Obama Assassination Sign Stirs Anger

November 20. 2008

A store in Maine is taking bets on whether or not president-elect Obama will be assassinated. A sign above the betting box states, “Let’s hope someone wins.” This is a completely inappropriate thing to do regarding any head of state.

Uproar in Maine over Obama assassination sign

BOSTON (Reuters) - Passions flared in a Maine town on Thursday over a sign in a store asking customers to place bets on an assassination of President-elect Barack Obama.

The Town Council in Standish condemned the sign on Thursday in a 6-0 vote and declared it reprehensible at a meeting where some residents defended the store owner, saying he had a right to free speech even if in bad taste, local authorities said.

"The town of Standish condemns in the strongest terms any such alleged activity calling for violence against any individual no matter their position, race or ethnicity," said the resolution posted on the town's website.

The sign in the Oak Hill General Store asked customers to place a $1 bet on the date of Obama's assassination, and said "Let's hope someone wins," the Portland Press Herald reported. It was called the "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool."

http://www.reuters.com