Effigy of noosed Palin prompts visit from feds -- GOPUSA

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Effigy of noosed Palin prompts visit from feds
By AP STAFF
Associated Press
October 29, 2008

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Chad Morrisette never imagined his Halloween yard decorations would prompt interest from the Secret Service.

But apparently hanging a mannequin of GOP vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin from a noose isn't something to be ignored.

Agents recently visited Morrisette's home to see the display and have been trying to meet him to ensure no violent plots have been concocted, Deputy Special Agent in Charge Wayne Williams said Tuesday.

So far, he said, it seems to be a harmless -- though unusual -- display.

"We're not treating it as a threat," he told The Associated Press. "Halloween presents some interesting challenges for us with the masks and costumes."

Local officials aren't quite as accepting of the display, which also features Palin's running mate John McCain surrounded by fake flames coming out of the bungalow's chimney.

West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang has urged Morrisette to remove the mannequins, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich called for an investigation into whether the effigy constitutes a hate crime because it targeted the candidates based on their political affiliation.

"Had this stupid act been done to Senator (Barack) Obama, there would appropriately have been a national outcry," he said in a statement.

County Counsel Ray Fortner said he would discuss the matter with the district attorney and report back to Antonovich with a legal opinion.

Prang said Morrisette had the right to create the display, but "I strongly oppose political speech that references violence -- real or perceived. I urge these residents to take down their display and find more constructive ways to express their opinion."

Morrisette said he has no plans to take down the effigy before Halloween. He said he and his partner, Mito Aviles, created it about three weeks ago but didn't expect to cause such a stir.

"If it's a political statement, it's that (McCain's and Palin's) politics are scary to us," Morrisette told The Los Angeles Times. "This is our palette and this is our venue of expression."

Neighbors didn't mind at first, but the media's fascination with the display has neighbors concerned about negative coverage reflecting poorly on the neighborhood, they said.

"We don't want to make enemies with anyone," Aviles said. "This isn't what it was supposed to be about."

Law enforcement officials said the display is protected by the First Amendment and does not violate any city, state or federal laws.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department received at least 60 calls from around the country complaining about the effigy.