Democratic group removes Obama flag

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TAVARES, Fla., March 14 (UPI) -- A Florida Democratic group has taken down a flag that shows President Obama's head in the blue field usually reserved for the 50 stars.

Nancy Hurlbert, chairwoman of the Lake County Democratic Party, said the flag had been flying at the headquarters in Tavares for several months without complaint, the Orlando Sentinel reported. But she had it removed after several veterans objected to it.

"It's a cult of personality to show his face, like Stalin or Mao," John Masterjohn of Leesburg, a former Marine and retired schoolteacher, told the newspaper. "It's despicable. They don't realize how sick they are."

Hurlbert said the flag was donated to the county organization. Similar flags can be purchased on eBay.

"I was surprised," she said. "No one had called us. We have a phone."

Jim Lake, who teaches at the Stetson College of Law in Tampa, said the U.S. flag code contains no criminal penalties and altering a flag is not a crime.