Fw: Gag me with a spoon, will ya? Time to reactivate the Clear Channel Boycott

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To:

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 7:51 PM

Gag me with a spoon, will ya? Time to reactivate the Clear Channel

Boycott

 

 

11/22/2004

Mysterious 'George W. Bush: Our leader' Clear Channel political public service

billboard graces Orlando freeway

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By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor

 

A billboard recently put up in Orlando bearing a smiling photograph of President

Bush with the words " Our Leader " is raising eyebrows among progressives who feel

the poster is akin to that of propaganda used by tyrannical regimes.

 

RAW STORY confirmed the billboard's existence Monday evening. The billboard

pictured, which is on I-4, says that it is a " political public service message

brought to you by Clear Channel Outdoor. "

 

A second billboard bearing the same image along the same route says it was paid

for by Charles W. Clayton Jr. Clayton's firm, Charles Clayton Construction, said

he was traveling this week and couldn't be reached for comment.

 

The Clear Channel-sponsored billboard was not lit up for drivers Monday evening.

The Clayton billboard was.

 

In response to inquiries from RAW STORY and the Associated Press, Clear Channel

Outdoor issued a statement asserting that the billboard's content was the

product of the local office of the company, and not a corporate decision.

 

It appeared to confirm that Clear Channel did indeed place the billboard in

question.

 

" Clear Channel Outdoor markets are operated locally, " Tony Alwin, Senior Vice

President, Creative for Clear Channel Outdoor, said. " Local managers determine

what copy to use when a location has time that is not sold to an advertiser. "

 

Clear Channel Outdoor Orlando said they could not respond to requests for

comment this week because their press person was " away. " They referred calls to

their San Antonio corporate parent, which did not return two messages for

comment.

 

The Orlando Associated Press bureau said they had seen at least one sign but

didn't plan a story. They suggested that the signs would only become a story

were there a public response to the billboards, and that the county in which

they were situated would probably meet the signs with " a warm response. "

 

One Orlando resident penned a concerned letter to the (registration-restricted)

Orlando Sentinel on Saturday about the billboard. As the site is restricted to

members, the letter appears below.

 

" The first thing I thought was, when was the last time I have seen a president

on a billboard? " wrote resident Dianna Lawson. " Didn't Saddam Hussein have his

picture up everywhere? What next, a statue? "

 

Orlando Sentinel Letters Editor Dixie Tate said they wouldn't have printed the

letter were it false. Other reporters at the Sentinel told RAW STORY they'd also

seen the billboard.

 

Others said they'd seen a similar sign in Jacksonville along I-95.

 

" We don't do political advertising, " said Jacksonville Clear Channel sales

representative Brad Parsons. He said the photograph was probably bogus.

 

A second Jacksonville rep acknowledged the company did political advertising but

only when paid for by a third party. When asked if he would look at the picture

for verification, he declined to give out his email address.

 

Common Cause, the public interest advocacy group, said the billboard probably

wasn't a violation of campaign finance regulations, but expressed concern about

Clear Channel's history and their use of billboard space to support the

Administration.

 

" I think it sort of exemplifies the fact that big media companies are going to

do all they can to stay on the good side of the administration because they're

very concerned about any efforts in Congress to challenge their ownership, "

Common Cause Vice President for Advocacy Celia Wexler said Tuesday.

 

" Clear Channel has a history of weighing in in controversial ways that don't

respect the diversity of opinion, " she added. " It is in keeping with Clear

Channel's vision of the world which is to not take seriously an effort to serve

the public interest or be non-partisan. "

 

The posted was first noticed by the liberal forum Democratic Underground.

 

 

 

The letter in the Orlando Sentinel:

 

Billboard message

 

On my way to work Wednesday morning, I looked up and saw a giant billboard with

a picture of George W. Bush and the words " OUR LEADER " under it. The first thing

I thought was, when was the last time I have seen a president on a billboard?

What is going on? Didn't Saddam Hussein have his picture up everywhere? What

next, a statue?

 

I am so concerned with our country and the division. I still stand by my vote,

which was for John Kerry. George W. Bush has a lot of work to do to change the

way I feel. Putting him up on a billboard does not make him a better president.

His actions speak louder than words.

 

I wonder if anyone else finds the president's picture on a billboard odd? I'm

sorry, but it reminds me of countries with dictators, and it seems people are

making him out to be the messiah, the savior of our world.

 

Fear, fear, fear. I'm tired of being afraid.

 

Dianna Lawson

Orlando