Anti-Obama Vandalism: City Vehicles Spray Painted With Racial Attacks

MyFoxOrlando reports:

The Orlando Police Department found dozens of city owned vehicles vandalized Saturday.

The vandal or vandals appear to have political intentions; most of the vehicles were spray painted with anti Obama sayings, with 'Obama' misspelled several times. Some of their vehicles had their gas caps removed.

Officials said that gas caps were removed from several of the vehicles and they aren't sure if gas was stolen or if something could have been added to the tanks that will damage the engines.

More details from WFTV Orlando:

Phrases including "Obmama smokes crack" and others phrases with racial slurs were written in blue spray paint on the white city cars and trucks.

Other vehicles appeared to have had their gas tanks tampered with.

Along with the paint, hundreds of business cards were left on windshields.

The cards contain criticism of Obama on one side, and support for Hillary Clinton and her family on the other side.

The same cards were left on channel nine vehicles in Daytona Beach several weeks ago.

The vandalism happened the same night the Obama campaign kicked off its Florida organization with parties across the state.

Comments

[Nyla785]

I smell Republican 'opposition tactics' on this one.

[WillPower]

Republicans climbing fences, messing with gas tanks and spray painting? No, that's entirely a Democrat hobby.

I think you're under the wrong assumption that a Democrat cannot possibly be racist.

[1differentdrummer]

Whoa there, Mr. Rove. Where do you get you assumptions?

[livesimply]

Really? My former neighbors were diehard Bush supporters and they smoked and sold large quantities of marijuana and one of them acted in skin flicks with his girlfriend. Crime knows no political affiliation and usually criminals are apolitical, except for white collar criminals. Those are usually republicans.

[RJII]

I hope people finally realize racist behavior is much worst (violent) than holding a holding a sexist sign saying Go Back to the Kitchen. Let's hope it doesn't get worst this, but I'm betting it will.

Divisiveness motivates these nuts.

[PAposter]

Sounds like another attempt by Republicans to divide the Democratic party. The Obama hate, and Clinton praise, so damn obvious.

Don't play along!

[tasukibeth1]

Stay classy, PUMA

[w&cheneysuck]

Next, Rush will be arrested for insighting a riot....CAN'T wait for that!!!!

[HerbTee]

HuffPost's Pick

Folks, I lived in Daytona Beach, (Volusia County) Florida from 1979 to 1985 while attending college and I also worked two years as a Daytona Beach cop. I can say from personal experiences that Florida IS a racist state and is more racist than other states I’ve lived in. That’s saying a lot being born and raised in Georgia and lived short periods in south Alabama, 5 years in Arizona, 4 years in Texas, 3 years in Saint Louis, MO and years of military-related travel around the US. My 82 year old dad lives in west Volusia County and tells me negative racial attitudes and biases against African Americans are still very prevalent in FL.

At least when I lived in Daytona, Blacks attending major Daytona Speedway racing events like the Daytona 200 or Firecracker 400 were subject to racial taunts and slurs or waving of large Confederate flags near groups of Blacks to intimidate or cause problems.

I lived in FL during the McDuffie riots in Miami, racially biased treatment and extended Krome Avenue Detention Center incarceration of Haitian boat refugees and other racially charged incidents throughout the state. There were active KKK meetings and activity in Bunnell (Flagler County), FL north of Volusia County. Also, remember the 2000 Presidential voting disenfranchisement issues within the Black communities of many South FL counties?

I’ll never live long-term in FL again and will NEVER consider retiring there. The state is still racially and culturally backwards in many areas.

[Tommygun264]

I was raised in Florida, born in Georgia and living throughout South and North-Central Florida from the age of 5 until I joined the USAF at 21. I always knew that blatant, even hostile racists were tolerated, but it wasn't until I traveled to various areas of the US with the Air Force and then went back to visit that I realized how much subtle racism and even forms of unofficial segregation really existed in Florida. After my time in the service I settled in Honolulu, Hawaii, with perhaps the most ethnically diverse and racially mixed population in the US. We are not immune to racism and ethnic tensions here, but I have yet to find a place with a more diverse and tolerant population. Living in this town where Barack Obama was raised it is easy to understand how he has been able to adopt an attitude which transcends race.

[dac253]

I was raised on Oahu and you hit the nail on the head.

Differing "races" is a source of humor in the islands. Stereotypes are laughed at and it wasn't until I moved to Virginia (at 18 y/o) when I first heard the N word used in normal conversation and I was shocked to find that these people actually existed.

If only everyone was exposed to Frank DeLima at a young age, it'd be a much more peaceful world,... Dat crazy portagee!

[speakingtruth2power]

Obviously this is the work of well meaning Republicans,

much like those upstanding men who staged their own

protest at the chad counting event in Florida, Nov.,2000.

[olivia]

What could the motivation be? I mean, if your car was spray-painted, would you thoughtfully consider whatever was written on the accompanying business card?

