Ok, so this wasn’t what I was thinking of for my first post. However, when I ran into this, I couldn’t resist.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_hAqnWAQq8[/youtube]
Analysis time:
- This guy has either bought completely into the media illusion that Pres Obama is the second coming and is only opposed by a very few fringers, or he’s a life-long Democrat who’s reveling in a chance to take a shot at Republicans for “revenge” for the last 16 years. Heck, it could easily be both! Don’t try and pass that crap about “bringing the country together,” and don’t get me started about crying “racism,” one of the most overused (and improperly used to boot) words in the English language (see you at Halloween for your apple and toothbrush, MWS!).
- The protesters defacing the sign have a legitimate beef with the implied message of this sign, but they’re wrong to keep doing this. The reason the First Amendment exists is so we don’t exclude thoughts and expressions from the public just because some people might be offended (rightly, in this case). Going down that road leads to a stagnation of thought, and eventually no thinking at all.
- The city is embarrassed by the attention they’re drawing from this sign, and are scouring the lawbooks for any and every reason to “make it go away.” One foot too high?!?!? Only one sign per business?!?!?! Give me a break! If he were merely not in compliance, they’d fine him and be done with it.
Net result? The guy’s a jerk for putting the sign up and refusing to bring it down. It’s message is upsetting to many people, but that’s no excuse to deface private property, end of story.
Elections have consequences, folks. More of this kind of thing is on the way if the GOP doesn’t turn it around and start winning elections. They won’t start winning again unless they quit trying to throw each other overboard and start growing the appeal of the party. Want the sign to come down? Win elections.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Once again, Obama brings tears to my eyes…
Seriously, is there anything more arbitrary and capricious than local government attempting to look for obscure bits of local ordinances to enforce?
February 26th, 2009 at 9:53 am
While I personally find the sign to be in poor taste, this is the USA and we have a right to free speech. If this is the political message he wants to send, so be it. This does not mean that there are not consequences to this action. I personally will exercise my right not to agree to or support his position by not doing business with him.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Course the guy should be able to have his sign. I think he is mocking Obama. Didn’t you’all take it that way?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Glad to see you on the front page, Richard.
The guy’s a jerk, but being a jerk is perfectly legal.
Sign ordinances of that type are common in many cities (the rationale is to avoid clutter), and once his story hit the news the city would have little choice but to enforce it.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Liz, that’s the way I’m taking it too! I think he’s mocking!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Liz and ILGuy, read the attached article and/or watch the YouTube on this. The guy is for real. He’s going to too great of lengths to be doing this as a mockery. In fact, in one of the interview segments, he says the only way he’ll take this sign down is if Pres Obama himself asked him to take it down.
BobH, thank you! I’d guess it’s more embarrassment on the part of elected city leaders than anything. Situations like this are the kind that cause the greatest headaches for politicians, because it forces them to take a stand and piss off some of their constituents. Once that happens, election campaigns become harder work than they had to be. Hiding behind sign ordinances is a great way for them to make the claim “they’re just enforcing existing law.” While that may technically be true, it’s all about the political headache.