That's funny, guess that's Republican territory. He shouldn't have to go to that trouble, people (those that would steal or vandalize) are idiots.
Nathan De Vaughn was not taking any chances this time.
This presidential campaign, he opted to hang his support for Barack Obama from a limb about 15 feet high to ensure no one touched it.
Mr. De Vaughn and his son, Conor, 12, used a bamboo pole and a ladder to place their "Obama for President" sign far from vandals.
"It's stupid, but it's worth it," Conor said Wednesday evening while sporting an Obama '08 T-shirt.
His father agrees.
"I had mixed emotion about putting up the sign," Mr. De Vaughn said. "It was fun for us to do together, but it's a shame that my son had to realize adults do things like that."
Eight years ago, Mr. De Vaughn learned his support of the Democratic Party was unwelcome by some.
"I had a sign up for (then-Vice President Al) Gore, and it was stolen," said Mr. De Vaughn, who lives on Berckmans Road near Augusta National Golf Club. "When I got this sign, I decided that I would make it harder for them."
Conor steadied the ladder while Mr. De Vaughn placed the sign on the limb of a tree above a ditch near his driveway. Some who pass the sign might get the wrong impression, said Mallory Millender, a community activist who had concerns when he first saw the sign.
"The sign appears to be symbolic of a hanging," he said. "It does speak to the fact that feelings are so strong that someone would have to go to those lengths to hang a sign."
The placement of the sign has no intentions of racism, Mr. De Vaughn said. It speaks to his support for Mr. Obama, which he said some of his neighbors feel they can't do.
"I just hope those who aren't able to publicly display their support will do other things like urge their friends and family to vote rather than do nothing," he said.
The sign has been up a month, and already he believes it has been bothered. A pole used to position the sign vanished from his front yard one evening, and the sign had been turned away from the street.
"It's not like it was when I was growing up," he said. "Things have gotten to the point to where people don't respect others' beliefs."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
That's funny, guess that's Republican territory. He shouldn't have to go to that trouble, people (those that would steal or vandalize) are idiots.
I had a Barack Obama for President sign stolen from in front of my house. I guess that this is "Republican territory" as well although I live along a major freeway in one of the many predominantly black counties in the CSRA.
Probably an inside job. No self-respecting Republican would touch these eh ... signs. A sign of O'bama's is a sign of no #$%*&# sense.
Hey JHRC, how do you know a "Republican" stole your sign? Maybe an Obama supporter, already looking for a "freebie," stole it.
Mr. De Vaughn should log onto supportbillayers.org, so he can show his support for the murderer that helped Obama get to where he is today. Maybe he can hang another sign.
I'd have to disagree with you on one point, Retired, I see McCain signs everywhere - so somebody must want them. But now that I really think about this, I've only seen a hand full of Obama signs around (Columbia County). While driving through the Chesapeake Bay area in Virginia last week, all you could see were Obama signs (nice, huge signs) as far as the eye could see. No sign of McCain there.
paulwheeler: i guess your past is unblemished never done anything morally wrong at all must be a perfect man. why don't you leave bill ayers out of this he has moved on with his life
The bad thing about this election is its not about Democratic or Republican, its about black and white. There are so many people voting this year that has never voted a day in there life.
me too, that's pretty sad for McCain, especially since he has a son in Virginia Beach. One would think that his son would campaign more throughout Hampton Roads for him, but that hasn't really happened. Duggant, why do people keep talking about a washed up terrorist?
retired army, that's not what I've heard.
kingjames, and Obama supporters attack people that have bumper stickers for their beliefs. And we want this element in office. OMG!
Keep stealing Obama signs idiots and Obama supporters will keep buying new ones. That means $5.00 more for each sign replaced and more money goes to stickers, buttons and contributions while stopping by the headquarters. It's one reason why Obama took in $150 million last month.
Duggant, you're right. He killed people so many years ago, that even the families of the murder victims have probalby died. Ayers only murdered innocent American citizens for what? Some knid of political statement? Did he also spit on American service people returning from Viet Nam as a plitical statement? You're right, no harm done. So what if a candidate for the highest office in our nation wants to be a pal of a murderer? Big deal eh? Maybe Obama will appoint Ayers to his cabinet, maybe secretary of defense?
Yes let's move on. Luckily Duggant it was not one of your family members that was murdered by Ayers for no sane reason.
paulwheeler, your kidding, right.OMG!
