It seems rather than discuss the actual problem, McCain supporters would rather keep up the attacks/smears on Barack Obama. I can't say I blame them at this point; that's all they've got left, having bet on a losing horse. I know it's difficult to admit when you're wrong, but this is just sad. Similar to the 25%'ers, those who hold onto the Bush dream, the McCain/Palin camp will always have believers who will staunchly deny any wrongdoing by this campaign even as it digs deeper and deeper into the pits of a place McCain swore he'd never go. The final referendum will come in November, though, and I'm sure there will be no shortage of controversy then, either. The GOP will not go quietly into the night, scratching and kicking until the last recount is complete.

The proud racism shown in this photograph is nothing new to those it is aimed at, nor is the consistent denial of those that it comes from. The game goes on and on...

We don't know who put that up or why. That sign could just as readily have been put up by an Obama supporter, since the POV articulated on that sign is a summation of many of the views any of us can read online. That McCain supporters are racists. Racism is an evil that infects the entire world, and is not limited to just the US white population. But before the self-righteous clucking starts, I think we should pause and consider who put that up and why they did it. The sign is inappropriate, regardless of who put it up. It is just inappropriate for different reasons.

Oh puleeze Ray! I know who put up the sign. The people who live in the house. The same people who hung a "We Love Sarah" sign on a home made cross and added that decoration to the yard. I was there Ray. I shot the picture. The sign belongs to the bigot in residence. Likely know the scholar who, just down the road, stuck on a pole, “Vote McCain not Osama or Hussein”.

There you have the problem. As you'll see in many of these threads, denial of racism fuels it's existence. Rather than simply acknowledge and discuss the matter, so many Americans would rather try to deny it or shift the blame for it elsewhere. As long as this continues, racism will continue to be passed on.

Ray, I would ask you, honestly, if you truly believe in your heart that this sign was put up by anyone but a person with bigotry and hatred in their soul? I don't think you believe what you typed here today, I think it's just easier to deny the existence of racism than to talk about the tough issues. I'll admit, it is an awkward matter to discuss for some, but this goes beyond Obama/McCain. It's about the country you live in. Minorities are just as much a part of this country as caucasians, for better and for worse. They are the working class, the rich, the poor, the old and the young, they make up a part of every class of people in this nation. They fight for the country, they are policemen, firefighters, I mean what more do they have to do? What we should all be doing is ostracizing bigots instead of letting people like you hide them.

When you have a bad cop out there, we all know that it hurts the reputation of every good cop. Good ones need to speak up and purge the ranks, get them out in the open and deal with them. Same applies here - hiding them and denying there existence only hurts us all.

Like many of you, I know hundreds of supporters of both Obama and McCain (I'm a reluctant supporter of the latter) and can honestly say that not one person I know would find this sign to be funny. And not even like funny between two old white friends who have known each other for many years and would share a giggle and wink at each other about it. It's flat out disgusting. Unfortunately, in a nation of 300 million people there will always be crazies among us. Fortunately, these numbers are relatively low, which ensures a peaceful transition of power.

That said, equally disgusting is the insinuation by some on the left (including people like James Carville and prominent columnists) that if Obama does not win there will be race riots. The din of Rodricks voice has consistently reminded us during this election of bias on the extreme right and whack-job white racists. However, his voice has gone silent when pointing out left wing whack job racists.

there's only one way to deal with this type of ignorance and racism - shine a light on it, like Richard Trumka, and vote for Obama. and it's not a matter of "self-righteous clucking." it's calling attention to attitudes that persist and should be changed through positive action - like voting for Obama.

Dan, while I believe racism is real and a problem for each of us in this country, that picture you put up is clearly a hoax. Please look closly at the McCain poster in the background. You can see the tree clearly through the poster meaning it is probably photoshoped. Secondly it has nothing visably keeping it on the ground (ties, posts, etc.) This race is divisive enough please take this picture down or take it to an editor to have that McCain poster taken out. If you don't believe me ask someone in your office who knows about this technology and if they say its legit then stand by it. But again, my belief is this is a hoax.

DR: Sorry, it's not a hoax. It's the real thing. It says a lot about your attitude -- that you want to believe this is a hoax. I have known Kurt Kolaja for 28 years and he's not a hoax, either. Besides, if you read the blog entry carefully you will see that someone else in the area already commented about this sign to the Erie paper's web site. It's the same side because Kolaja provided the address -- Mickle Hill Road in Warren County.

