GOP having fun with vandalized McKenna campaign signs
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HOQUIAM, Wash. -- Most heated political races lead to some sort of vandalism, but few vandals seem to be as happy as those in Grays Harbor County.
Throughout the county, gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna's campaign signs have been targeted by spray paint wielding vandals. But instead of writing obscene or political statements, the vandals are marking the signs with smiley faces and hearts.
Instead of getting upset by the graffiti, McKenna supporters are embracing it.
"We don't know who did it. We don't know what they meant by it, but the local supporters have embraced it," said Scott Dilley with the McKenna campaign.
Charley Quigg owns land that was targeted by the vandals. He doesn't know who left the messages, but he thinks it was either teenagers or liberal activists.
"It's not offensive," Quigg said. "It's just kind of maybe a little political fun, I suppose."
While nobody wants their signs vandalized, Dilley said the campaign is taking lemons and making lemonade. The local Republican party has gone as far as using photos of the vandalized signs on t-shirt they're now selling for $15.
"It sure has given the Rob McKenna campaign a lot of extra publicity," said Kristine Lowder, chairwoman of the Grays Harbor GOP. "It's an eye catcher. Don't you think it is more interesting than signs with just words on them? Here you have additional artwork."
While they're taking advantage of the graffiti, local Republicans did report that vandalism to the Aberdeen and Hoquiam police. The Grays Harbor sheriff's office is also investigating.
Throughout the county, gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna's campaign signs have been targeted by spray paint wielding vandals. But instead of writing obscene or political statements, the vandals are marking the signs with smiley faces and hearts.
Instead of getting upset by the graffiti, McKenna supporters are embracing it.
"We don't know who did it. We don't know what they meant by it, but the local supporters have embraced it," said Scott Dilley with the McKenna campaign.
Charley Quigg owns land that was targeted by the vandals. He doesn't know who left the messages, but he thinks it was either teenagers or liberal activists.
"It's not offensive," Quigg said. "It's just kind of maybe a little political fun, I suppose."
While nobody wants their signs vandalized, Dilley said the campaign is taking lemons and making lemonade. The local Republican party has gone as far as using photos of the vandalized signs on t-shirt they're now selling for $15.
"It sure has given the Rob McKenna campaign a lot of extra publicity," said Kristine Lowder, chairwoman of the Grays Harbor GOP. "It's an eye catcher. Don't you think it is more interesting than signs with just words on them? Here you have additional artwork."
While they're taking advantage of the graffiti, local Republicans did report that vandalism to the Aberdeen and Hoquiam police. The Grays Harbor sheriff's office is also investigating.
The sign with the implied man loves woman sign seems to me that these are McKenna supporters who do not want gay marriage legalized in this State. Maybe I over analyzed it but, it could have a more social meaning.
This is news? It sounds to me like some bored kids on a summer night.
Well this is creative ... regardless of support or not it is not appropriate to do this.
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McKenna 2012!
That's stupid ! Leave the people's property alone regardless you like it or not !
"What do the hearts on the signs mean?"Â Obviously, Grays Harbor LOVES Rob McKenna!
BOTH parties are a joke and are ruining America.Â
 @SandyBeach Absolutely. They will sit on TV and argue and say they hate each other, then when the cameras are off and the press is gone they will have a cigar and drinks together laughing all the way to the bank. The only people who will change anything have been masterfully kept out of the spotlight and made out to be kooks by the media, who have a lot to gain by keeping things just the way they are.
@dg54321 @SandyBeach Sad but true... I have voted every chance I have had since I turned 18... now 32, its seems like it doesn't matter and that's what they want.
 @This_again? Just make sure you do vote... another game that is played is discouraging people not to vote so it is easier and cheaper for them to ahem... 'buy' an election
 @SandyBeach The voting system for president has lost most of my faith back in 2000... I still am urked about the hole electoral college crap... when you can lose the popular vote but win the electoral vote and take the election...that system should be removed so 'key states' are no longer key as making sure the people say they who they really want to be president!   .... I do still throw my vote in anyway though I know it can be ignored by the electoral commitee... then I am free to complain because I still took the time to participate.
 @Freespeech  @SandyBeach Unfortunately without the electoral college, areas of the country with lower population density would have no say in national elections, much like the Seattle Metro area basically controls all statewide offices, regardless of how the rest of the state goes.
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Majority rule is all well and good, until you find yourself as an unrepresented minority. The whole idea of a constitutional republic is to give a voice to the minority, rather than just having mob... errr majority rule.
Hate to say this Komo but everything you filmed was in Aberdeen. Quigg brother property is in Aberdeen
 @wynooheeman The photo on this page is of a sign near the Grizzly Den on W. Emerson in Hoquiam. The pink spray-painted sign is at State and Park Streets in Aberdeen. The other yellow-painted sign is near the Pourhouse on E. Wishkah St. in Aberdeen.
Kathy Goertzen would be appalled that this made the news.
 @Alex Zakarian So flagged this... have respect for the dead! Especially with somethign so recent...
 @Alex Zakarian You got to be kidding!
