Ugly Greetings in Golden Valley.... (defacing Kerry signs)

[Joanne98]

Doug Grow: Ugly greetings in Golden Valley
Doug Grow, Star Tribune
September 23, 2004 GROW0923


Theft and defacing of lawn signs has become a standard part of American politics.

But this juvenile behavior took an ugly turn in Golden Valley in recent weeks when at least 17 families with lawn signs supporting John Kerry received hate-filled diatribes that were inserted in greeting cards.

The mailings were addressed to "Doltocrat." In the envelopes, recipients found greeting cards with perky messages ranging from "Happy Rosh Hashanah" to "Get Well Soon." When the cards were opened, three pages of typewritten hate oozed out.

"You have committed yourself to supporting Kerry as evidenced by your subversive and immorally-suggestive Kerry lawn sign display ... and it will be practically impossible for you to back out and retract it now. ..."

And on and on. The mailings included praise for Hitler. Attacks on gays and Jewish people and "not-so-Christian" churches. Attacks on Kerry. Praise for President Bush.

http://24hour.startribune.com/login/?goto=http://www.startribune.com/stories/465/4995477.html

It's a subscription (free) sorry... It's a good story though.

[rfranklin]

1. Well, that's the typical mindset of a Bush supporter...

It's surprising that they didn't eviscerate some pet cats while they were at it.

[Joanne98]

7. HAHAHAHAHAHA........

The Freeps think the dems did it to themselves.......

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1225271/posts#comment?q=1

[Joanne98]

2. Here's more

Still, the fact that the creator of this material had taken the time to drive through Golden Valley neighborhoods to locate signs and to gather addresses and then had gone to the effort of mailing this stuff gave reasonable people the creeps.

It also made them angry.

Glen Amundson's reaction to the letter he and his spouse received typified the attitude of most recipients. Amundson, who is 80 and a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, saw the indirect threats in the letter as a challenge.

"The letter was disgusting and cowardly," he said.

He'd had only a small sign in his yard. After receiving the mailing, he sought huge signs to replace it.

"I tried to get a 4-by-8 sign, but I couldn't get one that big," he said. "So I got two 3-by-6 signs."

Others were angry, too. But they also were troubled.

We live in a time when crazed people must be taken seriously.

Police and postal authorities were contacted. But the purveyor of this stuff apparently was clever enough to stay out of legal trouble.

Start with the yard: Stealing or defacing a lawn sign is a gross misdemeanor in Golden Valley and many other communities. But in this case, no signs were stolen or defaced.

[Cha]

4. This is what happens when you make people

mad!

"He'd had only a small sign in his yard. After receiving the mailing, he sought huge signs to replace it."
:toast:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

20. Ooooh-raaaaah! Go Marine, go!

[Joanne98]

8. I like this guy.........

"The letter was disgusting and cowardly," he said.

He'd had only a small sign in his yard. After receiving the mailing, he sought huge signs to replace it.

"I tried to get a 4-by-8 sign, but I couldn't get one that big," he said. "So I got two 3-by-6 signs."


He went out an got huge signs. He's 80 years old too. GOOD FOR HIM! God Bless his heart.

[Kierkegaard]

3. Sounds about right.

A day in the life of a busy fascist. Ambitious little bastards, aren't they?

[Zero Gravitas]

5. Freepers

The mailings included praise for Hitler. Attacks on gays and Jewish people and "not-so-Christian" churches. Attacks on Kerry. Praise for President Bush.

Enough said.

[tech3149]

6. I still say cover the sign in poison ivy/oak oils

Let them suffer the consequences of their actions. That's the cheapest and most effective solution.

[LunaSea]

9. Thats quite devilish...

and much less complicated than my electrified Kerry sign.

[Joanne98]

11. Where do you get poison ivy/ oak oils? Do you have a link?

[Lindacooks]

17. Found this on the web:

Wear gloves to pick the poison ivy. Grind leaves to make them release oils(use a hammer and aluminum foil). Then, using q-tip or a paper towel (wear gloves!), smear over object.