I have no doubt that the wooden sign is real and legit. That McCain poster is not staying on the ground without being staked in. Those signs usually have a ground clearance of about a foot. Again, how do you explain that I can see the extention of the evergreens branches through the sign in the upper left corner? Those signs usually come from party headquarters and are given to volunteers, if anyone in the GOP in PA saw that sign next to a McCain sign they would ask that the person take down the McCain sign.

After reading your blog entry carefully I went to the link with the link to the Erie paper and read that...carefully. I noticed it said bevy of McCain posters. I then went to my dictionary and carefully, looked up the word "bevy". It means more than one. Unlike your doctored photograph above that depicts one sign. Pointed in one direction which campaign signs almost never are because they want both sides of traffic to see it. But if you stand by your story you stand by it.

DR: What state do you live in? Denial?

Joe you're no Columbo and I'm no liar.
The picture an untouched original. Don't mess with me on this.

I am not calling you a liar that would be slander and since was in print libel. I think you are putting up a doctored picture unknowingly. If that poster is legit then the person who is doing it is an abhorent racist who I would want no association with. I think it is truly awful that someone who feels as that person does can smear a candidate who I personally respect and admire.

Joe, for the last time, I shot the picture.
It's authentic.
Deal with it.

While these signs do depict a percentage of the voters coming out for the Republican party (maybe as much as 5%), I would hope that you and your readers remember that there are some of us on the right who vote that way because we do believe in the ideas of limited government, strong national defense, and personal responsibilty and that we are all not vehement racists. Good luck in the election. What do you say next time we just try having a discussion about our ideals and try not insulting one another?

Dan/Kurt,

You can't argue with irrational people.

Joe, keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

MCG - actually what I am doing would more accurately be called rationalizing (trying to make what is illogical, logical) what this clearly irrational person did by putting those signs on the lawn. The Sun people looked into said its legit so there it is. I thank them for taking the time to do so. The only thing that messages like the photos project is move more undecided and independents to vote Democrat. It is idiotic to go down this road and if the McCain/Palin continue to let it go unchecked it degrades all of us on the right and is beneath the man at the top of this ticket.

"I would hope that you and your readers remember that there are some of us on the right who vote that way because we do believe in the ideas of limited government, strong national defense, and personal responsibility"

Joe, then those would be three things that you do not have in common with our current, Republican administration. Why do you want 4 more years of it?

Joe,

Maybe before jumping to conclusions, you should try trust. Or glasses. I found that insulting.

You know...... there are folks around here who would be happy to point out the "veiled" racism that was present in the old "Mayor Schmoke Makes Us Proud" bumper stickers, incorporating the colors appropriated by the "black pride" movement.......

I do not deny for a second that there are racists out there who are lobbying against Obama because of the perceived color of his skin. I will be willing to wager, however, that there are far more people voting FOR Obama primarily because of the perceived color of his skin. I ask you: Why is the latter OK, but the former not? Either way, it's judging a man by the color of his skin and not the content of his character.

Alexander, I hear this argument used quite a bit and each time I ask the same question in response; if Obama's African-American support is solely due to his race, why is it that for a majority of the democratic primary, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, enjoyed the lead in that demographic? You can do the research for yourself, he had to earn the support of black people in this country, he was labeled as "not black enough" by many pundits and voters alike. As a matter of fact, it was said that he couldn't get just about every demographic that he currently enjoys the support of. So tell me, if blacks are only voting for him because he is black, why didn't they just support him from the start? Why would they support a white woman for the majority of the primary?

I don't usually get an answer on that one from people making arguments like yours. I'm genuinely interested in what you have to say on the subject. Frankly, it's insulting to think that the entire voting bloc of black Americans aren't sophisticated enough to formulate an opinion based on anything other than race.

This sign IS real. I've seen it many times. It's located on Mickle Hill road in Warren County. I have family that lives in the area.

Just wanted to comment on the "is it real debate" on the photo...

I also thought for a moment that you could see the tree through the sign, but after pulling it into a few programs for closer inspection, it is not the tree, it is simply folds of the sign and light reflection that happen to simulate the look of the tree. Further more, the photo is, unfortunately, real. Graphic arts and web design are my fields, as well as a side in photography. I am also a MC supporter, so it is not in my benefit to claim the photo as real if it weren't. Hope this helps put to rest the debate on the issue. *Smiles*

I have said since the nominees were validated, that this race would not come down to what is in the best interest of the american people, but the color of skin. It is, what it is, we have to look at the facts, not assumptions on insuations by either camp. Each individual will have to vote for the candidate they believe best represents their concerns and needs.

