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2 arraigned in burning of McCain yard sign in SE Portland
The Oregonian ^ | October 13, 2008, 8:52 PM | Stephen Beaven

Posted on 10/14/2008 2:29:27 PM PDT by crazyhorse691

Not long ago, a neighbor confided to Gene Scrutton that she feared expressing her conservative political beliefs in their left-leaning Southeast Portland neighborhood, where Obama-Biden signs sprout like mushrooms in one front yard after another.

That helped persuade Scrutton, a staunch Republican, to plant a gigantic Sen. John McCain campaign sign in his front yard. But in the blue center of a blue city, supporting the unofficial opposition can be a dangerous move, as Scrutton and his wife, Karen, discovered over the weekend.

On Monday, two 23-year-old men were arraigned in an attack that involved hurling a Molotov cocktail at the Scruttons' campaign sign early Saturday.

The fire did little damage, but in the midst of a heated presidential campaign, the story spread over the Internet, picked up by local media and national sites such as the Drudge Report.

The sign -- 4-by-8 feet on two 6-foot posts and charred at the bottom -- remains in the Scruttons' small front yard at the corner of Southeast 17th Avenue and Miller Street. It features a life-size photo of McCain and the words: "Courageous Service. Experienced Leadership. Bold Solutions."

It wasn't the first time the Scruttons have been targeted because of their political views. Nor was it the last.

Shortly after Gene Scrutton put the sign up last month, someone scrawled racist graffiti on the couple's van, which they believe was an attempt to paint them as bigots against Sen. Barack Obama. And Sunday, while Scrutton was in the front yard, someone in a passing car yelled profanity at him.

A Portland Fire Bureau spokesman said he didn't know the motivation for Saturday's attack, but Gene Scrutton thinks it was a clear attempt to intimidate McCain supporters and change their political views. He called it "domestic terrorism."

Scrutton is a big guy with a big voice, though, and he isn't afraid to share his opinion with anyone.

"Am I intimidated? No," he said, without waiting for an answer. "Are we scared? Not really."

Still, it was a frightening morning for the Scruttons.

Karen Scrutton was asleep near a ground-floor window about 10 feet from the sign a little after 1:30 a.m. Saturday when she was awakened by the sound of a beer bottle hitting the sign. She saw the flames and called for her husband, who was asleep upstairs.

Gene Scrutton called police and put out the fire with a garden hose. Within a few hours, two men were arrested, thanks in part to the Scruttons' son-in-law, Mark Ellison, a Marine who's served two tours of duty in Iraq and happens to live around the corner.

Ellison hid in some bushes and captured one of the suspects as he headed to a nearby pickup. The truck smelled of gasoline and was believed to be connected to the attack, Gene Scrutton said.

Leslie B. Luedtke and Kevin C. Robinson were charged with four counts each of manufacturing a destructive device and possessing a destructive device. Luedtke, who is accused of throwing the flaming bottle, also faces one count of reckless burning.

The Scruttons have been married for 31 years and operate a vacation rental business out of their home.

They raised four children in the house, working long hours selling Christmas trees each year to earn the money to send them to Catholic schools.

They're friendly with the neighbors, many of whom are Democrats.

"People in this neighborhood are very respectful," Karen Scrutton said. "They know we take kind of a minority view here in Sellwood."

Brian Milbauer has lived in a house across the street from the Scruttons for nearly a year. He called the attack "stupid" and "dangerous." And although he considers himself "very liberal," he doesn't mind the sign a bit.

"It's just a sign," Milbauer said. "If you're angry, you can vent that in a much more constructive way."

Reporter Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian contributed to this story. -- Stephen Beaven; stevebeaven@news.oregonian.com


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: 2008electionviolence; civilwar2; dncbrownshirts; electionviolence
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Displaying a non-conformist sign in a blue neighborhood in a blue city in a blue state is problematic at best...the McCain/Palin sign in our neighborhood lasted 3 days longer than the Fred Thompson sign, but, the result was still the same...trashed and scattered on the street. I think the only reason my US Flag has never been disturbed is that weekly I sharpen my machete...in plain view on the front porch.
1 posted on 10/14/2008 2:29:27 PM PDT by crazyhorse691
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To: crazyhorse691

I’m surprised they didn’t get a medal.


