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Statuary Offense

When Chicago unleashed a herd of painted cows on its sidewalks-- followed by pigs, moose and fish in other cities--only art critics, who bemoaned the displays as lowbrow, ruined the fun.

When Chicago unleashed a herd of painted cows on its sidewalks-- followed by pigs, moose and fish in other cities--only art critics, who bemoaned the displays as lowbrow, ruined the fun. That was until politics in Washington, D.C., got into the act this spring, spoiling a lighthearted idea and reinforcing the city's reputation for cantankerousness.

Washington's animal art rip-off seemed like a natural: donkeys and elephants, the longtime symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties. But in a town that eats politics for lunch, some people complained that the choice of animals was, well, too political. The local Green Party argued that donkeys and elephants promote the two major parties at the expense of third parties. Washington should pick a different animal altogether, the Greens said, or else add their symbol--the sunflower--to the exhibit.

The D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities responded that the "Party Animals" exhibit is about art, not politics. Like so many debates in Washington, the whole question wound up in court. A federal judge sided with the city in April, releasing the colorful stampede of 100 donkeys and 100 elephants painted by local artists. The contentious animals will be on display through September.

Meanwhile, the Greens may try one last Washington tactic: a protest. Perhaps they are acting like party poopers, but they do have a point. In the 2000 presidential election, Green candidate Ralph Nader polled 5 percent of the D.C. vote, only 4 percentage points behind George W. Bush. "We do well in local races," says Scott McLarty, a spokesman for the D.C. Statehood Green Party. "We place better than Republicans an awful lot."

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