Noosed Palin mannequin removed from front yard

Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:40 AM EDT

politics, palin, sarah-palin, effigy, chad-morrisette

WEST HOLLYWOOD — Amid a growing frenzy of protesters and media surrounding his home, Chad Morrisette decided his noosed Sarah Palin mannequin should be cut loose.

He and his partner had created the effigy of the GOP vice presidential hopeful three weeks ago and vowed to keep it outside their home until Halloween, despite widespread criticism from neighbors and local officials. On Wednesday the mayor convinced Morrisette the mannequin should come down.

"I explained to them that this could be dangerous to you and your neighbors," said Mayor Jeff Prang, noting that he received hundreds of venomous e-mails from people offended by the display. "They were totally unprepared for this kind of international attention, for the amount of impact on their home and their neighborhood."

Besides a constant flow of angry callers, the homeowners had received a visit from the Secret Service and criticism from a Los Angeles County supervisor who ordered an investigation into whether the effigy constitutes a hate crime.

Then, on Wednesday, neighbors covered up the Palin mannequin with sheets, and more protesters showed up later in the day accompanied by a man driving a vehicle adorned with an effigy labeled "Chad," with a noose around its neck, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

"This evening, it wasn't as friendly," he said.

Prang said he drove by after work and saw protesters and media around the home with helicopters overhead. Morrisette saw the mayor and waved him inside for a talk.

Afterward, the mannequin came down, but Morrisette kept the rest of his Halloween decor intact, including a display of Palin's running mate, John McCain, popping out of a flaming chimney.

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Public Discussion (11)

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9.8

4.1

{"commentId":3778796,"authorDomain":"StellaCa"}

StellaCa

I'm glad the likeness of Sarah Palin was taken down. But, boy, this took much too long.

Otherwise, I never thought this would give rise to a whole new meaning of, um, "hanging Chad."

"Then, on Wednesday, neighbors covered up the Palin mannequin with sheets, and more protesters showed up later in the day accompanied by a man driving a vehicle adorned with an effigy labeled "Chad," with a noose around its neck, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore."

{"commentId":3778796,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"StellaCa"}

5 votes

#1 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":3780835,"authorDomain":"rickace"}

rickace

"hanging Chad."

Stella -

LOL! An apt connection to previous election.

{"commentId":3780835,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"rickace"}

4 votes

#1.1 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":3783438,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

Stella--as always, you're making me laugh. But I'm with everyone else here who thought it was a thoroughly inappropriate Halloween gaffe, and it was taken down. :)

Funny (not ha-ha) how the effigy of McCain was not taken down. They should have had the decency of taking that display down, too.

{"commentId":3783438,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

#1.2 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:39 AM EDT

{"commentId":3780230,"authorDomain":"waynester"}

Waynester

Good.

{"commentId":3780230,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"waynester"}

4 votes

#2 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":3785191,"authorDomain":"juno"}

Juno Hera

Yep, good.

{"commentId":3785191,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"juno"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":3780513,"authorDomain":"mysticchick"}

Mystic Chick

Glad it's down.

{"commentId":3780513,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"mysticchick"}

5 votes

#3 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":3780843,"authorDomain":"waynester"}

Waynester

Wow Mystic, you're up early. Are you feeling better?

{"commentId":3780843,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"waynester"}

3 votes

#3.1 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":3781273,"authorDomain":"mysticchick"}

Mystic Chick

Not really! LOL

I have actually been up since 3 AM and have been on Newsvine (egads) since then.

I'm leaving to go to school in a few... Should be an interesting day.

I hope my seeds don't explode while I'm gone today...

{"commentId":3781273,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"mysticchick"}

3 votes

#3.2 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":3785367,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}

alkimija

Glad it's down too. It was in horrible taste. Actually, it went beyond that - to many people, it could be viewed as a death threat.

{"commentId":3785367,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"alkimija"}

1 vote

#4 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":3786293,"authorDomain":"waynester"}

Waynester

I heard that Keith Olbermann named the guy who put it up as a "worst person in the world." Good for him, he finally got one right at least. Good job, Keith. We now resume vehement disagreement, lol.

{"commentId":3786293,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"waynester"}

2 votes

#5 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":3787745,"authorDomain":"christhecanadian"}

Chris the Canadian

No noose is good news

{"commentId":3787745,"threadId":"403733","contentId":"2054779","authorDomain":"christhecanadian"}

3 votes

#6 - Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:40 PM EDT

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	Effigy of noosed Palin prompts visit from feds	Associated Press	Wed Oct 29	130
	West Hollywood Palin Effigy Comes Down	ktla.com	Thu Oct 30	3

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Noosed Palin mannequin removed from front yard

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