Obama supporters targeted with tomatoes in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Vancouver Police Department is asking people to call 911 if they receive a threatening letter or have tomatoes thrown at their house.
Four times in the past few weeks, people have filed police reports – two incidents of tomatoes and two incidents of letters.
The letters that have been showing up at residences in Vancouver neighborhoods are from an anonymous group that calls itself the "Welcome Wagon." The letters warn people that if they have campaign signs supporting President Barack Obama on their property, they'll be targeted with tomatoes.
"We think there have been many more incidents," said Kim Kapp spokeswoman for Vancouver police. "We need people to let us know when something happens, especially if they see someone in the act."
Kapp said that in each of the incidents the victims reported they had not seen anyone committing the act.
Kapp said that Cpl. Drue Russell, a neighborhood officer in the West Precinct, had sent an email to neighborhood residents about the letters and attacks, urging people to come forward with information.
The attackers could face harassment and malicious mischief charges – both misdemeanors that carry the possibility of one year in prison and a $5,000 fine.
I think its time to put this article and comments to rest! The comments on this subject are exactly why it's said that "you shouldn't discuss politics or religion with friends or family!" By comments I've read here, you shouldn't discuss them with anyone!!!! Wow! So how about this; all of you who support Obama, vote for Obama, and all of those who don't, vote for Romney or whoever else you want to! You all can argue until election day and beyond and not get anywhere.
So take your pick and have a laugh instead:Â
Getting an Obama supporter to change over is like picking up a turd by the clean end.
Getting a Romney supporter to change over is like picking up a turd by the clean end.
there are just too many crazy people in the world to put a sign up in the yard now a days. as an independent voter i would just confuse the confused.
I am so proud we have advanced so much in the past 50 years.
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Imagine a half century ago, these good god-fearing people would have had a cross burned in their front yard, instead of a few soggy tomatoes for being a Negro lover.
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Tomatoes are probably more environmentally friendly than a burning cross, during a state-wide burn ban.
Why do people have to keep bringing race into this election?
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 @HonkeyCat Because they have nothing else to go on. The facts don't support them, so the only thing they have to fall back on is that you must be racist if you don't support the black man. The logic that one would dislike Obama no matter the color of his skin falls on deaf ears.
Oh no. Your biodegradable tomato might destroy my front lawn. I might even grow a nice tomato plant. Please. No. Stop.Â
I don't get it ... what does a tomato have to do with Obama?
 @swansong68 If you read the story, you'll see that the tomatoes are thrown at homes that have pro-Obama signs in their front yard, after being warned by letter to take the signs down.  Similar tactics were used by the Nazi's as they were trying to take power in Germany.
 @Cetus I dont recall ever reading about the Nazi's sending letters to the German government or to any of the countries they invaded. I couldnt see Hitler taking the time to write to Poland in 1939.
Throwing tomatoes is a sign of disagreement or dissatisfaction by individuals for anything from politics, to music, visual arts (plays and opera), and stand up comedy.
The Nazi's were throwing tomatoes in Germany in the late 1930's?
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I don't think I ever read that in the history books.
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Anyone? Anyone?
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Beuler? Beuler?
The tomato throwing is childish? So are these whiners. All you poor babies can't take a little election heat!!! The people in the photo also need to learn how to fly an American flag, NOT touching the ground! That shows you right there the lask of respect these people have for this country, and they are whining about a few tomatos.  And those of you saying that this is a waste of good tomatos, you are right. They would be better served in a salad or sauce.  Although as a total Anti Obama person, I must confess, I can see the temptation! Whether I'm republican or democrat, you don't know and it doesn't matter, Obama sucks!
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 @WestSeattle Yeah you sure sound like an anti-Obama person too. I can tell by your attitude.Â
Yes you are so right! And I have just as much right to dislike Obama and have an attitude about him as you do to whatever or whoever you don't like. Obama is like the people in the photo with no respect for our nations flag, he has no respect for this country either. He has shown that time and again with his lack of respect for our Troops that are defending the very freedom we all have to like or not like our President. If attitude gives away being an anti Obama person, then being a whiner and not respecting our flag or our country gives away being a pro Obama person.
flyskiwindsurf  Right back at you. Watch the news sometime. You might learn something, but I doubt it. I think we know a lot more than you seem to. Obviously..........
