Secret Service investigate after man hangs Obama effigy from a noose on his front lawn

Secret service intervening in a political issue?

Residents of a quiet southern California neighbourhood were shocked by a neighbour's decision to hang an effigy of President Obama in his front garden and even more astonished when the Secret Service came calling at his house a day later.

Agents arrived at the home of Eddie Million on Tuesday night after police received a complaint on Monday, and questioned the Moreno Valley man as to why he chose to hang a replica of the president from a tree.

Mr Million's tasteless Halloween decor has offended many as the image of Mr Obama - and in a wider context, an African American man - hanging from a noose, raised questions about the homeowner's motives and views on race.

An embarrassed Mr Million told The Press-Enterprise that the prank had not intended in any way to suggest he wished the president dead.

'This is just a misunderstanding. This is getting all blown out of proportion. It's down. It's gone. We didn't want to hurt the president,'  said the flooring company owner.  'It was just for a party.'

'A noose is scary. It’s Halloween. We have zombies in the back - figures, ghosts, zombies,' he explained of his choice to attach the Obama mask to a body and hang it.

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If the guy had put a Romney mask on the effigy, he would have been congratulated for his great sense of humor