Outrage as McDonald's flies U.S. flag upside-down and at half-mast as businesses close for a 'day of mourning' after Obama's re-election

Several American businesses reacted to the news of President Obama’s re-election with both anger and despair, as one McDonald’s location hung the Stars and Stripes upside-down and at half-mast.

Some diners at the Follansbee, West Virginia, restaurant could not believe their eyes when the say the flag on the day after Obama secured more electoral votes than Republican rival Mitt Romney.

An upside-down flag is a 'signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property,' according to federal law.

Flag flap: Some diners at the Follansbee, West Virginia, restaurant could not believe their eyes when they saw the flag on the day after Obama was re-elected

Romney won West Virginia in Tuesday night’s election – and its five electoral votes.

Karen Mezan, the McDonald's franchise owner, said in an emailed statement to WTOV-TV : "Unfortunately, a flag cable broke and during the process of trying the fix the flag, it was inadvertently turned upside down.

'It wasn't noticed that the flag was upside down until a customer inquired about it. We are working on fixing the flag right now. It's important to note that this was an accident, not intentional.'

While Old Glory flew in reverse in West Virginia, a Florida real estate mogul backed down from a pledge to lay off some or all of his 8,000 in protest of Obama’s victory.

Instead, David Siegel says he gave all of his workers a raise this week, to help them cope with new taxes and regulations that he believes the president will heap on in his second term.

Mr Siegel is perhaps known for his ambitious attempts to build the largest house in the world outside Orlando, Florida.

Threat: David Siegel has threatened to downsize Westgate Resorts if President Obama is re-elected

Grand: The unfinished ballroom at the couple's Florida home, which they hope will be worth $100million

Modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France, he hopes it will be worth $100million when it's completed.

The property magnate's 1,400-word rant was largely copied from a chain email which circulated around the time of the 2008 presidential election, according to Gawker .



Mr Siegel told Bloomberg BusinessWeek on Wednesday, the day after the election, that he hadn't laid off anyone - yet.

'I'm going to work my hardest to keep the company going and expand the best I can. We’ll see what happens,' he said.

He added that he had given all employees in his company a raise, at least five per cent, to 'help them handle the additional burdens the government will put on them.'

Political: Mr Siegel took credit for the success of George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election

Last month, Mr Siegel told his workers that the company was performing well, saying: 'The economy doesn't currently pose a threat to your job.

'What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration. Of course, as your employer, I can't tell you whom to vote for, and I certainly wouldn't interfere with your right to vote for whomever you choose. In fact, I encourage you to vote for whomever you think will serve your interests the best.'

He added: 'So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current president plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company.

'Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.

'So, when you make your decision to vote, ask yourself, which candidate understands the economics of business ownership and who doesn't? Whose policies will endanger your job?

Lavish: Mr Siegel's wife Jackie outside their multi-million-dollar home modelled on the Palace of Versailles

'Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable of protecting and saving your job.'

The 77-year-old starred alongside his wife Jackie, 46, in a documentary film titled 'Queen of Versailles,' chronicling the construction of the 30-bedroom house and the struggles of Mr Siegel's company during the financial crisis and recession.

The flamboyant businessman has previously boasted of using his employees for political ends.

He apparently surveyed his 8,000 workers before the 2000 election, and encouraged only those who supported Mr Bush to vote - an act which he believes brought the Republican victory in Florida, and therefore in the race as a whole.

In Bedford, Virginia, Lyons Jewelers posted a massive sign in the store window saying: 'Closed to mourn the loss of the America that our forefathers endowed to us.'

Signage: In Bedford, Virginia, Lyons Jewlers posted a massive sign in the store window saying: 'Closed to mourn the loss of the America that our forefathers endowed to us'

WDBJ-TV reports that the store also had a sign that said 'Shame on the U.S. and Virginia' and one that read 'Lyons will reopen tomorrow to continue the fight against a president who seeks my demise.'

Also on Wednesday, a man who claimed to own a business in Las Vegas called into a local radio station to announce he had fired 20 per cent of his staff.

The man, who called a talk radio program on KXNT, gave his name only as 'Dave' and said 'elections have consequences.'

He claimed that Tuesday night's victory for the Democratic president was the tipping point for him to decide that he needed to cut back his business to save money.

He said he had 114 employees and that he sacked 22 of them.