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
I’m surprised they didn’t get a medal.
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.
The probably will, after the fact. And get laid. That's what young liberal men are after, mostly.
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.”
Hippies meet angry vet--would have paid a week's salary to witness that confrontation.
The family should also file a civil suit for assault.
DD possession ? Isn’t that a Federal beef?
Ah, those classy, highbrow libs.
“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.
I'd bet money that sobbing took place.
One house by where I live is on their fifth or sixth McCain yard sign over the last couple weeks.
That sign was pretty close to the house.
We have brownshirts without uniforms in our midst.
Obama needs a new theme.
Avoid the Riots, Vote Obama!
Leslie and Kevin? I would have guessed Bernadine and Bill - but the destruction is a little less “mass” than their usual.
Good! I’m tired of this nonsense.
Free speech and free elections!
Actually, I find that slogan quite brilliant and effective.
Please join with other like minded Freepers and take it to them!
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