herbie goes to washington

August 24th, 2008 · 231 comments

you say you’re politically engaged, but do you know where your candidate stands on…vanity license plates? are they:

a) a bombastic example of the first amendment in action

b) a potent symbol for the reductive nature of america’s two-party political system

c) unwise at any speed

still undecided? take a look at the tags rachel has on her car in austin, texas:

and the note she found recently on her windshield:

meanwhile, in blue-state land…

which led to this note posted in the office parking garage (and documented for us by melissa in long beach):

related: the audacity of theft
extra credit: license plates and the first amendment [nytimes.com]
extra extra credit: rock the vote!

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FILED UNDER: austin · california · long beach · parking · politics

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231 responses so far ↓

#1 snee

dear tony,

you have a lot of “crap” on your car.

snee

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:13 pm rating: +14

reply to this comment
- #1.1 Jesus
  
  I certainly agree.
  
  Nov 4, 2008 at 10:39 am rating: 0
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#2 Amber

told you guys we had some crazy obama fans in tx!

what what!

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:13 pm rating: +1

reply to this comment
- #2.1 zombieBlanco
  
  ummm,
  
  apparently some crazy obama haters also!
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:21 pm rating: +3
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#3 secondsout

Instead of your “marriage - one, man, one woman” decal, can I replace it with one that reads, “I’m a raging homophobe?” No? Would that be passive-aggressive of me? My bad.

Interesting that a guy who is advocating for discrimination wants to lecture people about tolerance.

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:24 pm rating: +98

reply to this comment
- #3.1 Canthz_B
  
  I’m with Tony. Those Mormons even tried to get a Presidential nomination this year. They’re getting out of hand, I tell ya!
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:39 pm rating: +14
- #3.2 ihityouinthenose
  
  Tony is a man driving a Volkswagen Beetle with a “Marriage - one man, one woman” decal. A Beetle! He doesn’t need another decal to advertise his homophobia.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:56 am rating: +13
- #3.3 addict
  
  but it’s a *turbo* beetle. that makes him a “real man,” right?
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 10:12 am rating: +3
- #3.4 Nate
  
  Over 30 thumbs up? I had no idea (wait yes I did) there were so many liberals on this site…
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 1:45 pm rating: +1
- #3.5 agirlie
  
  I think the sticker reading “gays should die” would be considered homophobic…not so much the whole marriage debate.
  
  It does seem tolerance leans one way!
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 2:10 pm rating: +26
- #3.6 Erika
  
  Tolerance includes letting people live their lives in peace when they’re not hurting anyone. Those people who refuse marriage equality to gays and lesbians are not tolerant.
  
  If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married.
  
  Aug 26, 2008 at 10:36 pm rating: +34
- #3.7 bob jones
  
  How very tolerant of you, Erika.
  Those people who don’t agree with you have no right whatsoever to their own opinions.
  Thanks for setting the record straight…is it ok if I say straight?
  
  Aug 26, 2008 at 11:07 pm rating: +8
- #3.8 GatorCat
  
  Are you serious? There’s no “disagreeing.” Banning gay marriage is discrimination, period.
  
  Aug 26, 2008 at 11:25 pm rating: +10
- #3.9 Canthz_B
  
  Thanks for the advice, Erika. I was just about to run out and get gay married and you stopped me!
  
  Aug 26, 2008 at 11:31 pm rating: +2
- #3.10 morpho aurora
  
  yes, banning gay marriage is discriminatory
  
  so is telling someone they can’t share their opinion
  
  Aug 26, 2008 at 11:31 pm rating: +6
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#4 secondsout

Does the magnet decal actually make noise? Otherwise, how would someone “silence” you by stealing it?

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:27 pm rating: +23

reply to this comment
- #4.1 se
  
  The same way that burning books “silences” the author. the same way that bombing a newspaper office “silences” an opinion. neither of these make noise.
  In 24.1, Canthz_B explains this bumper decal theft to you.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 6:23 pm rating: +9
- #4.2 mark
  
  All my bombing of newspapers and abortion clinics made noise. That is half the fun!!
  
  Aug 27, 2008 at 1:17 pm rating: 0
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#5 Mushroom

Plateframe: “Driver carries no cash - spent it all on this shiny car.”

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:28 pm rating: +5

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#6 Cara

Didn’t Tony realize its entirely possible that whoever stole the “one woman one man” piece of flair just liked it so much they wanted it for their very own?

Tony is just feeling sewwww oppressed over this! Poor fucking thing. What a hypocritical asshole.

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:34 pm rating: +32

reply to this comment
- #6.1 Canthz_B
  
  How is he a hypocrite?
  Is he tearing decals espousing views he disagrees with off of people’s cars?
  
  He says he respects their beliefs, he doesn’t have to agree with them.
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:49 pm rating: +32
- #6.2 me
  
  How does Tony know it was stolen in the first place? When those things get old, they fall off. How does he know it didn’t fly off somewhere down the road… it’s happened to me, but with my support the troops ribbon.
  