[sisterdebmac]

Motivation? Stupidity. Period. You think it was Rethugs trying to frame Clintonistas? Or real Clintonistas who are just as dumb as Rethugs? Either way it's just retarded.

[longislandlol]

Will that retched State stop ruining it for the noble Democrats? Since Jebbie's reign it has become the most unlawful State-- and now with the handgun law-- they'll be giving license for lawlessness to the most redneck State in our Nation... and don't think that this unpopular State will give the repubs their VP-- McCain will play politics on this one- plus too many rumors out their on Charlie--

[politicalgenius]

But no, racism doesn't exist anymore and if it does, it's very overt - no one in their right mind could be openly racist and bigotted because this is the 21st Century. Additionally, black people need to get over slavery, like it was so hundreds of years ago. BHO becoming POTUS will fix the problem that racism and slavery and history left behind. (Please note the heavy sarcasm).

Classic, just when the rest of the free world was ready to praise America for the steps we had appeared to have been taking in fixing our image around the world, idiots like this serve as a constant reminder that we are indeed a prejudice society. Where are all the people screaming sexism for HRC now? Could they be some of the culprits behind the latest but certainly not the last hate-filled vandalism in the name of hating BHO. As an American who happens to be a black man, I don't owe the Clintons or any particular political party anything and the sooner they and their supporters realize that, the better our party will be. I didn't and won't vote for BHO because I identify with him, I did and will vote for him because I identify with his policies. Time for these delusionally, dogmatic supporters to stop being loyal to one family or party and first be an American.

[CEDobson]

politicalgenius:

I agree with you completely and it is definitely time to "first be an American." I cannot tell you how many times women have been questioned about whether they were voting for HC because she was a woman. I also cannot tell you how many times i have heard white people ask another white person how they could possibly vote for a black man, or that all black people are going to vote for BHO just because they are black.

For the first time in a long time, I am excited about voting because of the feeling of winds of change in the air and the belief that no matter green, black, white or polka-dotted, the world is ready for a candidate with sound judgment and policies that would make the U.S. a better place.

As much as I want BHO to win this election, racism is sadly alive and well in the U.S., and if we are lucky enough to see BHO in office, I will always be watching the news regarding his safety and have fear in my heart for him. I have the utmost respect and awe that BHO knows of these risks and is still willing to run for office because he is truly "first an American."

Thank you for your words! C.

[edwarvir]

CEDobson I agree with you, racism is a live and well in America.
That is why I am so sorry that Hill/Bill fed into it during the primaries.

They did this country and all of us who want to see Sentor O elected
as president of the United States a big injustice. I am praying for
him every day and I know GOD is going to take care of him.

[olivia]

SEXISM

[edwarvir]

Racism a care package from HIll and Bill The jealous idiots

[johnnygoodwud]

at least learn how to spell 'obama', you idiots.

[olivia]

Bored kids don't compose political comments and print them up on business cards. That takes forethought and organization. It just doesn't fit the profile of teenage vandals.

It might be Operation Chaos.

It might be PUMA. The loser encouraged her supporters to believe the nomination was stolen, with her fuzzy math and outright lies about the numbers repeated so often that they have become facts in the minds of some. Though I don't believe the Clntons are racists, she appealed to racism in others in an effort to save her losing campaign.

Maybe she believed all this damage would have been worth it if she had won. I think she took America back a decade and this is just one example of what she has wrought.

[CEDobson]

I must be one of very few on here with teenage kids. My daughter is 14 and extremely political (not vandalism extreme). Some of the things teenagers are talking about today would completely blow you away. Lets also not forget that there are groups of "kids" under the age of 25 who are extremely politically active. And lastly, lets not forget as well that Florida has one of the worst public school systems in the country (I'm not surprised by the poor spelling).

Are you following the fads today? You can get a hundred business cards for a few bucks.

I'm not going to believe for a second that an electoral party is responsible for this. They have enough money to slur a campaign through an ad on television rather than spray paint some car in Orlando and steal a few gas caps.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Still having trouble with the "MovingOn" stuff, huh Olivia.

[PlasticSpoon]

"kids" are more than capable of using their computers to print "business cards" from their home computer - probably why they misspelled Obama's name - no auto correct on the spray paint gun.

[ProfessorDuh]

Typical Republicans.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Yes, or even OBAMA supporters hoping to restir the becalming waters to achieve the sort of BACKLASH whose scent HuffPo's cohort of "politically correctness" INSTANTLY pick up. NOTHING roils the PC watchdogs of this blog like the faintest whiff(sp?) of so-called racial bias......

It all looks VERY CONTRIVED.....!

[Tommygun264]

And rape victims bring it on themselves because they wear short skirts. You're too busy blaming the victim to recognize your own prejudices.

[Colmore]

This has Karl Rove all over it. Probably paid the young people. Where would they get business cards?? The repubs. can't seem to act like adults. It is "win at any price" with them.