By Jilian Fama
Some say that campaign ads are getting just ridiculous. But now it’s taken a turn to the truly bizarre. An Indiana man has auctioned off space on the side of his head, where he tattooed Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign “R” logo in a 5-by-2-inch spot for a bid of $15, 000.
Eric Hartsburg posted the eBay listing in August, and told ABC News that he was paid $15,000 by a Republican eBay user, who preferred to remain anonymous, to get the Romney logo permanently inked on the side of his head. Hartsburg, who is an Indiana native, told ABC News that he agreed because the tattoo was something that he could live with.
“I am a registered Republican and a Romney supporter,” Hartsburg said. “I didn’t mind getting this tattoo because it is something that I could live with and it’s something that I believe in.”
He wasn’t so enthusiastic about all of the bids he was offered. Hartsburg, whose fresh ink is only three days old, said that he actually rejected the highest bid because it was “lewd.” His only requirement for bidding on the ‘ad space’ was that it could not be racist or offensive.
Hartsburg says that the whole thing was done as a gag but now he believes his new tat has a purpose. He says he is trying to “educate people on his beliefs.”
“In the beginning it was done for gags and publicity, but now I see it as a way to encourage young people to vote.” He continued, “We have so many rights that we don’t utilize and young people need to exercise that right.”
The 30-year-old professional wrestler says that he wants his tattoo to send a message to young people. “I want young people to know that it’s O.K. to be young, and it’s O.K. to be a Republican. You don’t have to be rich or elderly to be labeled as a Republican, and I want everyone to know that.”
When asked about the reaction to his ink from the general public, Hartsburg admits that a lot of people look at him as a monster.