  Just sayin… chill out and get another one Tony
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 10:15 am rating: +4
- #6.3 AuntyBron
  
  THey also can come loose in the carwash when the power sprayer hits them.
  
  Aug 27, 2008 at 11:27 am rating: 0
- #6.4 AuntyBron
  
  Bugger! It won’t let me edit!
  
  Aug 27, 2008 at 11:28 am rating: 0
- #6.5 mark
  
  maybe his gay car took it off so that it wouldn’t be embarrassed at it’s gay marriage when it gay married a Prius.
  
  Aug 27, 2008 at 1:21 pm rating: +10
- #6.6 Arne
  
  That’s why I always buy two identical bumper stickers. Just in case one gets stolen (or my bumper falls off) OR someone else likes it so much I can give them an extra. NO B.O.!
  
  Oct 16, 2008 at 1:41 pm rating: 0
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#7 zombieBlanco

If Tony is storing his treasures in Heaven, why is he so worried about his 99¢ decal here on Earth?

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:35 pm rating: +64

reply to this comment
- #7.1 Wade
  
  Maybe because he can’t buy another one, since he carries no cash.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 8:27 am rating: +7
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#8 Canthz_B

It’s nice to see such ardent God-fearing, all-American patriotism on a German-made car!

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:35 pm rating: +46

reply to this comment
- #8.1 HopefulNebula
  
  My sister calls them “Nazi bubbles.”
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:37 pm rating: +41
- #8.2 noob
  
  there seems to be nothing wrong with a bit of good old german bashing.
  Nothing’s changed, fucking nazis. Bomb them back to the renaissance.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 10:10 am rating: +1
- #8.3 Kimberly
  
  I don’t know your sister but I officially love her for that.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 10:16 am rating: +7
- #8.4 hamburke
  
  haha - the VW was actually commissioned by Hitler during WWII and like Mercedes and BMW, they went commercial after the war. I love the phrase Nazi bubble! I’m going to have to use it even though my new fave car is the Passat convertible.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 8:19 pm rating: 0
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#9 morpho aurora

maybe they were trying to do tony a favor, looks like all those decals are messing up his paint.

ever notice the people with the most ~~idiot~~ religious stickers on the car are usually the worst drivers?

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:37 pm rating: +17

reply to this comment
- #9.1 Canthz_B
  
  Why else would they need a plastic Jesus on the dashboard?
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:42 pm rating: +11
- #9.2 morpho aurora
  
  the next one who pulls out in front of me and then goes 15 mph is gonna need god as his copilot and that slow ass guardian angel when i shove that bobblehead jesus up his ass.
  
  Aug 24, 2008 at 11:48 pm rating: +18
- #9.3 K Dog
  
  That’s always been my observation as well. I want to get a bumper sticker that says “Jesus wouldn’t have cut me off” or “Jesus would have let me in.”
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 11:12 am rating: +10
- #9.4 "Shill"
  
  Let’s be fair. The cars with the most stickers of any kind (including the ever-popular anti-Bush ones) have the worst drivers. Subject matter can’t make a raving lunatic sane.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 4:33 pm rating: +10
- #9.5 Stitchin-Liz
  
  True dat! Also, any check with a religious symbol or phrase on it is guaranteed to bounce. When I worked in order processing we were told to bring any such checks directly to the manager.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 6:54 pm rating: +3
- #9.6 mark
  
  You ever notice how our bigotry causes us to misjudge people.
  
  Aug 27, 2008 at 1:22 pm rating: +1
- #9.7 Arne
  
  Yeah… I used to work at a camp. Some poor kids dad drove up in a “wood” paneled station wagon w/ sooo many religious stickers all over the back windows. He gets out and he’s this neanderthal looking guy w/ 4 days stubble, a dirty wife beater, gut over the belt and a cigar stub hanging out of his mouth. Classic!
  
  Oct 16, 2008 at 1:46 pm rating: 0
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#10 Canthz_B

I think the plate in #1 is being misinterpreted.

It’s short for: Obstetrician - American Medical Association.

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:41 pm rating: +14

reply to this comment
- #10.1 agirlie
  
  or
  Over
  Beach
  And
  Mountain
  Anglers
  
  ??
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 2:12 pm rating: +2
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#11 Maddy

People! What can you do with them!
Cheers

Aug 24, 2008 at 11:46 pm rating: 0

reply to this comment
- #11.1 morpho aurora
  
  well, if you’ve got ketchup handy…
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 1:00 am rating: +13
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#12 Silliyak

Jonnie says you can make a hat, a broach, a terydactyl…

Aug 25, 2008 at 12:07 am rating: +5

reply to this comment
- #12.1 Crash
  
  And that you can steal random ass shit if you support gay marriage… GO USA !!
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 1:13 am rating: +7
- #12.2 Arne
  
  don’t forget soap and a lampshade..
  