@WestSeattle You obviously have no idea what the heck that you are even talking about. Obviously.
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Not paying a bit of attention to what was written. I didn't say anything about it being legal or illegal! Obviously it is illegal or the cops wouldn't want to catch the culprits. It's a few tomatos and if they find those responsible fine, if not fine, GET OVER IT!!! Kids toilet paper and egg houses and cars all the time and they don't get arrested, the receivers, use a thing called a hose to clean it up and they move on!!! And BTW you assume that because of my screen name I presently live in West Seattle. I was born in Seattle, and was raised and lived in WS, I still have many friends that live there, but unfortunatley I don't live there right now. If I did, I would be happey to give you my address so you could come over and egg or tomato what ever the heck you want to. Whatever makes your boat float northwestsurfer.
@WestSeattle man, calm down
Are they sure it wasn't a drive-by food-aid?
Good point. Were the tomatoes smashed in the yard or were they placed there?
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Did these guys do it themselves to attract attention?
I don't think the flag in the picture should be touching the ground. Just saying.
 @SlimPickens Well, they are Obama supporters. Respect for the flag and what this country stands for are not exactly on the top of their agenda. It's a meaningless piece of cloth that can be used to garner votes....like the Constitution is just a "stupid piece of paper".
 @dg54321  @SlimPickens "Respect for the flag and what this country stands for are not exactly on the top of their agenda."
You mean like the example that white right wing couple who hung a chair showed THEIR (lack of) respect for the flag...by laying it on the ground?
 @OrcasThunder  @SlimPickens They are idiots who should be taken to task for that as well. I totally agree on that point.
@dg54321 @SlimPickens Tell you what, Slick; if you want to condemn Obama supporters for disrespecting the flag, you might want to take a look at your own party first.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/16/gop-house-leaders-disresp_n_102136.html
http://bluearkansasblog.com/?p=3487
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/how-to-win-the-campaign-a_b_29862.html
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Im sure you can find some images and citations of us democrats or liberals doing disrespect, Ive seen some myself. I wont pretend we are innocent and deny it, maybe you should drop the elitist attitude, and stop pretending you dont make mistakes. Your arrogance is overwhelming.
@dg54321 @SlimPickens I'm doing neither. I am debating you, showing you each side, yet you are unable to debate back in an intelligent manner
@dg54321 Speaking of âholier than thoughâ, you need to check into yourself there dg because you are obviously just projecting big time there dg.. Obvioulsy. I.e. âyou are just a blowhard who thinks his s*** don't stinkâ dg.
 @northwestsurfer  @dg54321  @SlimPickens And you know what, you are right....everybody makes mistakes. So stop trying to make yourself holier-than-thou, stop trying to tell everyone how awesome and great and more American than everyone else because you were in the military and maybe you might have some ground to stand on. Until then you are just a blowhard who thinks his s*** don't stink.
 @northwestsurfer  @dg54321  @SlimPickens Yes, because HuffPo is such an unbiased, middle ground publication. You might as well have posted links to the DNC website itself. I won't even waste my time.
 @dg54321  @SlimPickens If I had a nickel for every inappropriate American flag display I've seen in this country I'd be a wealthy man.  And, you know what, it isn't a political thing.  Most people, Democrats and Republicans alike, don't have a clue about how to properly display the flag.
 @dg54321 Didn't Sarah Palin pose in an American flag themed bikini?Â
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Let's talk about respecting the flag....
@dg54321 We all already do know that Sarah has a much better bod than that.
 @caphillkid No, if you cared to research anything, you'd know that was a lame attempt to photoshop a lie into reality. But I wouldn't expect you to research anything you actually regurgitate here.
 @caphillkid hey Cap, check out my post a few lines down, with the links.
 @dg54321  evidently patriotism is the last refuge of an idiot...
@dg54321
I am an Obama supporter, ex military too. I have the flag from my grandfather's funeral folded up and in a glass and wooden case on a bookshelf in my living room. I also folded and presented the flag as an NCO in the Army back in 2003 for my other grandfather, who was a retired master sergeant in the Air Force during WWII. I presented the flag to my grandmother, got down on one knee and said to her: "On behalf of a greatful nation and the President Of The United States", please accept this flag in honor of my grandfather and your husband's service to this country".
