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

[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.