Chalk it up to human nature. Â People are people and this type of thing happens on the left and right. Â It could be coming from the left or right.Â
@Phinn Yeah this one is a little hard to tell whether is was a leftist vandal, or it could be an over zealous Rob supporter. Either way it is vandalism.
 @Kodiak  @Phinn could also just be someone who doesn't give a rip about politics at all.
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 @Jamie Walsh Too funny... I don't sport bumper stickers and definately not shirts... I prefer the below line....
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McKenna 2012!
@Freespeech @Jamie Walsh
You must live in Bellevue.
You have to be a lot more flexible if you are going to promote conservative candidates (and ideals) in Grays Harbor...
I like the attitude they took with the graffiti. At least it wasn't something offensive!
Leave it to a GOP candidate to make money off of something, even as low as this. "Hey, let's make a buck off of vandals that don't respect us anyway."
I wonder if he'll pay the taxes on the sales of these items?
@Koawoodplayer
So its not ok for a campaign to make money, and a little free publicity at the same time? Really is that what you think?  You think those signs buy themselves?  I think that that attitude taken by the McKenna campaign was better than just coming out and accusing the Insley supporters. Rob took the high road.
@Koawoodplayer Â
It's a sad day when making money in America is considered evil. Maybe Atlas Shrugged really was prophetic.
 @Koawoodplayer Hahaha! Better then the clowns whom are in office taking money. I'd rather make or earn my money then take.
 @Koawoodplayer whats wrong with making money?  if its so lame, don't buy it.  i can't even go a single day without seeing a lame obama knick-knack for sale.
Was this really the work of vandals, or of some Republicans trying to get a bit of free publicity?
 @Rentonese I thought that too at first, but I highly doubt they would have reported the crime to the police if it were a "covert" operation.
 @Rentonese I seriously doubt it was a Republican. More than likely a Liberal of some form or another. Conservatives do not want to waste their time, energy and money to buy a can of spray point, run around in the middle of the night tagging political signs to show how angry they are. Please it is liberal like OWS that have expensive designer jeans, shoes and Apple laptops they cruise the internet on all day that have the time, energy and angst to vandalize...
 @Truth Percolates Yeah that's got to be it, since conservatives are such upstanding individuals... Each and everyone one of them suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying.. oh never mind.
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 @Truth Percolates what if it was neither a conservative or a liberal? What if this is the work of a drunk or a kid? I'm laughing at the analysis. I love how the liberals get tagged (pun intended) with every rotten trait in the book by you. Very amusing, but nothing new. The polarization continues.
Well, at least they are being good sports about the whole thing. But truly, tagging is the domain of suburban mama's boys with skateboards with nothing to say.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 and quite possibly no political motivation.
 @Citizen#3457899654 Oh right, unlike politicians who have plenty to say themselves....
 @KeithB Good point.Â
Well, I must say with what messages vandals usually use, this is actually an improvement. :)
And this is exactly why I won't ever put a bumper sticker on my car for any candidate I support...because it's almost always someone that the liberals can't stand, and I don't want to make my car a huge target for vandalism from the tolerant left.
 @glamdring2012 I don't think its just liberals. I've given up on putting any bumper stickers on my car for any reason after I replaced a few bumpers and fixed a few dented quarter panels. I even was chased by a car full of guys for several miles simply because of my bumper stickers. BTW, i'm a far left liberal.
 "I even was chased by a car full of guys for several miles simply because of my bumper stickers"
What did you expect would happen putting that bumper sticker on your car that said: "FREE BEER IN BACK SEAT/ PAID FOR BY THE EVIL 1%"Â =)
 @glamdring2012 What?! The left would NEVER perform such heinous acts, after all we know it's ONLY the radical right wing Tea Party that is violent and would deface property or full out riot.....oh wait.
 @dg54321 jeez - most adults have something better to do than tag anything. Somewhere there's a couple of snickering kids laughing at the uproar this story has caused.
 @dg54321 Finally, I have some one who can do my material so I can take a few days off. Thanks! From the use "!?" to the oddly capitalized emphasis to the snide sarcasm and the "oh wait" at the end! Now, get a catchy screen name and you can carry on in my footsteps.
 @Sid Vishess "The few. The proud. The sarcastic."
Dawn McCravey, candidate for State Senate in the 1st legislative District, has had to deal with vandalism too, but those attacking her signs weren't quite as nice about it. Â Dawn, of course, took it all in stride and toched up the signs to remove the vulgarity.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=345017792240356&set=a.167813023294168.42306.165717903503680&type=1&theater
I saw these last weekend! they're cute! No complaints seeing a smiley face!
So removing campaign signs is illegal, but tagging them isn't. Got it.
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@bobalouie. You might want to read all the way down through even the last paragraph of the article. I.e. âRepublicans did report that vandalism to the Aberdeen and Hoquiam police. The Grays Harbor sheriff's office is also investigating.â But yeah I know. The article is a whole quarter page long. Published: Aug 21, 2012 at 4:39 PM PDT
I really have no use for graffiti or these silly political sign vandals. But...if it has to exist...this is a better form than most.