Poison Pens for the President

Turning into their driveway on a night in late September, Harold and Romelee Harris noticed something missing -- a campaign sign touting John Kerry for president. It wasn't the first Kerry sign to be stolen from their yard in this well-to-do neighborhood in south Arlington, and so the couple wasn't surprised. Surprise came when they checked their mailbox and found a mean-spirited, vaguely threatening letter from an anonymous sender. The letter accused Kerry of lacking leadership, standing against God and the military, and favoring abortion, homosexuality, big government, welfare fraud, and high taxes. "Seven out of 10 people in Texas will vote for George Bush," the typewritten letter said. "Remember that as you advertise your support for John Kerry and all the issues above. People see your sign or bumper sticker and think, What an IDIOT!!!" Included was a copy of a newspaper editorial that criticized Kerry for claiming Bush misled the public about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. [more ]