80 year old cuffed for tearing down Obama is Hitler posters.

**nils** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 4:50am

Originally Posted by goodlun

Nope when we say freedom of speech over here we mean it. While we do have laws about Slander, Defamation and Libel in general are given huge leeway when it comes to political figures.

That´s interesting to know. I always got the impression that belittlement of the symbols (e.g. desecration of the flag, students getting kicked out of school for wearing t-shirts with critical slogans) and institutions of the state were not protected by freedom of speech and hence the president, as the foremost representative of the state, would be protected from such kind of insults (=insults without any real political connotation).

Why even use Hitler-posters? I thought the common narrative by his political opponents were that he was a socialist or a communist? Why not at least be consequent and produce Obama-Stalin-Posters?

***jnp*** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 6:49am

Some people feel that freedom of speech is an excuse to be a raging asshole.

That lady should run for president. I'd vote for her.

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 6:53am

Originally Posted by Disastorm

I live here and I never knew that doing something to posters was against the law.

Someone (individual or organization) paid to have the posters printed; this makes the posters personal property. Just because the personal property is posted or displayed in a public place, you or I do not have a right to damage or remove it.

If I damage someone's personal property (criminal damage to property, injuring or destroying property, malicious destruction), that is against the law. If I remove someone's personal property (theft, larceny, stealing), that is against the law. If while removing or damaging someone's personal property, I cause them distress or alarm (disorderly conduct, breach of peace), that is also against the law.

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 7:01am

Originally Posted by nils

I always got the impression that belittlement of the symbols (e.g. desecration of the flag, students getting kicked out of school for wearing t-shirts with critical slogans) and institutions of the state were not protected by freedom of speech and hence the president, as the foremost representative of the state, would be protected from such kind of insults (=insults without any real political connotation).

In a school environment, the justification for quashing freedom of expression is disorder. School administrators claim that political or obscene shirts cause a distraction and are detrimental to learning.
The only thing that the President is protected from, is threats. He is a public figure and subject to unrestricted criticism in almost any form.

Originally Posted by nils

Why even use Hitler-posters? I thought the common narrative by his political opponents were that he was a socialist or a communist? Why not at least be consequent and produce Obama-Stalin-Posters?

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder how this would have gone over in Russia; Putin probably would not have been amused. Many people protest blindly; they have no idea what defines socialism, yet label people socialists.

**nils** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 7:14am

Originally Posted by slamdunc

Many people protest blindly; they have no idea what defines socialism, yet label people socialists.

True that. "Socialist" nowadays seems to be just another term for "evil-guy". Seems like the McCarthyan cold-war-brainwash is still in effect.

I wonder how this would have gone over in Russia; Putin probably would not have been amused.

Something along these lines, probably:

Click image for larger version.

Name: political-pictures-vladimir-putin-russia-president-assassinates-you.jpg
Views: 7
Size: 42.8 KB
ID: 13858

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 10:20am

I know a North Korean defector, an old lady, who was sent to a concentration camp merely because she sat down on a newspaper that had the image of Kim Jongil on the cover.

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 10:22am

Originally Posted by Bodhi108

I know a North Korean defector, an old lady, who was sent to a concentration camp merely because she sat down on a newspaper that had the image of Kim Jongil on the cover.

And people in the US have the audacity to say we are oppressed.

**Rivington** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 10:35am

The LaRouchites are a political cult. They started off at Trotskyists, and moved to the far-right—sort of. They call Obama (and Bush) Hitler for no other reason than to alienate their own membership from their families and from the general public. Thus keeping them free to engage in whatever LaRouche wishes them to do. So if you're looking for sense and reason—even the sense and reason of fringe politics—you won't find any.

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 10:40am

Were they flyposting? Surely without the consent of the property owner that's illegal in itself? Or where they sticking them on some kind of public bulletin board?

**Rivington** · Posted On: 10/19/2012 10:54am

Originally Posted by PointyShinyBurn

Were they flyposting? Surely without the consent of the property owner that's illegal in itself? Or where they sticking them on some kind of public bulletin board?

According to this article the posters were on display near a Post Office, and one of the cult members tried to stop her. I suspect the LaRouchites were tabling near or in the parking lot, with the posters attached to their own folding table. She didn't just tear down handbills that had been pasted to phone poles or anything.

Anyway, the LaRouchites are scum, and there's no chance this lady will face any punishment other than "we arrested you and the judge wagged his finger at you, now go home and enjoy your afternoon with SnowFlower, your favorite of the seventeen cats you own."