An effigy of Obama was hung on the University of Kentucky campus. Outrage ensued.
Here are some editorialized excerpts from the Lexington Herald-Leader article (all emphasis and comments obviously mine):
Hundreds of students and several Democratic officials expressed outrage and embarrassment Wednesday after an effigy of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree early Wednesday on the University of
Kentucky campus.
The racist act was emphatically rejected by hundreds of students and community leaders attending a quickly-called campus forum to discuss racial issues Wednesday evening. [Racism is the albatross of the US, I think, but I also think we're far too quick to throw the epithet of 'racist' at someone. Of course this act was asinine, but to assume it is fundamentally racist and not ideological (or political) is, I believe, indicative of how 'stuck' we are in the process of moving on.]
"Our time at this university is too short to sit idly by and allow these things to continue," said Tyler Montell, president of UK's student government association. "This is not a concern of any single race. Today, every student is a victim. Every member of our student body must now become part of a greater change."
Meanwhile, UK police and the Secret Service are asking for the public's help in finding who hung the effigy — which wore an Obama mask and had a noose around its neck — in a tree near the Rose Street parking garage... [The feds are in it. I wonder what would have happened if he had been impaled or decapitated? Does a different 'death' make it less racist? Are lynchings the only racist murder?]
Democrats from Gov. Steve Beshear to Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry decried the effigy on Wednesday and apologized to Obama. [Are you kidding me? Apologizing?]
"This was not political speech," Beshear said. "It was simply hate. It was profoundly wrong and deeply offensive. This incident does not reflect who we are as a flagship institution of higher learning or a Commonwealth." [Welcome to Kentucky. And check out Palin as President]
Newberry released a letter late Wednesday addressed to Obama that apologized on behalf of the citizens of Lexington for the act.
"I apologize to you, your family and your supporters," Newberry wrote in the letter... [Dear Mr. Obama: I am so sorry. I'm a big fan of yours. Please don't take me off your Xmas letter mailing list, sir, please, I beg you. It was the hillbillies, I swear! I think you're hot. Love, Jim Newberry]
.. [Someobdy with a stupid job title] pointed to a recent Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll in which 12 percent of respondents said they are less likely to vote for Obama because he would be the first black president. Only five percent said Obama's skin color made them more likely to vote for him while 83 percent said Obama's race didn't affect their vote... [So white people are 7% more racist than black people. With a margin of error of +/- 3, that's pretty balanced...]
[UK President] Todd pledged to find the culprit in a written e-mail he sent to the campus just after noon.
"Such acts will not be tolerated. Those found responsible will be subject to the full force of university, state, and federal rules and regulations," Todd said.... [The full force of the university: We will cancel all of your CAFETERIA CREDIT! That's right, you racist fucktard: no food for you! You know what else? We'll schedule you to have all the 8 AM classes for the rest of your college life! Muahahahaha! Do you see what happens when you mess with intellectual freedom?]
Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service, confirmed that the federal agency charged with protecting presidents and presidential candidates had been notified and were working with UK police to determine who was responsible.
"We take any threat against any of our protectees very seriously," Donovan said. [Remember this line and keep reading...]
In West Hollywood, Calif., authorities on Wednesday were looking into a Halloween display depicting a mannequin of GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging from a noose. The display also displayed her running mate, John McCain, surrounded by fake flames. [Now read this article about the 'Halloween fun' and 'art' in Hollywood.]