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I then stood up, saluted her, and did an about face and walked away. This was in front of my mom's side of the family, along with her 12 siblings, their families, and their familes' families; over 100 people. I did this in my Army dress gree Class A uniform, which I had FedEx overnighted from Seattle, to Ft Irwin California, where I was training for deployment to Iraq.
I hate the conservative agenda, and I am a staunch Obama supporter, but I sure the hell dont disrespect this flag, both of my grandfathers' legacies, or those that fought with them or before them, so you have the right to spew crap and useless rhetoric from your stupid, arrogant mouth.
So, because I am a liberal, Obama supporter, does that mean "Respect for the flag and what this country stands for [is] not exactly on the top of [my] agenda". And that "It's a meaningless piece of cloth that can be used to garner votes....like the Constitution is just a "stupid piece of paper"?
If you have served in the military, why dont you let me know what your MOS, duty station, date entered service, ETS or the date you resigned your commission, highest rank or pay grade, or anything else you can offer that will justify that crap you just ran your mouth about. Enlighten me....
@WestSeattle you are blowing wind dude, every time I have seen the Marines at the White House or standing at Marine 1 salute him, he salutes back. I have also seen photos in the past of other presidents not return the salute because they were too occupied. Who cares, stop splitting hairs. If I was detached to White House detail, I could care less if he saluted me back
@dg54321 I never implied you were a republican, I wont fall for that, I am able to think critically. We are debating how you feel liberals and democrats are disrepectful to the American flag and the US Constitution. So, I sent you some links to articles with pictures showing that republicans, the only other major party and one that opposes Democrats and liberals, also disrespecting the flag.
I never assumed anything; for all I know, you could be a libertarian that hates liberals and democrats. Good, I am just showing you that Democrats are not the only ones that disprespect the flag, now you can go scream and complain about republicans doing the same, since you despise the fact that anyone would do such a thing
flyskiwindsurf Seems to be that the only thing you have really posted here is how the rest of us that DON"T support Obama know nothing. The only thing so far that you seem to know is the word "obviously". OBVIOUSLY, if you know so much more than the Anti-Obama people, then what is it? Obviously nothing. You sound like you have as much respect as your Obama does toward the American people. He thinks Americans are all stupid too, probably because he managed to get himself elected, by people such as yourself. But a lot of people that supported him the first time around have found out what his true colors are and found out that they got duped and have gotten out of the "Obama for Change" mode. Obviously
northwestsurfer.........I thank you for your service to this great nation. I am a veteran, and I think that it is a shame that Obama doesn't give our Military men and women the respect that you seem to give him. All you have to do to see this lack of respect for our troops is watch the news clips of him coming in contact with some of our troops. If you don't see this it is because you don't want to. I see this all the time on the news when they show him exiting from Air Force One. You salute him as President, but most of the time, if not all of the time, he never salutes the troops in return, and as Commander-in-Chief that is what he is supposed to do, if for no other reason, OUT OF RESPECT! Half the time he doesn't even look at them.  With you being a veteran, and somewhat of a proud vet at that, this doesn't seem to matter when it comes to your candidate. I remember George W always saluting when he exited from Air Force One. Of course he was military, something most Presidential canidates these days know nothing about. Okay, so a lot of you will say this is not important, fine, but if he doesn't respect our Military he doesn't respect much of anthing else.
 @northwestsurfer  @dg54321 Who said I was a republican?. It's impossible to carry on a debate with someone who only hears what they want to and makes up the rest to fit their views. Pretty much says what's wrong with you people in a nutshell. You just make assumptions and tear on full speed ahead without realizing you didn't even read what was said before making a fool out of yourself.
@dg54321 Heck. Many reps, including a lot of the Bush family, are now whining that W was president for all of those eight years. I.e. be careful of what you wish for because you just might get it. There is a reason that Jeb is still afraid to run in any presidential election and âThere was a reason that George H.W. Bush cried publicly when he spoke of Jebâs chances to be President. Tears are often shed during a eulogy.â Plus it is really rich that you object to people telling you how to live your life. You still clearly have no knowledge at all about what the heck that you are even posting about.
@dg54321 Obviously you are very narrow minded and arrogant about it too.
