West Hollywood couple behind Sarah Palin effigy run afoul of EBay

Yes, the noose is still included.

For those who already have the Obama hope poster, the McCain maverick button and the Joe the Plumber T-shirt, there is one more kitsch -– though more controversial -– item for the comprehensive 2008 presidential campaign collection: the Sarah Palin effigy that caused a bit of an uproar outside one West Hollywood home and prompted Keith Olbermann to name the homeowner “Worst Person in the World.”

Chad Michael Morrisette, a professional window-display designer, and his partner, Mito Aviles, put the Palin mannequin up for auction on EBay last week, complete with red coat, beehive wig, glasses -- and with a noose still hanging around its neck.

The auction was supposed to end Tuesday -– Inauguration Day. But on Sunday night, EBay took down the posting.

The site did not give any specific reason but referred the couple to its policy on offensive material, which says, "Sellers may not list items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial or religious intolerance, or items that promote organizations with such views."

"And I think they were putting it in that category because of the history of lynching,” Morrisette said. “We think it was the noose in the picture that they deemed as glorified hatred,” Aviles wrote in an e-mail.

The item was relisted with a new picture of the mannequin sans noose, though the hanging accessory will still be included with the purchase. Morrisette worried that having to relist the auction, which will now end on Wednesday, might have lost some of the initial interest in the item.

Before it was removed Sunday, the auction page had more than 900 views, and 40 people were keeping track of it, he said.

The mannequin, which is listed for a starting price of $1,000, already has one bid. It comes with a cardboard John McCain that is about 4 feet tall. Morrisette and Aviles are trying to capitalize on the controversy that surrounded the Palin effigy for several days in October. The auction page reads: “PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE BIDDING ON THE FAMOUS SARAH PALIN HALLOWEEN DISPLAY MANNEQUIN. AS SEEN ON THE TODAY SHOW, INSIDE EDITION, THE VIEW, FOX NEWS, KEITH OLBERMAN, EVERY MAJOR NEWS NETWORK, AND READ ABOUT IN EVERY NEWSPAPER WORLDWIDE.”

-- Raja Abdulrahim

Photo: KTLA video

Comments

[Chris in Pasadena]

Misogyny lives, and from gay men no less. I am disappointing with my gay brothers for such a tasteless display, but I'm glad eBay did the right thing by removing the item. Can we stop beating up on women now?

[Al]

How pathetic. What moron would even give 5 cents for this piece of mindless trash. It seems ok to have an effigy of a hanged white female but would be judged a hate crime if it was any other race.

[History Chaser]

eBay and PayPal should be ashamed promoting activities that violate their own policies.

FROM PAYPAL's Website:
To determine what goods and services should be prohibited, PayPal carefully considers the following factors:
The promotion or glorification of hate, violence, or intolerance because of a person's race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation
Any graphic portrayal of violence or victims of violence
*Previous activity associated with the account holder *
Any transactions that involve financial exploitation of a crime

This is clearly a violation.

Go here for instructions on how to report:

http://sarah-palin-2012.blogspot.com/2009/01/offensive-ebay-auction-is-baaaaaack.html

[greg]

Why are these two allowed to get away with hanging Gov. Palin in effigy when 2 guys were put in jail for hanging obama in effigy? These two shouldn't be allowed to sell that thing on ebay.

[Jason C]

Democrats and liberals are such caring individuals. I love their openness to freedom of speech. When they disagree with someone, they crucifix them (aka hang them) or attack their place of business. Truly despicable when people take advantage of the system and do not display common decency.

[Drew]

I am gay, and these two guys embarrass me beyond no end. How can our community expect people to understand and accept us when this display of hatred is put forth for all to see? And anyways, these two guys can't be that great of designers; the mannequin is tacky and doesn't even look like Sarah Palin. The hair looks more like a wig you'd find on Bob Costas.

[Not a Laughin Cow]

I agree with Drew. I am so embarrassed too the way she was viliified. They must HATE her. How can anyone respect you when your HATE is so exposed. Grow-up and show some respect!!!

[Mark]

Democrat w/a partner? What do you expect. Part of the reason this great state has citizens fleeing to better areas of the country.

[Eric of Reseda]

Well, before we demonize Morrisette and Aviles, we should understand that there is a war in this country, and millions are suffering for it. Palin is all for war and sending thousands of young Americans to die in defense of Haliburton, Exxon-Mobil, Bechtel, etc., killing virtually any non-human species that gets in the way of her developer friends, ramping up greenhouse gases so that her polluter friends can make another dime, lying about and demonizing Obama, lying about and demonizing "big-city folk" in defense of the small-town, "real America". She comes from and governs the "Meth Capitol of Alaska" (in part, thanks to her daughters future mother-in-law), and on and on and on. Like a Limbaugh, she appeals to the lowest form of American, and thus foments violence and hatred, etc. So, yeah, I'm all for hanging her in effigy. It ain't the real thing, but it sends a strong message to those that want to tear this country apart.

[Jesus Hermosillo]

I wouldn't pay a penny for it since I could create Palin's effigy myself if I cared for one, which I don't. But seriously, folks, I don't understand what the big deal is. Effigies of political figures are extremely common throughout the world, from Mexico and Argentina to the Philippines to every country in Western Europe. They're not taken as expressions of actual intent to kill anyone. In the US, while being the only nation among these to still apply the death penalty (and a country with extremely liberal gun laws and one of the highest homicide rates), we're scandalized by the culture of effigies as political expression.