2 posted on 10/14/2008 2:31:06 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: crazyhorse691

That is outrageous. Hurling a fire bomb at someone’s house could easily destroy their home, not to mention injuring or killing someone. These punks should be charged with some serious crimes. What is wrong with these people? You never hear of McCain supporters physically abusing peoples’ property or threatening harm.


3 posted on 10/14/2008 2:32:44 PM PDT by AUJenn
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To: nickcarraway
I’m surprised they didn’t get a medal.

The probably will, after the fact. And get laid. That's what young liberal men are after, mostly.

4 posted on 10/14/2008 2:34:56 PM PDT by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
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To: crazyhorse691

To date, no black people have been assaulted by a White Republican for support Obama “the One” Obama.

However, Republicans are being verbally abused, threatened, and intimidated by Leftist supporters of Obama, yet if you read the news over the weekend the focus was entirely on the “hate” allegedly spewing from the “Right.”


5 posted on 10/14/2008 2:35:48 PM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: crazyhorse691
Within a few hours, two men were arrested, thanks in part to the Scruttons' son-in-law, Mark Ellison, a Marine who's served two tours of duty in Iraq and happens to live around the corner.

Hippies meet angry vet--would have paid a week's salary to witness that confrontation.

6 posted on 10/14/2008 2:36:47 PM PDT by randog (What the...?!)
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To: crazyhorse691

The family should also file a civil suit for assault.


7 posted on 10/14/2008 2:36:51 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: crazyhorse691

DD possession ? Isn’t that a Federal beef?


8 posted on 10/14/2008 2:37:15 PM PDT by rahbert
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To: crazyhorse691

Ah, those classy, highbrow libs.


9 posted on 10/14/2008 2:37:18 PM PDT by Melinda
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To: nickcarraway
The accepted method around here is that they get a trial by jury who finds them innocent of all charges and then the jurors take turns at at the microphone praising them as courageous heroes.I wish this was sarcasm.
10 posted on 10/14/2008 2:37:25 PM PDT by crazyhorse691 (McCain will screw the conservatives, but, Obama will screw the whole country.)
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To: crazyhorse691

“Leslie B. Luedtke and Kevin C. Robinson were charged with four counts each of manufacturing a destructive device and possessing a destructive device. Luedtke, who is accused of throwing the flaming bottle, also faces one count of reckless burning.”

Turn it around. If these were white guys trying to burn an Obama sign on a black person’s property, they would be charged with hate crimes facing 15 years.


11 posted on 10/14/2008 2:38:09 PM PDT by Integrityrocks
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To: randog
Hippies meet angry vet--would have paid a week's salary to witness that confrontation.

I'd bet money that sobbing took place.

12 posted on 10/14/2008 2:40:12 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: crazyhorse691

One house by where I live is on their fifth or sixth McCain yard sign over the last couple weeks.


13 posted on 10/14/2008 2:40:49 PM PDT by SW6906 (6 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, horsepower, guns and ammunition.)
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To: All

That sign was pretty close to the house.


14 posted on 10/14/2008 2:41:39 PM PDT by pepperhead (Kennedy's float, Mary Jo's don't!)
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To: Integrityrocks

We have brownshirts without uniforms in our midst.


15 posted on 10/14/2008 2:41:53 PM PDT by Luke21
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To: coconutt2000

Obama needs a new theme.

Avoid the Riots, Vote Obama!


16 posted on 10/14/2008 2:47:29 PM PDT by JRochelle
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To: crazyhorse691

Leslie and Kevin? I would have guessed Bernadine and Bill - but the destruction is a little less “mass” than their usual.


17 posted on 10/14/2008 2:53:09 PM PDT by branch15_5
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To: crazyhorse691

Good! I’m tired of this nonsense.

Free speech and free elections!


18 posted on 10/14/2008 2:54:22 PM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
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To: crazyhorse691
While in prison these felons may learn the meaning of private property rights when their sorry rear-ends become public property.
19 posted on 10/14/2008 2:59:05 PM PDT by Dream Warrior (Senator McCain was once the media darling, Look what happened.)
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To: JRochelle

Actually, I find that slogan quite brilliant and effective.

Please join with other like minded Freepers and take it to them!


20 posted on 10/14/2008 3:04:42 PM PDT by Gemsbok (Fight voter FRAUD (Acorn)(Obama) and be a poll worker or observer: Get in their face!!!)
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