  Oct 16, 2008 at 1:49 pm rating: 0
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#13 random bob

The thing with flaunting views of oppression: Aren’t they sort of, by definition, AGAINST the ideology of tolerance? So then, isn’t his claim about him being tolerant sort of… misplaced?

I love how they can try to push an agenda of INTOLERANCE and then complain about INTOLERANCE.

That’s the hypocrisy of it, for those of you above that don’t (didn’t) get it.

Aug 25, 2008 at 12:09 am rating: +42

reply to this comment
- #13.1 Canthz_B
  
  No. Disagreement is not intolerance or oppression.
  I can disagree with a lot of things that I tolerate.
  You disagree with Tony’s point of view and label him as intolerant because he feels a certain way about marriage and you may not feel the same way…I don’t see you as very tolerant of Tony’s point of view.
  It’s not like he advocated any violent actions be taken in support of his view.
  
  Now who’s the hypocrite?
  
  The fact is that your point of view is exactly what Tony talks about in his letter. “free speech only if my speech arees with your ponit of view, otherwise you say I’m oppressing you”
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:16 am rating: +35
- #13.2 random bob
  
  yeah, sorry, but if you’re of the view that PREVENTS a people from having rights, then by definition that’s INTOLERANCE. If you had your way (which largely right now you do), then a lot of people don’t have an opportunity. YOU are directly affecting their tangible rights, whereas in contrast, if they had THEIR way and got married, it doesn’t tangibly affect your rights whatsoever.
  
  gay marriage (does not equal) no more normal marriage.
  
  One way is tolerant of both, the other is INTOLERANT.
  
  Tony = INTOLERANT.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:21 am rating: +49
- #13.3 shane
  
  echo CB - disagreement with a view does not equal intolerance.
  
  Besides, gay men can marry all they want. I’m sure they can find some nice girl to settle down with.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:26 am rating: +9
- #13.4 Canthz_B
  
  You’re going to tell ME about OPPRESSION! HA!!!
  
  The person who took his decal was wrong and did it just because they were intolerant of his opinion.
  I don’t like Confederate flag license plates. I find them to be billboards of intolerance. I have no right to skulk about, screw-driver in hand, removing them.
  I can disagree with the person with the plates and still tolerate and respect his right to be the way he is.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:39 am rating: +21
- #13.5 morpho aurora
  
  not allowing someone to express an intolerant view is showing a lack of tolerance too
  
  i have enough trouble worrying about who i’m marrying, i don’t care who anyone else marries.
  
  if we are gonna do teams, i’d like
  team myofb
  and
  team keep your damn hands off other people’s stuff
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 12:43 am rating: +13
- #13.6 BurstingAtTheSeams
  
  I agree with Canthz_B.
  
  However, if you’ve got severely left-wing or right-wing views, people will always say you’re intolerent when you express your beliefs. It’s unfortunate, but you can also count on your stuff getting defaced.
  
  Worse yet, you may incite some kind of road rage that you’re completely unaware of until somebody intentionally rear ends you!
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 2:01 am rating: +5
- #13.7 kmd
  
  Oh, the lulz of car communication and the reactions thereto.
  
  I have 2 decals on the back of my car. Jesus fish, Darwin fish, kissing. With a little heart over them and everything. Cuz, you know, religion and science? Not really opposites, people. (And yes I mean you, Richard Dawkins. And you, Pat Robertson.)
  
  A friend has the same 2 decals on the back of her car. She lives in New Mexico. She reports that on numerous occasions some VERY TOLERANT person has ripped the Darwin fish off of her car, leaving only the decal of the Prince of Peace.
  
  Ennyhoo, I was driving down the highway with the top down, and someone was yelling from another car. Yelling at the top of his lungs. Couldn’t hear him until he hit just the right spot as he passed me and then I finally heard “CHOOSE JESUS!” Hee. Yeah, ok. I’m right there with ya, guy.
  
  Well, it’s good for the lulz.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 8:17 am rating: +10
- #13.8 unholyghost2003
  
  Random Bob,
  Ummm have you NEVER seen South Park? Try “The Death Camp of Tolerance” the difference between ‘TOLERANCE’ and ‘ACCEPTANCE’ is explained very clearly, and with CARTOONS!
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 8:32 am rating: +5
- #13.9 Goldie
  
  Kmd, love this idea about the two fishies. I’ve got to try that one myself!
  
  Also, people better not rip shit off my car. The poor vehicle is in its golden years where any unexpected physical contact can cause it to suddenly stop working.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 9:18 am rating: +2
- #13.10 hamburke
  
  I want a 2 fishies too! I think that living in one of the most “traditional” Catholic Diocese in the US and being Catholic might just throw a few Knights of Columbus into a tizzy after Mass just before their kid wrecks my car trying to take it off.
  
  Aug 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm rating: +2
- #13.11 Kalakalot
  
  “The person who took his decal was wrong and did it just because they were intolerant of his opini

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