The birth of a notion: How "Sore Loserman' has spread

A Michigan man's mock Gore-Lieberman signs are everywhere, thanks to the Internet's influence.

Given the opportunity, and just a little bit of computer expertise, anyone can become a political satirist these days.

With just a few minutes of tinkering on his personal computer, Rich Taylor, 38, of Muskegon, Mich., was able to transform the Democratic ticket's campaign sign from "Gore Lieberman 2000" into "Sore Loserman 2000." Taylor posted his mock sign on the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com a few days after the election. Now the sign is ubiquitous _ on the Internet, on TV and at Republican rallies protesting the delay in the election results.

Taylor's sign was recently featured on the main screen greeting millions of subscribers to America Online. And, yes, there are T-shirts, coffee mugs and buttons to come.

Taylor had been reading comments posted on FreeRepublic "and someone said, "Gore's a sore loser,' and someone else said, "Yeah, he's a loser, man,' and it just came together," said Taylor, who develops electronic products. "I've never seen anything spread so fast."

So fast that Taylor is having trouble with people trying to sell his copyrighted design.

"Everyone seems to be making money off it but me," Taylor said.

_ WASHINGTON POST