Palin Effigy Banned by eBay
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009 | Updated 12:00 AM EDT
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A mannequin dressed to look Republican vice-presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hangs from a rope in a Halloween yard display. The man who made the display tried to auction the mannequin on eBay but the site removed the post.
The creator of a noosed Sarah Palin mannequin that haunted a Halloween yard display apparently violated eBay's ethical guidelines when he uploaded a photograph of the effigy for an online auction.
The mannequin, dressed to look like the Republican vice presidential candidate, was put up for auction with a starting bid of $1,000 but was removed by eBay on Sunday night with little explanation.
ChadMichael Morrisette, a professional window dresser who created the Palin look-alike, believes he knows what irked eBay — the noose.
After the auction was canceled, he uploaded another photo without the noose and relisted the mannequin. It was still online Monday night, but no bids had been placed.
EBay did not give any specific reason but referred Morrisette to its policy on offensive material: "Sellers may not list items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial or religious intolerance, or items that promote organizations with such views."
The display prompted protests from West Hollywood officials and residents last fall, as reporters across the nation flocked to Morrisette's home for a look at the mannequin dangling from a noose. Concerned about possible danger to himself and his neighbors, Morrisette removed it days before the November election.
The first auction was timed to conclude on Inauguration Day, but the second auction will end Wednesday.
Morrisette said the winning bidder will also get a 4-foot-tall cardboard poster of John McCain's head and the noose.