Kurt:

I have no doubt you took that photo.

But I question why you took it.

Mickle Hill Road is nowhere near any route on your way back to Maryland from New York. You would have to drive miles out of your way on graveled or dirt roads, or taking main roads, divert through Corry or Youngsville. Round trip, you're looking at least an hour, hour and a half extra out of your way to find this one sign.

Why?

I still have family in places like Watts Flats, Sugar Grove, Chandlers Valley and Busti straddling the NY-PA line and would like to think I understand where they are coming from. Though ill-conceived, this is probably little more than ribald humor among neighbors.

The photos speak as much to your curious mind as they do to any implied racism.

DR: Ribald humor? Implied racism? It amazes me how this item has been posted here for going on 48 hours and no one has much to say about it. The people posting comments seem to be more concerned with the authenticity of the photo and the motives of the photographer than what this sign -- and the tone of the anti-Obama rhetoric coming from the McCain campaign -- says about the country today.

Oh that's it, a bit of fun 'tween neighbors. How much more jolly it would have been had they hung a cardboard cutout of Mr. Obama from a nearby tree. God!, that would really have been funny.

You seem to be a geographical marksman who knows the area and can track my path. I drove a wee bit out of my way because bigotry travels those roads you, and I, know. It snakes through Watts Flats, and Sugar Grove, it hisses on to Chandlers Grove, Busti, and Corry, then to Warren, Bigler, Bald Eagle and beyond. Where it drives a stake into America's heartland, posts a sign, and goes on display while the ground beneath it bleeds.

My curious mind, and body, will travel any distance to put bigotry on display and expose it for the ugly that it is. When I find it, I'll send you a picture. Then you can tell everyone you know: "This is no joke".

"Alexander, I hear this argument used quite a bit and each time I ask the same question in response; if Obama's African-American support is solely due to his race, why is it that for a majority of the democratic primary, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, enjoyed the lead in that demographic?"

David21009, I in no way allege that ALL Obama's support from blacks is "simply" because of the color of his skin. But I am all but certain that there ARE blacks supporting Obama almost solely for that reason, or that they have made "electing a brother" one of their higher priorities in making the decision.

The photo of the sign attempts to prove that there is at least one white person supporting McCain because of the color of his skin--not the majority of folks out there supporting McCain, just maybe a couple embarrassing fools. I believe that to be a stupid and foolhardy reason to choose a candidate, but no doubt there are a couple bigots doing so.

My question: If it is wrong and racist to support McCain just because he's white, is it also equally wrong to support Obama just because he's black? Isn't it wrong for skin color, ethnic identity, etc. to enter into the decision process at all?

If so, then why is it that people not supporting Obama are derided as "racist"? Is it not possible for someone to reject his proposals, policies and promises as not suitable for the country's future, just as many did with Hillary?

I'd like to focus on the sign.

Warren County PA seems very rural. Here is the Wiki info on it: "As of the census of 2000, there were 43,863 people... residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.2% were of German, 12.4% Swedish, 11.2% American, 10.5% Irish, 8.8% English, 8.2% Italian and 5.1% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000."
So it is fairly isolated place and nearly entitrely white.
While I find the sign obviously racist, the act of showing a sign on your property, is probably covered by the first amendment. Unfortunately, we have to tolerate this stupidity in a democracy.
But one thing that bugs me is that Dan posted the photo. The county seems very isolated. Few people probably would have seen it and, perhaps, if they did, are of like mind already. So little impact and only to existing ignorant racists. But by posting it here and mentioning it on the radio, Dan has provided a much larger audience for this racist and vile message that it would not have had otherwise.

So, MC., when the dentist says, "It's just a little cavity", do you choose to ignore it?

Whilst I applaud you for promoting "Minority Views" I cant help but think that publishing these pictures online has guaranteed a much larger audience for these rather nasty views.

In the age of political dirty tricks and knowing how far the Obama campaign and leftists will go, how do we know this isn't a democrat posting these signs as such to generate hatred towards Republicans. The biggest lie put out by dimocrats is that republicans are racists. The real racists are on the Democrat side.

http://www.timesobserver.com/page/category.detail/nav/5054/Local-Commentaries.html

Even the local paper ran a commentary about this sign. Being from Warren, it is embarassing. Has this country really advanced so little that it has come to this?
It is really a shame that people, anyone, would still stoop that low.