WILKES-BARRE — Perhaps the 2016 presidential election was best displayed on Route 315 Friday, where a 70-year-old man dressed in a Chewbacca costume held a “Make America Great Again” sign in support of Republican Donald Trump.
Some 15 miles away, on West Center Street in Shavertown, a husband and wife, divided on their presidential allegiances, placed two signs on their front lawn — the husband’s for Trump and the wife’s for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
William and Elizabeth own the house and the signs. Because of concerns about their job security, they asked that their last name not be published.
“My husband is a hunter and believes in gun rights,” Elizabeth said. “I think Hillary will do the best job for the country. And I think Trump is crazy. In his eyes, I’d be a zero, I guess.”
Elizabeth said William put his sign up first. She said when they were at the Bloomsburg Fair, she bought a Hillary sign and put it next to her husband’s sign. She said the difference of presidential preference has not caused any problems in the household.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve disagreed on candidates,” she said. “He’s got his opinion and I’ve got mine. We watched the debates together and we laughed a lot. We even gave credit when a candidate came out with a good line, regardless of which one it was.”
Getting a point across
Back to Chewbacca, who actually is William “Clarker” Clark, 70, of Dupont. Clark said he dresses as the wookie character Chewbacca from the “Star Wars” movies to get noticed.
“If I was just dressed normal, nobody would even notice me,” Clark said. “Like Donald Trump, I want to make America great again.”
Clark, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and a retired master electrician, said he can be seen standing in high traffic areas holding his Trump sign and waving to passing vehicles.
“They blow their horns and give me the thumbs up,” Clark said. “I guess I’m getting my point across.”
Clark serves as first vice commander at the Pittston American Legion. On Saturday, he was headed to Turkey Hill in Exeter and later to the corner of Route 315 and Oak Street. He said he was wearing a shirt with American flags and eagles, but will use the Chewbacca suit again soon.
“Trump will turn this country around for the better,” Clark said. “Clinton is corrupt.”
Along the highways of Lackawanna and Monroe counties, there are five large billboards — each with “Trump” emblazoned across them — placed by a wealthy Republican who sincerely believes Trump’s “heart is in the right place.”
Politically polarized
But despite these outward displays of support for the candidates, what is more noticeable is the lack of yard signs and bumper stickers in this election cycle. A drive through the local landscape revealed that Trump and Clinton signs are few and far between. But to be fair, most signs — about 90 percent of those found — are for the Trump-Pence ticket.
Forty Fort psychologist Robert Griffin said it does seem there are less signs.
“Some people may not want to be associated with the socially unacceptable attitudes and behavior,” Griffin said. “It is said that the country is more polarized now than at any time since the Civil War. Knowledge of another’s political preference appears to filter emotional and mental reactions towards others.”
Griffin said the intensity of the partisanship is higher this time around, as well as more of it — mentally and emotionally.
“Violence is not just physical, but can be mental, emotional and social,” he said. “It is the most psychologically and physically violent campaign in our lifetimes. The political attacks are personally violent attacks in a way not seen before — of opponents’ core personalities and families.”
Unprecedented violence
Griffin said in considering displaying signs, people may internalize a fear of being psychologically abused as candidates have been, or, perhaps, having damage to their cars. He said Trump rallies have had an unprecedented level of violence — physical, emotional, and socially humiliating and shaming.
“This has been nurtured to produce attention, drama, energy, and engagement,” Griffin said. “The candidates are apparently the most disliked in polling history. There seems to be as much of being against another candidate as being for one’s own. Weaker levels of positive relating to the candidate one will vote for makes publicly identifying less a self expression.”
Therefor, the lack of yard signs and bumper stickers.
“Many people do not want to be personally associated with Hillary also, as she is not trusted to be honest by the overwhelming majority of Americans,” Griffin said. “She has also been subject to 25 years of hatred conditioning.”
Griffin said many people are waiting for the political storm to blow over, and life to be more normal and healthy again.
“Displaying yard signs may work against that a little, as people will remember,” he said.
Support via billboard
Those fears have not affected Robert Zabady to purchase five billboards in support of Trump. Zabady, who made a lot of money building nursing homes in the 1970s and still owns one, said the billboards are expensive, but he wouldn’t say what he paid to lease them for three months each.
Zabady, 76, and his wife, Terry, are Republicans who find the supposedly different standards for Clinton “just amazing.”
“Anybody else trying to get away with similar stuff would face severe penalties,” he said.
Zabady said, “Donald says some crazy stuff off the wall, but his heart is in the right place.” He said things need to change in the U.S. and Trump will get those things done.
“You can’t mess mess with our Constitution and the Second Amendment,” Zabady said. “And the future Supreme Court appointments will be critical.”
Zabady said he worries about America’s future for his grandchildren and their children.
“I love our country and Pennsylvania,” he said.
Zabady said he has received hundreds of calls about the billboards because his name and his wife’s name are on all five. He said one call was negative, the others were supportive.
“A lot of people, even Democrats, say they will vote for Trump,” he said. “I really don’t know what is going to happen. Nov. 8 will answer all the questions.”
A Trump billboard along Route 380 in Dunmore.
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A Trump billboard along Route 380 in Dunmore.
Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
A political sign Halloween display on Huntsville Road, complete with a jailed Hillary Clinton.
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A political sign Halloween display on Huntsville Road, complete with a jailed Hillary Clinton.
Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
A Trump billboard along Route 380 in Dunmore.
http://timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_1-1.jpg
A Trump billboard along Route 380 in Dunmore.
Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
Signs supporting the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are displayed in a front yard of a residence along West Center Street in Shavertown.
http://timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_electionsigns.jpg
Signs supporting the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are displayed in a front yard of a residence along West Center Street in Shavertown.
Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
William Clark, 70, stands on the side of busy Route 315 dressed as Chewbacca and holding a ‘Make America Great’ sign.
http://timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_TTL102916trump-supporter1.jpg
William Clark, 70, stands on the side of busy Route 315 dressed as Chewbacca and holding a ‘Make America Great’ sign.
Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
Psychologist: Support can carry stigma
By Bill O’Boyle
boboyle@timesleader.com
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.