 Not previously known for being politically outspoken, Pearcy made national news in February 2005 after displaying a stuffed American soldier's uniform hung with a noose on his home with the words, “Your Tax Dollars at Work.” After someone tore down that display, he replaced it with a similar display with the words, “Bush Lied, I Died.” That display was also torn down.Both vandalisms occurred while TV news crews were present and were captured on film, but the Sacramento District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the vandals.Pearcy eventually won a $5,000 judgment against one of the vandals, and he received an out-of-court settlement for $3,500 from another.