Posted on 03/21/2012 1:49:49 PM PDT by mdittmar
YAKIMA, Wash. Standing in the lobby of the Larson Building with about 10 supporters, Central Washington Tea Party leader Kirk Groenig held a news conference to show pictures of his vandalized 1994 Jaguar XJ6.
Slashed tires, smashed windows and torn upholstery marred the vehicle, and Groenig said the graffiti in black painted on the outside prove the vandalism was a premeditated attack for political reasons.
"T-BAG," an alternate spelling for a sexual epithet commonly used by opponents to mock members of the tea party, was painted on the back hood and drivers side doors. "RACIST" was painted on the passenger side doors.
Groenig called the incident, which occurred late in the evening Feb. 21 at his home on Badger Pocket Road in Ellensburg, a hate crime because his political positions are rooted in his Christian faith. He said the event occurred days after he made comments on the Yakima Herald-Republic website condemning the recently approved gay marriage law, and believes the two are connected.
"It appears I was targeted by members of the radical homosexual community for my religious beliefs and in particular my objection to homosexual marriage," said Groenig, who has been involved in the Referendum 74 campaign to overturn the state law permitting gay marriage.
Malicious harassment is the states hate-crime law, which makes it a crime to injure, make credible threats to injure or damage property because of someones "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, or sensory handicap."
Although he reported the incident shortly after it happened, Groenig said he waited nearly a month to discuss it publicly because he and his wife feared further retribution.
"My wife felt very threatened," he said.
No shoe impressions, tire tracks, tools or paint cans were located at the scene, according to a report by the Kittitas County Sheriffs Office. The report also says neighbors did not see or hear anything unusual, and there are no known suspects or witnesses.
Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said Tuesday the case is inactive until his office receives new information that would help identify who was involved.
Sustained high winds throughout the night possibly drowned out most noise from the incident, he said.
Groenig said the car was a "total loss."
The conservative activist has drawn criticism for his public positions. In 2010, his tea party group sponsored a float in a Naches parade in which a man wearing a President Obama mask cracked a whip over a youth pulling the wagon. Several people on the float carried signs critical of federal spending, Wall Street bailouts, tax increases and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat.
Organizers of the Sportsmans Days event said they received complaints that the floats depiction of Obama was "over the top" and involved a racial stereotype from the slave era more than 150 years ago.
Groenig rejected the criticism at the time, saying the float had no racial intent.
My gas station guy saw it, and seemed embarrassed to tell me, but eventually did, that some wrote “bad thing on my car”. I got out to look. I thought it was written in my “dust”, but when I went to wipe it off with the rag he gave me, I realized it was a permanent marker.
He removed it with gasoline.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of those who determine what is and is not a ‘hate crime’, this may not be so much a crime as a public service. Hate crimes can only be committed against people of certain groups, and tea party people aren’t among them.
Leftist militants are terrorists, and creepy too.
I make it a point to tell ANY Reporter or Reporerette that nabs me in an Exit Poll that I voted straight "D", and FOR all the Left-Wing Ballot Issues.....just so they can shove their Exit Polling up their asses, as far as "Accuracy" goes.
How many on FR are packing bumper stickers that are proclaiming Freedom, Constitution, or God-referenced slogans?
I sport a Gadsden Flag sticker with the slogans "Live Free or Die" and "Don't Tread on Me" on it.
Oh, and I'm in CA.
This guy needs to get night time surveillance cameras, a couple of dogs and a shot gun.
Having lived near Detroit for 30 years, I was always afraid of my bumper stickers becoming a come-on to deface my car. We did have a Viet Nam Vets decal defaced on our car recently in downtown lovable Asheville.
No Fingerprints?..
And when he puts up his political yard signs, rub them well with poison ivy! Worked great for me. Neighbor kid showed up to cut my grass, covered in Calamine Lotion. I told him I needed the exercise, and would handle the yardwork by myself.
That’s a good idea. I’ll have to try that!
“Ill have to try that!”
Unfortunately, you still lose the sign,,,, but if you’re lucky you’ll spot a Calamine-covered neighbor, who you can then shun!
It’s a damn shame isn’t it?
The mere act of exercising one’s free speech via a simple sticker is so fraught with peril that it causes many rightminded folks to deny themselves their rights.
I’m sick and tired of it. I just want to catch one in the act, just one.
I was thinking of getting an offensive sign to liberals then covering the grass around the sign with dog crap, oily paint and some other stuff then hide it with some grass clippings. Video it and put it on You-Tube under the title, “Fishing for liberals”
Sorry the days of us getting along with you CROOKS are over. Where is the RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH... you can't have it unless a RINO agrees with a MARXIST?
Sorry...now, when you MARXISTS vandalize a car, because the person DISAGREES with you...it is TIME we say SHUT THE F UP, YOU F***ING COMMIE BAST**DS!!
The left has become very emboldened by the Communist in Chief. They are pushing more and more. Personally I say ... Hold fast!
Congrats on being there.....
We have bumper stickers that say “Cut spending now!”
Americans for prosperity....on both vehicles. Recently in Terre Haute, IN we were driving along, a young guy with spiked hair, earrings, etc. honked and gave us “thumbs up”...now that was a surprise.
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