Racist Anti-Obama Fliers Distributed In New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. — Some residents of a northwestern New Jersey town received fliers last weekend that criticized the prospect of Democrat Barack Obama becoming the first black president. One national watchdog group said it may be the first distribution of racist fliers during the campaign.

Roxbury Mayor Tim Smith said the fliers were left at about 25 to 50 of the township's 8,000 homes. They show unflattering photos of Obama, including one that makes him look like Osama bin Laden above text that says: "Black Ruled Nations most unstable and violent in the world."

The black-and-white flier cites poverty, HIV and unemployment rates in Haiti and South Africa and says: "The United States of America will be next! Why should we seal our fate by allowing a black ruler to destroy us?"

Smith said he was sickened by what had occurred.

"It's not at all representative of our community," he said "This is a place where people take care of each other and nobody cares where you're from or what you look like."

Police Chief Mark Noll said the fliers were left in plastic bags, weighted with rocks, on lawns, driveways and in mailboxes. They are signed by the League of American Patriots, a white supremacist group with an address in Butler, N.J., about 45 minutes from Roxbury.

Telephone and e-mail messages left Tuesday for the League of American Patriots were not returned.

News of the fliers was first reported Monday by The Star-Ledger of Newark.

Noll said the incident was being investigated as a possible littering violation and not a hate crime because the group did not target certain homes.

Heidi Beirich, a director of the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks white supremacist movements nationwide, said the organization has seen Internet, e-mailed threats and negative talk about Obama in the white supremacist world. The Roxbury incident was thought to be the first distribution of racist fliers during the campaign.

Obama's New Jersey campaign office also did not return a telephone call for comment Tuesday.

Comments

[Dissident Dexter]

What? We didn't expect the GOP to show their true colors at some point? This is not unexpected. And they will try worse before it's over.

[Concerned1]

It is a shame that this ignorance is so widespread.

[ccmd]

"Why should we seal our fate by allowing a black ruler to destroy us?"

How did you allow GWB to destroy us?????????

[loax]

There are racist everywher. What I find interesting about these clowns is that they did not have the balls to deliver them in person, but like the evil that they are, they slithered like snakes onto people's property to deliver this kind of hatred. What's the matter Neo-Nazi's? No Balls? what chickens.!

[RepublicanForObama]

McCain should denounce such tatics. Were are you McCain? Speak out against such tatics.

[MilesTone]

Why would he? He has no integrity.

[Whinger]

Well it tells the good people of New Jersey what the racist mentality thinks of them!

The shame of America rears up its ugly head!

[alady]

No offense my fellow Americans but I always wonder why white people run scared when they can't control people, a situation, events, etc. Like 911, terrorists, educated black people, what's the source of white-fear? The real source. correct me if I'm wrong, Blacks were shipped to America and enslaved by whites, not the other way around. Is it white genetic guilt? Just asking. Again, no offense.

[RepublicanForObama]

Good for you.

[Jabo22]

I grew up N.J. and still today talk via email with my childhood friends that live there.
It's safe to say that they havethat "jersey tude" towards Obama and it is very racist at times.

Unfortunately it's create a lot of tension between us.

[transparent]

Sounds like you've outgrown your childhood "friends." There's no excuse. Time to move on--you grew, they didn't.

[TurtleGuy]

I grew up in Woodbridge, NJ. Not much diversity around town. Then minorities started moving in in good sized numbers, a lot of the kids at the time did not like it. Started putting confederate flags on their trucks and stuff. Then the minority gangs beat the crap out of them for being idiots.

There's a lot of pseudo-racism around there. All talk, and when challenged, they shut right up. Sounds like this is a ploy to get a rise out of those groups.

[necer65]

The Republicans are getting so desperate that the are stooping to new lows.

[LittleSanityLeft]

This type of stuff only helps Obama's cause not hurt it. Some folks might have private biases about a black president but few people want to acknowledge having the same views as white supremacists add to that the fear tactic, I think most Americans are tired of being afraid and having other peoples agendas forced on them by fear instead of common sense.

[shubes61]

as a resident of NJ, this really p*sses me off.

"league of american patriots"?? more like league of american terrorists.

[lovable]

belive it they are rush limbagh cult members . has anyone noticed rush will never speak out against this and asy it is wrong. neither will bill o or hannity so their silence means they approve

[atila]

the sad and h.idden side of this beautiful Country,always struggling between the ignorance and the pre.judice...that's why Senator Obama Presidency could be the most important of the last two centuries because then i think we're going to change our perception about the world....

[ohioan73]

Hiding behind white sheets..this time made of paper instead of cotton. LOL! Cowards. Why don't they just organize a voting drive for McCain? They are turning people off from McCain by polarizing him as the candidate the crazy bigots support. Poor Johnny. LOL!!

McCain plays up to it by releasing sinister pointless attack ads that subliminally target bigots. "ZOMG! Obama called Palin a LIAR and good-looking!" "ZOMG! He's a pervert who want to teach sex to babies!". To me, it all points to one message: "Don't trust the oversexed black brute. He will pimp-slap Palin and he will molest your children."

I'm sure that if McCain didnt send subliminal messages to these freaks, they would say that anyway. McCain just justifies their sick baseless hatred.

[BLinCincinnati]

Don't forget their "Seal" ad (you can find it on YouTube) that was a dog whistle for "Obama is black and he'll give this country to the blacks and put white people in the fields".

[atila]

The sad and hidden side of this beautiful Country,always struggling between the ignorance and the prejudice...that's why i'm sure Senator Obama Presidency can help to change our perception about the world...