http://www.bluelemur.com/index.php?p=442

11/22/2004

Mysterious 'George W. Bush: Our leader' Clear Channel political public service billboard graces Orlando freeway

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 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.

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