I'm not whining about anything, and its not even unproven. All you have to do, is do a little research of your own. Fact: The popular vote was won by Gore-Lieberman by 543,816 votes. The actual vote numbers are listed below:
Bush-Cheney - 50,460,110 Gore-Lieberman - 51,003,926 Nader-LaDuke - 2,883,105 Buchanan-Foster - 449,225 Browne-Olivier - 384,516.
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Bush did however win the electora vote, because the states electoral candidates vary by numbers. I bet you didnt know, that no republican candidate has ever won the election without carrying the state of Ohio? Thats why Bush won, was because of winning specific states in the numbers of popular votes. Those votes went on onto capture the state's electoral votes.
What is funny to me, is you are not able to carry on a debate without insults and condescending. Is this just a trait of conservatives or you only?
 @dg54321 What an embarrassment you are to true Republicans. And dg... he clearly is better than you. You just proved it. Â
 @northwestsurfer Haha, you people are still whining about W not winning the popular vote, something that was never proven? God, you people are ridiculously pathetic. And yes, you did say that you were somehow better than I was because you served in the military. It was an appeal to authority and it was pathetic, just like the rest of your posts. You did swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and defend against all enemies of that Constitution, foreign and domestic. Voting for someone so clearly against Constitutional government is violating that oath, whether you want to admit it or not. I voted with my conscience and voted for the only candidate that upholds the Constitution....guess who that is and it wasn't McCain or Obama....I love you idiots who only feel there are two options. You are contributing to the problem. Not breaking an oath you never swore to is better than breaking one you took. I work, earn a living, and only ask to keep what I rightfully earn as it should be; to be secure in my person and property. People like you vote in politicians that feel they have a right to my property and to tell me how to live my life. I can't imagine a more un-American viewpoint.
@dg54321 Obama is not in that photo, so that arguement is flawed.
Dont be mad because he was voted into office by the electoral vote and the popular vote; something that was not the case to W during his first term. Al Gore won the popular vote for that election.
I never said I was better than anyone else, go back and reread what I wrote. I indicated that I did respect the flag and the constitution, something you cannot prove you do yourself.
I never swore an oath that I broke either. You never swore an oath period; all you have apparently done is complained and moaned. You do nothing but depend on others, you complain, and whine when the system works and you dont get what you want.
@dg54321 You obviously continue to demonstrate that you clearly have no knowledge at all about what the heck that you are even posting about. Obviously. Plus you are clearly extremely arrogant such that you are well beyond any level that you patently have any right to be at, just based on your immediate posts. Obviously.
 @northwestsurfer Wooo....appeal to authority. I'm really impressed now. Just because you served in the military doesn't mean jack....and it certainly doesn't mean you know the first thing about honor, integrity and self sufficiency. Things that Obama certainly doesn't stand for. So you respect the flag....great. Good for you....the man you are voting for doesn't, and many people that support him DO NOT, as evidenced by the picture at the top of this page. I can tell you with absolute certainty that Obama does NOT support Constitutional government and as a military veteran that took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, voting for someone who doesn't comes off as mighty hypocritical. So get off your high horse and vote the way you want to, it's your right, but don't delude yourself into thinking you are somehow better than me because you served in the military. Your comments just prove how much you are NOT better than anybody else for your time served and just as unwilling to stand for liberty and the American way as the rest of the liberal crowd, despite your knowledge of the flag code. At least I never swore an oath that I later broke all the while patting myself on the back for being "such a good American citizen".
 @dg54321  @SlimPickens Another ridiculous generalization
People just need to grow up.
I see that the typical immature reactions are happening on all sides of the political aisle. Who cares if someone puts up a pro-Obama sign or a pro-Romney sign. Throwing tomatoes or making threats just means these people have issues beyond politics. Â What matters is that you should vote. If you don't vote then you have no say. Â
@UR-SUCH-AN-EXPERT There is no threat. It says they will throw tomatoes. There is nothing inthe article sying the letters are threatening. Unless you consider a tomatoe in your yard a threat. It appears to be a prank by either a democrat or republican. We don't know for sure as it could be bored teenagers over there.
@SlimPickens Saying you are going to do something adverse, possibly causing damage or injury if someone puts up a campaign sign in their yard, is threatening to me. I know if someone sent me a letter that did that, and I caught them doing it, I would be in jail afterwards.
 @SlimPickens Tomato... not Tomatoe... Did Dan Quayle teach you to spell that word?