Special Note: The Easton Gazette has commented on the stealing and vandalizing of signs at the local, state and national level. It is a terrible sign that people have no respect for differing opinions in our country.
Guest Editorial by Kent Robertson
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The Talbot Republican Central Committee (TCRCC) has worked hard to promote our candidates,
including the erection of a couple dozen large Trump, Andy Harris, and Hogan signs around the county.
In just a week we have had one large sign near Trappe stolen, replaced, and stolen again, and last night
had two signs spray-painted on St Michaels Road just outside of St Michaels. These signs cost an average
of $100 each plus $15 for lumber, and sweat equity to dig post holes and erect the signs.
Vandalism of political signs is against the law and is punishable by jail time and hefty fines. Complaints
have been filed with the Sheriff’s Office. Many signs are now monitored by trail cameras. If we catch the
responsible parties, we will prosecute vigorously. TCRCC will pay a $500 reward to anyone whose
testimony leads to conviction. While spending two hours cleaning the paint off of the signs, I was cursed
at twice…”F–k You” and “F–k Trump” by people driving by. It was offset by some dozen or more
friendly honks and thumbs-up, and two people who stopped to ask if they could help.
This behavior is typical of people who have no respect for the Constitution, and specifically the First
Amendment, or of the election process in which we all express our opinions by peaceful, respectful
means. Sadly, the Democratic Party has encouraged behavior that stifles freedom of expression for
several years (witness Obama’s “get in their face” remarks), and seems to have little regard for the First
Amendment, as shown by the pressuring of Facebook and Twitter by the Biden/Harris Administration to
censor conservative thought. If we are to have a democracy of, by, and for the people, we must respect
each other’s right to think and say what we will. I hope that Democrats who are put off by this behavior
will chastise their brethren for acting this way. It isn’t pretty.
To be silent is to condone this behavior.
Jan Greenhawk, Author