yet another reason to dislike Clear Channel

[juldea]

Warning: this is a knee-jerk anti-Bush post.

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. At our behest, a member of an Orlando media organization drove past the billboard on two occasions and verified that it was indeed the one pictured.

The billboard pictured, which is on I-4, says that it is a “political public service message brought to you by Clear Channel Outdoor.”

Full text, pictures: http://www.bluelemur.com/index.php?p=442

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I double-dog-dare someone to slap one of these (http://www.stampandshout.com/shop/bumper-stickers/ignorance-is-strength.php) up there.

[waya3k.livejournal.com]

Damn! What is this country coming to when anyone can rent a billboard and put whatever they want up there.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

This isn't "anyone". I don't object to the same billboard being put up by a senator (as is mentioned in the article). I object to this billboard being put up by a major media company as a "public service announcement."

[waya3k.livejournal.com]

Then let the shareholders vote their disaproval.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I am - which is why I'm posting the article here, to make sure the shareholders know about it.

[siderea]

Rent? Clear Channel is the owner of the billboard. There is no question about equal time for opposing view points; if you want to put up an opposing billboard, build your own.

Clear Channel is a media company in several markets, primarily radio (owning hundreds of stations across the country) but also billboards, live theaters (e.g. the Charles Playhouse in Boston), and the advertising on taxi cabs.

Clear Channel is unabashedly pro-Bush, donating directly and through services such as holding pro-Bush rallies.
b

[siderea]

Orlando, huh?

How about Miami? That would be totally, utterly cool.

(Cause that's where most of the Cuban expats are, a population which is Republican, but might indeed pull their heads from their asses long enough to notice, Hey! That's, like, so Fidel Castro!)

M

[jargo.livejournal.com]

They're sucking up to the wrong man, the President is a straight up delegator. They would be better off with a picture of Michael Powell with a tagline of "He's our Daddy."

[adalius.livejournal.com]

What I find hilarious is the people saying "This reeks of communism! Didn't Saddam have images of himself up all over? What next, statues?" Um, do these people not realize that Saddam issued almost every single one of those works to be put up? It wasn't like some party decided they liked him so much they'd do it on their own with their own money...

[baronbrian.livejournal.com]

Well a party did decide to do that but it was his party. It's the same here in that Clear Channel is Republican but this isn't anywhere near what Saddam was doing. I remember reading a book about a journalist who went to Iraq in 1990 and talked about how the pictures were EVERYWHERE.

[baronbrian.livejournal.com]

So when does the Daily Hate start?

[juldea.livejournal.com]

?

[baronbrian.livejournal.com]

1984?


(I know it's the Three Minute Hate but I'd think Daily Hate would be the starter package)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

oh RIGHT.

It's been a while since I read it.

[gyzki.livejournal.com]

I can respect their using their own billboard to express their political views, even though I disagree with the views. I just wonder if they appreciate how the title "Leader" translates into Spanish (Caudillo), Italian (Duce), or German (Führer).