Chris in Pasadena: If it were misogyny, wouldn't Hillary Clinton have hanged in effigy long before Sarah Palin?

Greg: You say an irresponsible falsehood. Nobody went to jail for hanging Obama in effigy.

[Joe Meric]

So will Ebay permit the auction of a mannequin of "The One" with a noose accessory?

[Sean K]

To all of you whining about this guy and his 'hate crime against women', and wondering 'what would happen if the effigy was black?!' you might want to consider this tiny pertinent piece of information: We have an ugly history in this country of LYNCHING black people. With ROPES AND NOOSES. That's why it's horrible to invoke such images against blacks. We do not, however, have a history of LYNCHING WOMEN. To bring up whatever misguided and confused point you are trying to make is like saying we should never accuse black people of being witches or that its wrong to bring up the holocaust to a Mexican. Try thinking rationally in a straight line for a change instead of using your brain as a blender.

[Sean K]

Also, some of you rocket scientists seem to be confused about the word 'hate' and its use in context. For example, to say hating Sarah Palin constitutes a hate crime is childishly foolish. Hate crimes have nothing to do with 'hate' in the sense of personal animosity or feelings of ill will toward individuals or ideologies. The notion of 'hate' as used in the term 'hate crime' is specifically referring to a hatred based on a prejudice against a person for their religion, gender, race or sexual orientation (you'd think being gay, you'd understand what that meant... its not the same kind of 'hate' as when you 'hate' your mailman or your haircut, or Sarah Palin, for that matter). Its OK to hate things sometimes. Like hating intolerance. Or War. Or Warmongers.

[TD]

i think it's hilarious the way they want to profit from this. so American of them.

[Jennifer]

Glad to see that this listing was removed. It did promote hatred. Any woman, especially Sarah Palin, deserves better than this meanness.

[three's a company]

Why in the world would these two gay guys have a female nude mannequinn in their home? Is one of the guys clothing designer? Or is this manneguinn a partner?

[Melaine Samson]

I don't understand the big deal. It's satire, it's art and it's part of, now, local history. It was in no way meant to be taken literally. People need to get over it.

[OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin]

LOL it's "art" and "satire"? Would you say the same thing about the person who made a fake blood soaked effigy of Obama if they put it up on eBay?

Please.

[History Chaser]

It is not satire. It is not art.

Sarah Palin's victimization fits into three of the criteria for the object of a hate crime: gender, religion, and political affiliation.

The seller has listed again this AM.

330302076555

http://cgi.ebay.com/sarah-palin-mannequin-halloween-display-mccain-head_W0QQitemZ330302076555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330302076555&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Please object!!!

Thank you!!!

[Chad and Mito Are PATHETIC]

How would Chad and Mito feel if I hung two gay male mannequins on my house for attention and then tried to make a buck off it on EBay? I bet they wouldn't appreciate it as "kitsch." What a sickening pair they are.

[Sean K]

You really want to know what's ironic here? All you geniuses supporting Palin seem to be forgetting that her republican ilk are completely AGAINST HATE CRIME LAWS. They don't even want them on the books. And, again, to consider this a hate crime is just plain stupid. No one hung an effigy of her because she is a woman. No one hung an effigy of her because of her religion. And if someone did so because of her political affiliation, guess what? THAT'S NOT A HATE CRIME. If so, it would be a hate crime to to burn an effigy of a Nazi or a Klansman. If you hate someone because of their political views, THAT'S NOT EVEN PREJUDICE. It's as good a reason to hate someone as any. If you think someone's worldview is selfish, destructive and evil, then I don't see why you shouldn't hate them. According to your arbitrary and bizarre reasoning, hanging an effigy of Osama Bin Laden would also be a hate a crime.

[Sean K]

Also, Sarah Palin's alleged 'victimization' does fall into 3 categories: She is a victim of her own ignorance, a victim of her own selfishness and a victim of her own general stupidity. That's why she didn't help McCain's ticket any. If she tries to run for anything outside of Alaska in 2012 she's going to be made to look like an even bigger fool than she already does. But her tiny bastion of hardcore supporters won't care because they have about as much brains as she does.

[Helen]

Palin needs to be stopped now before she even gets started again. Please visit nailinpalinnow.blogspot.com to read about the many reasons why Palin is unfit to hold public office.

[Jon ROberts]

Just goes to show how disgustingly brainwashed and ignorant these people are. Those men were brave to stand up to whatever the hell sarah palin was, i mean damn she was almost as retarded as bush. See youve all been desensitized to the point where youll defend the people who are making you ill, weho are draining america of its lifeforce. Its the same over here, im so sick of complacence and ignorance. Wake up and smell the reams and reams of hypocrisy surrounding you.

This world's governments are screwing us over and i promise you all now theyll have us all tagged and watched 247 before i have grandkids if we dont stand up, educate ourselves and boot out the fatcat monetary monsters that are steering us into oblivion

[Terry]

Eric of Reseda said; "she appeals to the lowest form of American, and thus foments violence and hatred".

Sarah Palin appeals to the highest form of american. Proof? - She doesn't appeal to you, and your poisoned hatred and nihalistic illusions are about as low as America gets.