Halloween election display vandalized, Texas homeowners try again

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Likenesses of President Obama and Vice President Biden caught in a web were targeted by vandals who apparently took exception to this Halloween display in Colleyville, Texas. Neighbors helped build another one.

/ CBS DFW

(CBS) COLLEYVILLE, Texas - An anti-Obama Halloween display in suburban Dallas was targeted by vandals, but then the homeowner rebuilt it with a slightly less personal - but still political - message.

The original display drew complaints about the life-size depiction of President Obama hanging in a large spider web. A clown in the web represented Vice President Biden.

CBS DFW reports that homeowners Melissa and Glenn Cruson build the Halloween display every fall with items dominating the national headlines or pop culture, and said it was their way of commenting on what they felt was a circus.

But vandals destroyed it. Melissa Cruson discovered the heads of the characters were gone, so was an American flag, and signs were shredded. She reported the crime to the Colleyville police.

"We had numerous calls, numerous texts, asking what in the world happened, why is your display down?," she told CBS DFW.

She said dozens of people volunteered to rebuild it with a new message, and people donated money for materials.

"It became about differing opinions and whether or not do you have the right to speak your mind," said family friend Shannon Braun.

Tuesday evening, about two dozen people gathered at the home.

Cruson came up with a new display idea that she said she hoped would not cause any controversy, but still sent a message.

According to CBS DFW, there are now no characters in the large web. Mitt Romney was rebuilt next to an empty chair (see: Clint Eastwood). A large sign reads, "Thieves took the clowns, but the circus still remains."

"We didn't want anybody to think we took it down on our own because we believe in our rights to free speech and we believe in the message we were sending to begin with," Cruson said.

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