GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—A skeleton effigy of Barack Obama with big ears, big round eyes and a sign reading “Obama for president of Afghanistan” has been removed from a Colorado couple’s Halloween display after a newspaper inquired about it.
The brown-painted effigy was dressed in a suit and tie, and a white skeleton pirate was pointing a gun at it, apparently forcing it off a ship.
Mike and Cheryl Barnes, who live in a rural area near Mack along the Colorado-Utah border, removed the effigy from their yard Thursday after the Grand Junction Free Press asked about it. Mike Barnes told the paper they thought it was about to cause a controversy, which they didn’t intend.
Cheryl Barnes said the couple dislikes Obama’s policies but his race makes no difference to them.
Mary Beth Pyle, chairwoman of the Mesa County Democratic Party, called the display “disgusting.” Mesa County Republican Party Chairman Gary Roahrig said it was beyond words.
“This is 2008. I don’t know what inspires people to do things of this nature, but it’s entirely inappropriate,” Roahrig said.
The couple said the Afghanistan reference came from bumper stickers.
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Information from: Free Press,
