Halloween and Politics Don't Mix

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Halloween and Politics Don't Mix

Thursday, October 30, 2008

filed under: celebration logic

Simple McCain or Obama signs have given way to some scary displays.

Halloween is usually a scary time of year, but this is getting ridiculous. People desperate to voice their political views are using Halloween decorations to spread the message -- and it's freaking everyone out.

Yesterday we reported about the man from West Hollywood, California whose "art installation" of Sarah Palin swinging from a noose had his neighborhood and then the whole nation in an uproar. Chad Morrisette, the man responsible for the creepy display has since voluntarily removed the Palin doll.

Now another Halloween enthusiast has residents of Redondo Beach stirring up a cauldron of controversy. Lisa Castaneda, a John McCain supporter, put a mannequin in the likeness of Barack Obama, covered in fake blood with a meat cleaver through this neck and a sign that says "Nobama." Lisa Castaneda, mother of two young children defends her decorating choice and, according to reports, has no plans to take the display down. Calls to Castaneda were not returned.

Castaneda's neighborhood is divided on whether her effigy of Obama is within her rights of free speech. "I absolutely think it's deplorable," said a neighbor who supports Obama. "She's welcome to her political beliefs. Her McCain signs are fine." But neighbor Lloyd Stuck said he's OK with Castaneda's effigy. "I like it," he said. "She decorated the house. She didn't like Obama. That's her right."

Whoa. Wait a second. Isn't Halloween supposed to be a holiday for kids? It might be time for these adults to stop acting like children.

What do you think of these Halloween displays? Comment in the momlogic community.

24 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I think it is in bad taste. I do believe they have the right to do it though. This is America after all. I personally have a harder time with the decorations hanging themselves. My friend committed suicide by hanging her self and every time I see that I cringe and my heart skips a beat.

- Jennifer

Posted 10/30/08 04:15 PM

What are we teaching out children, that violence is funny. NOT!

- Kris

Posted 10/30/08 04:27 PM

Libs didn’t much like their own medicine huh? Its disgusting and racist when its against Mr. B.O. but when it was against Palin it was artistic huh? It shouldn’t be there anymore than the West Hollywood one should have been; its disgusting and childish in both cases and makes both groups look like childish ignorant jerks. They were both done in bad taste. Though ultimately it is free speach. Which applies to all and their opinons however brutishly they wish to display them. We can’t apply the rules only to ourselves and not to others right?

- Shaina

Posted 10/30/08 05:01 PM

“Libs didn’t much like their own medicine huh? Its disgusting and racist when its against Mr. B.O. but when it was against Palin it was artistic huh?” Now who’s sounding childish? I for one am not for “eye for an eye” philosophies. I thought both were tasteless, but so is so much else out there. While I respect everyone’s freedom of speech, I don’t think it should apply to inciting violence — a fine line that is being walked here, and I don’t like it.

- Patrick

Posted 10/30/08 05:23 PM

I too think she is childish and her comments are just plain immature but I don’t know any Democrats or Obama supporters that approved the Sarah Palin effigy, but I’m sure there were some a few that did. Either way, the McCain Palin campaign is so scary it doesn’t need anything to symbolize them…..just their campaigns and their agendas

- Claudia

Posted 10/30/08 05:25 PM

African americans have a sad and painful history to relate this with ..sometimes one thing can be funny and the other not.. everyone here knows the fine line..comes with history and education..

- Raji Rab

Posted 10/30/08 05:25 PM

What? Apparently hanging Palin effigy for weeks in Southern California was fine. But these same liberals cannot stand hanging Obama effigy for even a day. Do you see the problem here? Wake up America!

- danny

Posted 10/30/08 05:26 PM

It would be better for us all if both parties involved in creating effigies would just kill themselves.

- leplip

Posted 10/30/08 05:30 PM

which one is okay with you, danny? maybe they are different liberals.

- republicon

Posted 10/30/08 05:58 PM

The Palin effigy was removed. So stop whining. Republicans should stop and wonder why so many prominent Republicans have not endorsed McCain and one of the reasons is they don’t want this sort of racist extremism to reflect on them.

- Marie

Posted 10/30/08 06:02 PM

I think it’s wrong considering he’s an actual human, as opposed to a plain scarecrow or Halloween monster and it’s a sad example for her kids. And for the record I was equally disgusted by the Sarah Palin doll.

