[Nonsuch]

From CBC, via Fark:
A Yukon artist has been censored by eBay for making fun of the Bush administration.

Dawson City artist John Steins has been ordered off the popular auction Web site for mocking Bush and other U.S. leaders in a series of hand-painted drawings.

Steins' art project is a parody of the "most wanted" deck of playing cards issued in the Iraqi war.

"George Bush is the ace of spades and (U.S. Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld is the queen of spades and so far down the line," Steins says.

"I think an artist has to use their talent to make a statement that they really believe in, though it might be really unpopular."

Ebay apparently banned the cards after receiving complaints from pro-Bush Americans.

Steins says he's also gotten plenty of angry emails from people who back U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

Since being forced off eBay, Steins has found another Internet outlet for his art. He owns the domain name, "thebushadministration.com" where he's posted the images for sale.

[shmerek]

Samples of his hate mail he received

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I find this highly racist and bigoted, I am reporting you to EBAY. By making
him the "QUEEN" of "SPADES" you are demeaning both gays and blacks!
I am highly offended!!!!!!!!!



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I see you're still selling the bigot cards you racist canadian puke.



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I see you're still selling your raciest crap you magotity canadian lump of
excrement.



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Why are you such an ignorant piece of ****? Notice how nobody wants
this garbage?



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Hey bonehead,
Couple of things to think about while you're slandering my country and
using an "American" company to put a few more bucks in your pocket.
That freedom that you have to express yourself politically on ebay and
other places comes at a cost. Iraqi's today are free to express themselves,
no thanks to the liberals like yourself. Of course we all know that had
Clinton or Gore invaded Iraq in the name of liberating the enslaved and
tormented Iraqi people you and other far lefties would have been singing
praises to what great men they were. I'm also quite certain you didn't open
your mouth when Clinton bombed Bosnia and many innocent people
were killed in the process. And Israel does a pretty good job of taking care
of themselves without our help removing Saddam. The fact is this. There
are evil regimes and goverments in the world and because the rest of you
(Canada included) lack the backbone to do anything about it, Bush went
forward with the support of Britain, Australia and the!
endorsement of most of the European countries. While I'm not a war
monger I do live in the real world where "good" and "bad" does exist
despite your bubble gum world of moral relativism. People like yourself
have no qualms about the thousands of Iraqi bodies uncovered from
mass graves because you're so concretely set in your moral relativism
world. Did you just turn off the TV when family members were uncovering
the bodies in those mass graves? I might add that Saddam had over half a
year to move or remove WMD's while the UN sat around doing their
impersonation of an impotent organization and it wouldn't take even that
much time to shuffle a few WMD's to neighboring countries for
safekeeping. Keep up the lame attempt to convince those of us with a
brain that you and the Hollywood lefties know more than anyone else
about how the world should be run.



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Are you French?



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it is people like you, that will assist the effort of evil to show up at dawn at
our respective capitols with our enemys in armored vehicles
smiling....there is nothing wrong with being the concience of balance and
fair play...we are in dangerous times here my northern friend....tred lightly
and with common sense.....



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You are a pathetic bag of wind. If you think that Donald Rumsfeld is
remotely equivalent to the Taliban you are demented.
You are a complete idiot.



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You bastard....starving kids in Iraq will finally eat because of Rumsfeld and
no help to sissy Canada....I hope you starve you jerk......RUMSFELD
RULES!!! Canada will always be in the Axis of Weasels!!!



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you're an idiot.



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lol Are you french that is the best one

[Bel_Esprit]

Ironically this will probably boost his sales. It was probably just a media stunt anyway. That 'Piss Christ' artist should try the same. Controversy sells.

[UNTeMac]

What the hell is so offensive about those cards?

[Beewee]

Yep, this is the America of today... if these emails are true I am ashamed to be an American. People have the right to disagree with other peoples beliefs and opinions and those that they disagree with have to right to express how they feel. But where in the constitution does it give someone the right to squelch the idea or opinion of another human being just because it doesn't conform with the standards of society?

The United States of America is a fad, patriotism is nothing more than a warm blanket of illusion that comforts the ignorant -making them believe that their country can do no wrong.

How did we go from a nation founded on tolerance and equality to a "Baby Empire" where might equals right and Majority Rules? This artist did what all good artists do; go against society and "normal" standards. He is the voice of the minority - those who think for themselves and challenge everything. He did it in a creative and original art style and I applaud his efforts.

[FauxCaster]

Isn't america great, you can sell all the porn you want on ebay, but exercise your right to political speech, you're out.

[ThinkInsane]

Ebay is private company, and have every right to pull anything they want. It's not a violation of anyones rights, it's their prerogative. Ebay making a business decision doesn't make me ashamed to be an American. If the government had MADE Ebay pull the item, then I would be ashamed. There's a big difference.

[villalobos]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
Ebay is private company, and have every right to pull anything they want. It's not a violation of anyones rights, it's their prerogative. Ebay making a business decision doesn't make me ashamed to be an American. If the government had MADE Ebay pull the item, then I would be ashamed. There's a big difference.

The result is the same though, it is called censorship. Not by the government, but still by a few people who govern the company.
Wasn't Ebay blasted for selling nazis paraphernalia some time ago? And clearly at the time did not show the same eagerness at self censorship? Troubling.

villa

Edit (addendum). No Colin Powell : it seems that the guy is succeeding in giving that image of the good guy who got involved in that mess in spite if himself. Very clever. I personally don't believe it at all....

[Nonsuch]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
Ebay is private company, and have every right to pull anything they want. It's not a violation of anyones rights, it's their prerogative. Ebay making a business decision doesn't make me ashamed to be an American.

How about all the people who wrote to eBay demanding the cards be taken down, presumeably threatening a boycott while they were at it?

[Lerkfish]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
Ebay is private company, and have every right to pull anything they want. It's not a violation of anyones rights, it's their prerogative. Ebay making a business decision doesn't make me ashamed to be an American. If the government had MADE Ebay pull the item, then I would be ashamed. There's a big difference.

agreed. No vendor is required to sell or forced to allow other to sell products it doesn't wish to be associated wtih on its premises/property.

I think they're being unnaturally petty in this instance, but that's their call.