[Joanne98]

18. Thanx Lindacooks...

Now to find some poison ivy.. I bet you could even sell it to pissed off people. What a good idea!!!!!

[Joanne98]

10. The local Republicans had to denounce it........

"Whoever did this took time and effort," said Bob Hernz, diretor of public safety in Golden Valley. "We take this seriously. But there's no clear violation of law here. This is one of those free-speech issues that slips between the cracks. What we do want people to know is that it does not reflect our community."

The Jewish Community Relations Council, which monitors hate groups, struggled with how to respond.

The mailings were clearly hateful, and some recipients talked about feeling as if their homes had been "invaded."

But Stephen Silberfarb, executive director of the council, said his organization feared that responding to the mailings might only gratify the sender.

On Tuesday, the council decided to respond to the Golden Valley mailings by calling on "leaders of the DFL and GOP parties and all Minnesotans of goodwill to come together ... to condemn this attempt to stifle free speech and intimidate citizens. We all lose when political intimidation goes unanswered."

Republican and DFL leaders were quick to respond with statements deploring the mailings.

LIKE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO DID IT.........

[Joanne98]

12. Let's thank the journalist.

[e-mail] <[e-mail]>

We need more like him.

Here's my e-mail.....

Great story. The THUGS are doing this all over the country. thankyou for telling the truth.

[Not Me]

13. It gets uglier than that...

I went to see K/E the other day in Orlando, and while in the TD Waterhouse Centre, my car (parked in the lot) was keyed up. $850 in damage; the key job was done so hard that it not only removed the paint, but dented the rear quarter panel.

Fucking freepers.
This will only make Nov 3rd (which happens to be my b-day) sweeter.

[Joanne98]

15. Oh Bummer. You know what? If they don't stop keying cars.........

They're going to get it given right back to them. Two can play that game. I'd like to set them up with a BAIT car.

[AndyTiedye]

19. Put Some Cheap Webcams in the Bait Car...

or in another car parked next to it (with no stickers)
so you can catch them in the act on video.

[Carolab]

25. No, even better...

Get some extra Kerry/Edwards stickers and PASTE THEM OVER THE BUSH-CHENEY stickers, and then key the car yourself!! BWHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Carolab]

14. OK I'm pissed

I posted this yesterday and it got moved by the moderators becuz it was "not late breaking news". (Moderators: Please e a bit more careful in screening, thank you.)

Anyway, as a resident of the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, I am sickened by these Repuke tactics. But even more disgusting is that we are not seeing coverage of this on our local TV news channel. I am contacting them right now to complain.

[Joanne98]

16. Put the e-mail up here and I'll help you.......

:)

[Carolab]

21. The StarTribune

it was reported in our alternative newspaper, the City Pages, in last requested its editorial staff not to display Kerry signs or bumperstickers--even on their OWN lawns--at the risk of not appearing "objective". This met with great objection, and the staff refused. The reason this happened was that a bunch of RW nutjobs decided that the polls showing Kerry ahead in Minnesota were "slanted" in his favor (many of you may remember this uproar last week)...of course, if they showed Bush ahead, no problem. I am sure that the StarTribune received threats from advertisers to withdraw their support over this. It is this kind of blatant blackmail that is going to finally destroy freedom of the press in this country. That's why ALL journalism should be supported by SUBSCRIPTION, as is The Nation.

[Joanne98]

23. Here's the journalist at the Star Tribune who wrote the article

[e-mail] >

But I think he's on your side. He wasn't nice to the right. Maybe he'll write you back since your a local...Try it...

[Carolab]

24. Thanks,

I will.

BTW, can't find the e-mail right now. It got moved somewhere else on the forum yesterday, oh well...

[truthisfreedom]

22. ooh, that'll really help bush. deep-thinkers, huh? somebody has waaaaay

too much time on their hands... perhaps a little counseling is in order? or did we forget to take our pill?

[Guaranteed]

26. Courtesy of the Nazis for Bush organization!

Thanks for your input, guys!