Billboard prompts racism allegations

[Occam Bandage]

A billboard in West Plains showing a caricature of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wearing a turban and using his middle name -- Hussein -- in quotes has sparked outrage and accusations of racism.

The sign, located south of West Plains on U.S. 63 across from the Dairy Queen, says: "Barack 'Hussein' Obama equals more abortions, same sex marriages, taxes, gun regulations."

Outrage over the sign triggered West Plains resident Becky Estes to write a letter in Monday's edition of the Daily Quill newspaper saying "such a tasteless display merely reinforces the wide-spread belief that Ozarkers are ignorant country bumpkins."

"People don't like it. They're embarrassed by that sign, ashamed by that sign, horrified by that sign and outraged by that sign," Estes told the News-Leader on Thursday.

Estes' letter sparked responses from locals and out-of-state former residents in Wednesday's newspaper. The person who created the sign remains anonymous.

"I can find nothing wrong with this sign/cartoon, which is truthful by Obama's own statements," wrote James E. (Jay) Gentry Jr. of Mountain Grove. "If this is upsetting to Ms. Estes, then she should do some hard thinking about what is forthcoming if he is elected."

I think John McCain needs to condemn this sort of behavior immediately.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20081010/NEWS06/810100354/1015

[GOPNotForMe]

1. Sambo grin and all. Fuck these racist redneck morons. Maybe they'll be run over by their tractors.

[Pyrzqxgl]

2. If that was an anti-McCain sign it wouldn't be up very long.

The Republicans are real good at sign vandalism. I think this one
is offensive enough that some one ought to have the stuff to take
it out.

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. I don't get that the "person who created the sign remains anonymous"

the actual artist might be anonymous but the owner of the land, the person who has ultimate decision over the sign, isn't anonymous.

[YOY]

4. "I vote 'ginst my own self intrists!"

H'yuk h'yuk h'yuk!!!

[blue sky at night]

5. wanna know something....

fuck them....I think all of the above is OK.

we need to keep abortion legal.

we need to raise taxes....how do you spell NINE TRILLION?????

we need to allow same sex marriages.

we need to regulate guns.