In July of 2008 I ordered a custom flag made that simply said 'NObama'. I placed it on my flagpole just beneath the American flag. This was part of my political statement for the 2008 presidential election. I also had McCain/Palin signs in my yard.
The McCain/Palin signs were stolen. I replaced them and they were swiped again. They couldn’t have been stolen faster if I had attached twenty-dollar bills to them.
After the election was over I continued to fly the 'NObama' flag. Why? I was dismayed by the media (print and broadcast) over the absolutely one-sided reporting of the issues. With few exceptions (Fox News) the media campaigned for Obama through their so-called news reports and pundit programs (such as the Chris Matthews show and their ilk).
My initial plan was to fly the 'NObama' flag through inauguration day to serve as a protest to the one-sided reporting that led many misinformed voters to cast their ballot for Obama. I had to put up with a jihad of misreporting during Bush’s two terms so this was an opportunity for me to express my opposition to ‘big media's’ Obama bias. Their malfeasance was partially responsible for the election results (McCain didn’t help much either). I understand that it changes nothing but I was not going to simply ‘take-it’ and keep my mouth shut.
My plans regarding the flying of the 'NObama' flag underwent a reevaluation on November 19th, 2008. While I was on my deck enjoying a nice November day I noticed an employee of the City of Overland Park, Kansas attempting to take a picture of my 'NObama' flag. The wind wasn’t cooperating so he was having difficulty getting a complete shot of the flag unfurled. I came to his aid and found that the picture was not for him but was in response to a complaint made to the City of Overland Park about my flag. The picture was for the City Attorney’s office where a ruling on the complaint would be made. I surmised that the complaint was purporting that my flag was offensive and that it should be taken down. I received an email that same day that said the City’s legal department had reviewed the complaint and that no action would be taken. My flag could still fly and my first amendment rights were upheld.
Several days later I received an anonymous letter that said the following:
“Dear Neighbor,
We are concerned – is your flag intended to be a threat to our president-elect? The election is over. It is time to take the flag down. Even our dear Senator McCain has declared that Senator Obama is his president too.
Please remove it – you have become the topic of the whole neighborhood – and not in a flattering way…”
I did not, I would not take my flag down – but someone did it for me anyway. On December 21st, 2008 my 'NObama' flag was stolen. That cinched it. I would not only replace the flag but I would fly it for an indeterminate period of time – not just until inauguration day.
On January 15th, 2009 I put up my new flag. It says:
NObama
No to Socialism
I expect someone will attempt to steal this flag too. I will replace it if that occurs.
On January 23rd, 2009 I received a second anonymous letter.
“To the Johnsons:
I am compelled to write this note to you, especially since our Presidential election has long been over and we now have a new President in the White House.
My family and many others in the neighborhood believe that your angry, ugly flag is not only disrespectful, but unpatriotic. Not all of us cared for President Bush, but we had to tolerate him; he was our president, after all. As a good American, we do what is right and back our president.
Coming in and out of our neighborhood is an embarrassment and I am saddened that I have to explain this negative flag to my children everyday.
If you are that upset, take your anger, and your negative, paranoid and narrow attitude and move to another country!”
On February 13th, 2009 I received a third anonymous letter.
“Dear NObama Flag House,
I am writing to ask you to please take down the NObama flag. I did not vote for him either, but it is time to support our country’s President. Regardless of how we feel about him, he is still the President of the United States.
After the election, I had a talk with my kids about respecting him even though we didn’t vote for him. How can I enforce that while driving by your house everyday?
If we root for him to fail, where does that leave us?
Please have some class and remove the flag. Please hang an American flag instead!”
On February 20th, 2009 I received a fourth anonymous letter (of sorts).
"Nice way to support our country asshole"
On March 12th, 2009 at 11:45 PM there were four people (teenagers I believe) standing around my flagpole. One of the individuals was attempting to untie the rope that is connected to the NObama flag in order to bring it down and steal it. Fortunately, I happened to look out my window and saw the crime in progress. I ran out my front door and called them a name appropriate for the occasion. Before they scattered like a bunch of scared rabbits one of them took a whack at my flagpole light and broke it.
I have replaced the flagpole light and I am back up and running. If they think they have upset me they are mistaken. I enjoy rattling liberals and warning America (well, my neighborhood at least) about the evils of socialism.
On April 2nd, 2009 after midnight there was another attempt to steal my NObama flag. The rope attached to the flagpole had been tampered with. Luckily, I have the NObama flag secured to the flagpole in a manner that will make it difficult to steal. Nonetheless, it is not invulnerable to these attacks.
Bring it on cowards - because that's all you've got. We conservatives have integrity, honesty, moral principles and most importantly, God. You and your kind on the other hand are bereft of these attributes. I pray for you as you march yourselves off the cliff and into the oblivion and hopelessness of a Godless existence. Government has become your god. You will forever be disappointed but God never disappoints those who put their faith in Him.
Take the flag if you can. This only demonstrates to me your deficient moral and intellectual capacity.
That brings us up-to-date with the 'NObama' flag saga. I will update this website as events unfold (or unravel as it seems to be occurring with some of my ‘can dish it out but can’t take it’ liberal neighbors).
I will also use this website to respond to those cowardly anonymous letters but next I want to share with you my perspective on the issues of the day so that you will understand why I persist in flying my 'NObama' flag. Click on the Conservative vs. Liberal tab.