Halloween decorations?

On the news the other day they were doing a short story on this house that had decorations hanging from their house, literally. There was a manikin dressed as Sara Palin being hung by her neck from the front of the house. At top of their house on the roof there was a McCain manikin and it looked like he was in the chimney on fire. The residents of the house say that it is part of their Halloween decorations. The following night i was watching the news again and there was a follow up story. Apparently the neighbors did not like the decorations and felt that they were too explicit and too extreme. Neighbors put up large curtain like objects to try to cover up the decorations.
In my opinion, this is a very controversial issue. The residents said it was partly their political views and partly in the spirit of Halloween. Yea, we all have the right to express how we feel and in reality they are not breaking any laws. However, it seems to be too much. Later on in the week there was a house that had an Obama manikin with a bloody knife to his neck and a sign that said "no obama." She was asked to take it down because it was considered racist. I do not see how hanging Palin by her neck is not racism when a bloody Obama is? There is such a double standard in our society. It is getting annoying.