Man who created Sarah Palin effigy speaks out

The Times' Raja Abdulrahim just talked to the man behind the Sarah Palin effigy in West Hollywood. He defends his Halloween decoration and says people are taking it too seriously:

ChadMichael Morrisette and his partner, Mito Aviles, both 28, said they installed the Palin display at their house in the 1200 block of North Orange Grove Avenue about three weeks ago. They said they decided to put up something that was politically relevant because Halloween was only four days away from the presidential election. "If it's a political statement, it's that their politics is scary to us," Morrisette said of the John McCain-Palin campaign. "This is our palette and this is our venue of expression." At first, most of their neighbors either chuckled or applauded the display, Morrisette and Aviles said. But since the display has drawn more media attention in recent days, some residents have become concerned that negative media coverage may cast their neighborhood in a bad light, they said. "We don't want to make enemies with anyone," Aviles said. "This isn't what it was supposed to be about." But Morrisette, who has talked with several reporters about the display and has another interview scheduled this afternoon with the "Today" show, said he had no plans to take down the display until after Halloween. Morrisette said city officials and police had not contacted him about the display.

But it seems most outsiders want it taken down. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann says, "This is not in the spirit of Halloween. It's in the spirit of violence."

--Shelby Grad

Comments

[Gabrielle E.]

If this had been an Obama effegy, the NAACP would be marching around the neighborhood, they'd be recieving hate mail from democrats, the media would hace investigated them, the secret service would have been called, their house would have been bombed, the men responsible for the effergy tarred and feathered and in the end everybody would blame it on John McCain and Sara Palin.

[Alec]

Explaining Socialism- for those of you who don't understand what "spreading the wealth around" means.

It's Halloween and you go out with your friends and trick-or-treat for hours- knocking on doors in the dark and the cold, collecting all your candy goodies.

When you get home, cold, tired and hungry you begin to sort through your hard earned Halloween treats and then- "THEY" step in and say "Stop! You must give US half of your candy (since you have SO MUCH)- so that WE can give it to the children who were too lazy to buy or make a Halloween costume and exert the effort to go out into the dark and cold- to get THEIR SHARE."

THAT, People, is what Socialism is about.

McCain-Palin 2008
Don't let the media, polls, pundits or long lines discourage you!
VOTE McCain Palin 2008!

[D. Tucker]

I think the effigy of Sarah Palin hanging from a noose shows just how low this country has gone! If that was Obama, the ACLU would be involved and would say it was racist. It should come down, after all she is running for the office of VP of the US.

It is time to get America back!

[Alec]

Disgusting.

[D. Tucker]

A newspaper is only supposed to give news and what is happening. They ARE NOT to be biased for any candidate running for office. Just to report the news and let us the people decide who we want to vote for. You are overstepping your bounds.

[Cheryl Eilertsen]

I find the Palin effigy offensive. If it had been privately displayed or in the alternative press that would be different. But on public display - no.

[Russell4America]

I don't care for it, but I do care for the free speech being exercised here. This is the United States, and we allow free speech (whether we like what is being said or not). Should we all start whining about Bill O'Reilly and demand he be taken down?

[Richard Borden]

Hallelujah, someone finally struck a nerve in the republican base. And for Keith Oldermann, he obviously doesn't believe in the first amendment,maybe he's a communist. Then again who gives a damn about what he thinks. But, it's ok that he exercised his first amendment right because, now the world knows where he stands on the freedom of expression.

I really hope the LAT has the courage to print this comment. Thanks for defending our first amendment right.

[jason kin]

can she see russia from up there?

[mary]

Why is there so much hate for this woman? That display is just stupid and serves no purpose. I believe it gives the wrong message -that it's okay to hate and that violence is acceptable. Well, one can hate someone if he wants, but violence is NOT acceptable.

[Spud Raleigh]

I am going to create an Obama doll and hang it outside my house along with a Biden vampire with blood dripping from his mouth and razor sharp teeth. That will be cool and only harmless fun!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Whatever....GO OBAMA!!!! Wooo hoooo!!

[psmith]

Just a question....
What is the difference between these people and the two guys from Tennessee who were talking about shooting Obama?

[biggwun]

Not that i am voting for the redneck lady anyway, but i would rather she wear the clothing she wears in her job she does in alaska, and im sure the people that live in her community would also like to see the REAL sara playin (palin)

[RWS]

I see her riding a moose.

[Jametria]

Not to say who i am or am not voting for, but speaking from a Sociologist's prospective... I don't actually like the the way that he has displayed this, because children learn through socialization, they will definately get the wrong idea/message from this display. Although, these people should have the freedom to express their thoughts and feelings, we should always have the thought "what are we teaching our younger generation?" in mind. America should be on the uprise and not thinking negatively about everything. Let's move on people... It's TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!