Posted on 09/23/2012 12:16:28 AM PDT by kathsua
HALSTEAD - Critics of a political sign in Halstead consider it out of bounds, but City Administrator J.R. Hatfield said legally, it is in bounds.
Hatfield said there have been inquiries about the sign, but it "meets the criteria of city ordinance."
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On the yard of NTH Silver Recovery Service Inc., located along a southern entrance into Halstead, is a sign proclaiming: "We built this Business without Government Help" and below: "Obama can kiss my (illustration of donkey)"
"I am Kevin Henderson and I approve this message," reads the bottom of the sign.
Henderson is president and general manager of NTH Silver Recovery Service, which had its roots in a company established in 1979 by Henderson's parents.
Henderson took offense to President Barack Obama's remarks this summer to business owners, "If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." In related remarks, Obama spoke of the help provided by teachers and those who invested in roads and infrastructure.
Republicans and business owners blasted the "you didn't build that" assertion.
On Friday, Henderson pointed out that he had risen at 4 that morning in order to be on the road by 5 a.m. for a business trip.
"We don't get any tax abatements or subsidies," Henderson said. "The government isn't going to bail me out if business tanks."
City Administrator Hatfield confirmed that NTH Silver Recovery receives "no government assistance from the city."
"I understand it's a smart-aleck comment," Henderson said. But he said he intentionally used the symbol of the donkey instead of a vulgarity.
One person thought the donkey's head was a horse's head, Henderson said, and thought it was a reference to "The Godfather."
The sign is staying up until the election, Henderson said.
Bud Bryant, of nearby Bryant and Bryant Construction Inc., said he appreciates freedom of speech, but the sign is "inappropriate" and profane, in his opinion.
Halstead-area resident Beth Vannatta wrote a letter to The News' Western Front criticizing the sign and noting that students riding school buses, people going to church, and business people entering the city pass the sign.
"If your intent is vulgarity, then it is vulgar," Vannatta said Friday.
"I think it is a teaching moment," said Vannatta, former Hutchinson High School art teacher.
"We are the government. We tax ourselves to pay for these things, because we need these things," she said, noting that government services - such as police and fire protection and water service - are available to Henderson's business.
"He was educated by our government," Vannatta added.
If the government wants to take credit for roads, it should assume responsibility for the illegal activities on roads, such as drug smuggling, Henderson said. And business workers leave their workplace when summoned as volunteer fire and emergency responders.
Vannatta said she's for Obama. Henderson isn't.
Obama I'm watching a PBS program about the Las Vegas performing arts center. the announcer just said "if you build it they will come."
I would like to see some new mothers post pictures of themselves and their creations with the caption "I made this without government assistance."
And Halstead is where?
I am not government. I am a citizen that votes for representatives. I am not part of government, I have no power to enact anything. I have no power to control government. Government unleashes police against me fro protesting what they do.
To hell with that lady’s comments. Voting for officials doesn’t make me “government”. And i have less power to elect representatives when democrats take away military votes, and let their people vote multiple times and dead people vote and illegals vote.
Have we forgotten/and or ignored:
We as a people have a government: “By the people, of the people, and for the people.”
NOT A PEOPLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT
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BETH VANNATTA
Another lefty who hates her fellow Americans for being different than her.
On any given day, you can find something that a Democrat will find offensive. Its all free speech.
But you make a political statement they don’t like, and its instantly too vulgar for the public’s eyes.
South central Kansas. There are times when I'm sooooo proud of my state.
I'm proud right alongside you even though I live in MS. I'm seriously thinking of adding a similar sign to me front yard - most of the folks who would see it already cling to their guns, Bibles, and the Constitution but it would make me feel better....
Idiocy is running rampant throughout the land.
Donkey/Ass:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey
African Wild Ass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_wild_ass
Love to see some billboard on I-70 between KC and STL. I would even donate for them. We need to take back America in 2012.
I can’t believe that Liberal Rag the HutchNews even allowed this to be printed...
I lived in Hutchinson for 10 years that paper is so liberal I thought I was back in Austin Tx at times.
“Idiocy is running rampant throughout the land.”
I don’t know - it sort of flows:
“Obama can kiss my horse’s head that I left on his pillow just like in that movie The Godfather.”
Heh. You're probably right. I'd hate to hear what he'd bring away from "King Lear."
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