- Sherry

Posted 10/30/08 08:24 PM

NEITHER PARTY SHOULD BE DISPLAYED IN SUCH BAD TASTE, THIS IS DISCUSTING. WHY NOT, IF FOR HALLOWEEN MAKE THE CANDIDATES LOOK POSITIVE FOR FUN, NOT SCARY OR PUTTING THEM DOWN..SOME JUST DO NOT GET IT, DO THEY? THIS IS THE CRUTCH WE SEE IN OUR AMERICAN SOCIETY, AND IT IS SICK. TAKE THOSE UGLY DOLLS DOWN AND MAKE SOMETHING NICE IF ANY- THING AT ALL.

- Zoya Rennka

Posted 10/30/08 08:40 PM

“Libs didn’t much like their own medicine huh? Its disgusting and racist when its against Mr. B.O. but when it was against Palin it was artistic huh? ” “Apparently hanging Palin effigy for weeks in Southern California was fine. But these same liberals cannot stand hanging Obama effigy for even a day.” Which liberals are you talking about, exactly? Do you know anybody who has said to you, personally, that the first display was OK but the second wasn’t? I’m guessing no. More likely, most people are consistent on one of these opinions: 1. Both were in poor taste, but technically okay. 2. There oughta be a law (not a very free-speech opinion, but there’s always somebody.) 3. Eh, everybody ought to get over themselves. Very unlikely that anybody *actually* is being hypocritical here.

- Uly

Posted 10/30/08 08:58 PM

Free speech is free speech. What people need to understand is that after the elections, life goes on and if they want to alienate themselves from their neighbors by doing something extreme, it’s their choice. Honestly, put up an effigy of Obama swinging from a noose in your neighborhood! See how many friends you’ll make! Put up an effigy of McCain cover it in dog crap, you’ll be a hit with the kids. I think these displays are like using 4 letter expletives. You really don’t have anything good to say. I’m voting for Obama, I could care less about what people put in their yards.

- Me

Posted 10/30/08 10:15 PM

People like that should not be allowed to have children! Ten years from now when her children are having out of control problems, she’s going to be like, “I don’t know where I went wrong.” There is a problem with this display! If it is a Palin or Obama display, either way, there’s a PROBLEM if people are going around thinking this is okay. We are adults aren’t we!? How immature to say it was okay when it was a Palin doll. NO! It was NOT okay! This is why other countries are looking at us and laughing! Is revolting and embarrassing!!

- floored

Posted 10/31/08 02:59 AM

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- Anonymous

Posted 10/31/08 07:46 AM

Patrick, are you taking lessons from the politicians on how to listen, and taking snippets and running with them? Shaina said your first line, then: “It shouldn’t be there anymore than the West Hollywood one should have been; its disgusting and childish in both cases and makes both groups look like childish ignorant jerks. They were both done in bad taste.”

- Sharon

Posted 10/31/08 08:24 AM

Who cares? I don’t becasue after all one of the things about being an American is the privilege of freedom of speech! Don’t like it don’t look! It could just as well have been a McCain display and I would still not care! Halloween is about fun and not being serious and I think people have forgotten this! If anything needs to be lightened up its politics! People get way to heated and get way to emotional when in the long run your vote counts but will you actually be able to control who gets in? Nope!The majority rules! Again its freedom of speech and part of that is expressing ones self through art! Next thing you know people will be telling artist what they can and can not do! I hate socialist views and any restriction of ether art or speech is very socialist if not verging on being communist! The people who are offended and want to restrict what people can do should move to Russia they’d fit right in! I don’t always approve of things i see, read or hear but I’m not going to restrict someones right to expression! Whether I like it or not! It really to me doesn’t matter if its bad taste! Its freedom of speech! Go freedoms! I like being an American and being able to express myself in ways that other countries would restrict! The Halloween art displays with politics mixed in are ok in my book! In fact any real American should be ok with it! Otherwise they are against the basic freedoms we get as Americans! As an American I can say that and if you don’t like it? Get over it!

- Becca

Posted 10/31/08 11:09 AM

there is nothing funny about this at all. We all have the right to believe what we want but have some respect for those who believe different than you and have some respect for yourself. these kinds of things are so low class and not respectable at all.

- megan

Posted 10/31/08 01:09 PM

Pretty freaky, and pitiful. These people need to get: 1) a life 2) way more creative

- New Yorker

Posted 10/31/08 03:16 PM