a hate crime. It is completely unacceptable and I urge authorities to remove it.