I don't have to have a sign in my yard to show support, I get out and VOTE. But for those that do yes it is hard to find an Obama/Biden sign. If you work for a state agency you cannot display a yard sign or any type sticker of any kind on your auto. Obama 08
Well I guess we can understand a 12 year old supporting B.O., he still may believe in the Easter Bunny for all I know, but I can't understand an adult over 40 who thinks Socialism is the ideal form of government. If he thinks that people don't respect other's beliefs now - unless of course they are politically correct, meaning they have the liberal stamp of approval - he should just relax. Once we have become a completely Socialist State (gee, it hurts to type that) he won't have to worry about it because the only belief that will matter is the State's party line.
Just a little anecdote here. Someone told me the other day that a co-worker had placed an Obama/Biden sign in his yard and some folks in his neighborhood complained because they felt that they didn't want to polarize the neighborhood. He then opted to place a McCain/Palin sign in his yard just to test a theory that started to ramble around in his head. Sure enough, some other folks complained. In response to both groups he had thirty-five yard signs professionally printed. Now his yard is covered with "Paris Hilton for President" signs. I guess that both groups can be equally incensed. So much for "Freedom of Speech!"
I'll be glad when this election is over! This elecetion has by far been the most depressing.
Imposing your political views upon your child to the point of dressing them in EITHER candidates t-shirt is child abuse. Why don't you teach them to respect other's opinions? Why don't you tell him "Daddy supports Obama, when you get to vote, you'll be able to make your own choices?" The indoctrination continues.....
It is good to see this parent teaching his son to be active in the democratic process and the right to free speech. Why would you not think that perhaps the parent explained to the son how he rationally made the wise choice that he did. You can't just assume its indoctrination. Surprised at you tall2. Thats not like you at all. Perhaps you didn't think through your post. LOL
I am going to go ahead and start the process of spreading the wealth. I am going to stop tipping in food establishments and walk out the door and hand someone not working my tip because they deserve it more than the waiter/waitress working for a living. Why not go ahead and start so we can get used to the idea of working for less and handing those that don't our hard earned paychecks. So hair dressers and food establishments be aware you will not be tipped anymore I am spreading the wealth. And I know those that I hand your tip to will appreciate it anyway because they will be getting something for nothing.
Paulwheeler and Deadea, some of the the greatest murders did their best work right here in augusta. There are still unsoled murders here that was done by your people. i remember back in the sixties the counties was segregated and most blacks was afraid to vote. So, you want to talk about Ayers, the man was not charge with anything. Look at all the young men and women GB sent to Iraq to die, for what? It is time for a change for America, no matter what color I think the man will do a fine job. Lets all come together for a better America.
To me, a sign hanging from a tree means- a sign is hanging from a tree. It's symbolic of NOTHING. This is just getting ridiculous. If he put the sign on his roof, what would that symbolize? That he needs new shingles?
that's okay tired army...when nov 9th rolls around those mc cain/palin signs are gonna be worth a mint, first female vp in history....i have several i want to keep for posterity sake, and rest assured the ob signs will overflow the landfills......and cain, only yuo would profess to live in a "predominately black county"...duh , name one that isn't.....
Only signs up in my neighborhood are McCain signs. We're not the types that want to see our taxes rise from 33 to 36.9%, and when Obama let's the Bush tax cuts expire in 2011, up to 50.3%. How many of you lib jokes would want to send over have of your paycheck into the fed? ....and that's not including state taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, capital gains taxes, and sales taxes. My God people, how much of our earnings do you want? ...and are you so damn stupid that you actually think we'll continue working like we are to pay for pieces of trash like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRq1XRxrQP4
Not to mention that 5% of tax payers that punk from Chicago wants to raise taxes on, while lowering others and "giving" money to others, WON'T PAY FOR EVERYTHING HE'S PROMISING! You dems are about the dumbest electorate in the history of this country. You're voting for someone who's gonna give you a grand, and lose a job that pays you 30.
You know why Obama really went to Hawaii....He's going there to fix that fake birth certificate he had up in his website.........YOU WATCH!!!!!....couple days a birth certificate will surface........ and grandma will live 10 more years.....! Just watch.
Stephanie Toone!! This guys Obama sign did not get stolen. You have to read the fine print in this article to see that his Al Gore sign disappeared 8 years ago. Everybody commenting thinks his Obama sign got stolen. I WONDER WHY ??? Could it be your photo and quote mislead - CLASSIC BIAS MEDIA
In my mom's neighborhood she told me that all of the McCain signs were stolen from people's front yards and none of the Obama ones were. Apparently trespassing and theft work for both sides of the political coin. Disgraceful behavior for both Dems and Repubs. Why can't we all just grow up and get along?
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