The Interocitor

A Climate of Fear?

I work in Santa Monica, a town that will probably never elect a Republican to anything. The city council is controlled by a rent-control advocacy group -- their candidate list holds 5 of the 7 seats and has for some time. It is still common to see Kucinich bumper stickers around town, and it is just assumed that all right-thinking persons think Bush is stupid, evil or both.

Now, are there Republicans here? Certainly. But are there Bush bumper stickers to be seen? Not often -- more old Gore stickers, actually. I don't have one either, for reasons better expressed here.

Many Republicans are afraid to put Bush-Cheney bumper stickers on their cars or signs on their lawns because they are afraid of physical retaliation from angry liberals.

It is not just that one sees few Bush-Cheney bumper stickers and lawn signs - even in areas in which one knows his support is high. I do not have such a bumper sticker or lawn sign. In fact, most Bush supporters I have asked, even those who are fairly passionate on the topic, just don't think the risk of a key-scratch or broken home or car window, or much worse, is worth whatever benefit one receives from a partisan bumper sticker or lawn sign. There are just too many personal stories of cars and homes defaced and damaged.

The sentiment is not symmetrical: One sees plenty of Kerry-Edwards bumber stickers and lawn signs - even in highly Republican neighborhoods. Indeed,one sees plenty of such stickers and signs that express left-wing sentiments much more intense and partisan than mere support of the Democratic presidential ticket. Not infrequently these stickers and signs mention some form of violence or even death with respect to Republican officials.