Anti-Obama Billboard Leads to Death Threats

Freedom of speech is protected under the Constitution everywhere in the United States — except Ozark, MO.

A billboard buyer there is receiving death threats after he brought an anti-Obama billboard to Ozark.

According to online reports, the buyer, Steve Critchfield, said he thought the billboard would lead to healthy discussions and debate — not death threats.

He says he’s received numerous death threats and accusations of hate speech and racism. “My partner and I felt lots of frustration here lately, and we liked that sign and we thought that was a reasonable question to ask,” Steve Critchfield said in a telephone interview on Monday.

“I’ve certainly voted for people I’m embarrassed to say I’ve voted for,” he said. “We’re not naïve enough to think that we wouldn’t get someone to be upset. I’m just surprised how upset people are.

“If everybody thinks [President Obama's] done a great job and they’re very happy,” he said, “then I guess they’d be buying billboards saying ‘I’m proud to have voted for him.’ That’s what makes America great, isn’t it?”

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Celebs Out & About: Rihanna, Akon, Brandy, Faith Evans, Guy Richie

Singer Rihanna showed off her cute belly button as she arrived at her hotel in Oahu, Hawaii. The Trini beauty is on the island shooting “Battleship,” a movie based on the popular Habro board game.  Photo: Flynet/INF Photo

R&B singer Brandy and her new “Dancing with the Stars” dance partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy enjoyed dinner together at, you guessed it: Katsuya restaurant. I hear Katsuya is co-owned by Ryan Seacrest, which explains why celebrities flock there to see and be seen.

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Twitter Love: Tiny Thanks Her Fans

Photos: Wireimage/Getty

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Celebs Out & About: Ne-Yo, Ludacris, Mika Means, D. Woods

Singer/Songwriter NE-YO hosted a listening party for his new CD at the Moet Rose Lounge at MF Sushi in Buckhead last night. It looks like the rolled up cuff look is here to stay. The gays have taken over, ladies. So get used to it.

Ludacris and his chocolate dipped manager Chaka Zulu also attended the event.

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Celebs Out & About: Alicia Keys, Usher, John Legend, Seal

According to People magazine, Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz returned to one of their favorite N.Y.C. eateries – Via dei Mille – for a romantic, and healthy, dinner. The expectant singer and her hubby shared a Caprese salad, mixed vegetable plate and sea bass. “They seemed so in love,” an onlooker says of the two, who held hands off and on during dinner. Says the onlooker: “There was not a moment of silence between the two.”

Afterwards, the two strolled arm in arm through the Tribecca district.

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T.I., Tiny and two others arrested; T.I. and Tiny’s families distraught

The families of rapper T.I. and his wife Tiny are said to be distraught after hearing the news of their arrests for possession of a controlled substance in L.A. last night.

According to TMZ, T.I.’s expensive Maybach was pulled over during a traffic stop around 10:30 pm west coast time. Police smelled marijuana in the car and conducted a search of the vehicle and its occupants.

Four people were arrested during the traffic stop. In addition to T.I. and Tiny, a man and a woman were also taken into custody. Industry insiders believe the male is Grand Hustle CEO Jason Geter, who always travels with T.I.

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New Couple Alert: Kanye West and Selita Ebanks

Troubled rapper Kanye West attended day 3 of the U.S. Open tennis match with his new love, part time model Selita Ebanks. The rapper and Ebanks laughed and cuddled together as they watched a match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens in New York City yesterday.

At least Kanye has good taste. I’m sure he’s happy that he dumped that cheating loser Amber Rose, who was only using him to further her own career — whatever that is.

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Shawty Lo’s Baby Mama Arrested for Carrying Gun into Courthouse

Rapper Shawty Lo’s longtime girlfriend and baby mama, Ecreia Perez, was arrested for carrying a loaded weapon into the Fulton County courthouse

Perez was taken into custody on Tuesday (Aug. 31) after police say she tried to sneak a stun gun “cleverly disguised” as a cell phone into the Fulton County Superior court.

When she was stopped and searched, police also found a loaded handgun in her possession.

Perez told police that she simply forgot the items were in her purse. There are indications that Perez may have been arrested for publicity purposes due to her notoriety. She was most likely arrested because they knew who she was.

It is not unusual for women in Atlanta to carry stun guns for their personal protection. It is easy to forget the item is in your purse especially if you are in a hurry.

For example, I walked into that same courthouse last year with a stun gun in my backpack. The sheriff simply placed my stun gun in a locker while I conducted my business and he returned it to me when I left.

Perez’s bail was set at $6,000 and she was released yesterday.

Perez and rapper Shawty Lo announced their engagement in June. But Shawty, real name Carlos Walker, broke off the engagement to his girlfriend of 10 years after he caught Perez allegedly cheating on him.

“Things happen. I can’t point no fingers (sic),” said Shawty in an interview with MTV. “We were separated, the engagement lasted probably a month. It was a 10-year relationship.”

He added: “Something happened that I found out. Me, being a man, you just can’t deal with certain stuff, put up with certain stuff. So, you know, it’s better for us to separate. I can’t talk about it. That my daughter’s mother. I got much respect for her. … (But) yeah, I’m single right now.”

The couple have a daughter together. He also has 9 other children from previous relationships.

Source: Fox 5

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