"Our leader" billboard is proven authentic

[rawstory]

Okay, I was the biggest skeptic going into this but this billboard is not fake and I would not stake my credibility to put a huge photo on Raw Story without verification.

At least three reporters at the Orlando Sentinel told me they'd seen the photo. Another person, an editor, drove by the billboard for me to verify that it said "political public service message brought to you by clear channel." That was also confirmed. The editor also said there was another billboard bearing the same image that said it was paid for by "Charles w. crayson, jr."

Concurrently, the Letters Editor at the Orlando Sentinel Dixie Tate (where a letter to the editor was written about the billboard on Nov. 20) told me that they wouldn't have printed the letter were it false (that puts newspapers in legal limbo).

"You don't think we'd print a letter that was false, do you?" she said.

Here's some of the story from RAW STORY: http://rawstory.com

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. 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.”

The member, who declined to be named out of concern for their employer, discovered a second billboard bearing the same image along the same route, paid for by Charles W. Clayton Jr.

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

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.

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

Skinner or moderators: I'll happily get someone on the phone for you from the Sentinel to verify the images authenticity. I spent all day tracking it down. Thanks for your help and patience. As an aside, I am tracking down the legal issues, and calling Orlando AP when they get in (10am) to see if they might be interested in doing a story.

[Not Me]

1. I drove past it yesterday

and almost puked! And yes, it does clearly state that it is "brought to you as a public service by Clear Channel".

[nytemare]

9. Is it eastbound or westbound? n/t

[robbedvoter]

40. Posted on DU by eyewitness DU-er - Davhill on Nov 18

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2720788
inspired me to write this
http://robbedvoter.forclark.com/story/2004/11/19/125843/98

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. I'm really sorry to hear that

I was one of the doubters, too, because I just couldn't imagine that we've gone that far... :scared:

[highplainsdem]

3. Thanks for confirming this. By the way, did you see my reply to your post

in the other topic about this, where you asked about Charles W. Clayton, Jr.? I posted the results of some googling there. He's apparently a realtor/developer in Seminole County.

Since these billboards have more than one sponsor, it's likely this wasn't Clear Channel's idea originally, and someone high up in the GOP or at the White House came up with these hideous billboards.

(editing) I did some more googling this morning. Haven't found anything yet on Clayton giving directly to Bush-Cheney, but found web pages referring to his donations to the National Association of Home Builders PAC, and to Martinez.

[neebob]

4. That is some sick shit

Pretty soon it will be W with a halo, and then W with Jesus, and then W and Jesus with fighter jets. I simply cannot believe what's happened to this country in less than four years and can't even imagine what it's going to be like after four more.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Since the election isn't really over yet

aren't those signs a violation of election and campaign laws?

[rawstory]

6. Am tracking that down

Just called the Campaign Legal Center and left a message for their PR person, and waiting for the common cause person to get in.

Does anyone have a specific law they can point to? Someone said McCain-Feingold, but my vague and general impression is that because the voting is over, they may be out of the hay.

Also, for your own amusement, someone photographed this sign outside Tucson (also clear channel -- don't know if it is still there now, was there Nov. 03.





More here: http://www.cardhouse.com/travel/az/billboards/billboards.htm

[tanyev]

7. Damn!

Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer.

[nytemare]

10. Leader in German is Fuhrer....uggh.

I don't remember ever seing a billboard or poster of a president like this.

I am getting creeped out.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Try the local Supervisor of Elections

regard political signage laws. They cover all political signs, and political campaigns are very restricted has to what they can post and when.

I'm in the screen printing business and do political work and these signs set off my oh-oh meter big time.

[tyedyeto]

12. I have seen it

Not recently tho.....live south of Tucson and only go there when I need to go to Trader Joe's.
If my memory serves me right, it is on Alvernon north of I10.

[jdj]

26. info on Charles Clayton Contruction Inc, contact info

if he is indeed sponsoring this then he has entered the public arena in a major way and having foisted opinion on the public, the public nees to foist back. Hope this doesn't get me in trouble.

Charles Clayton Construction
2250 Lee Road, Suite 120
Winter Park, Florida 32789

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

this first link has a comment box. This guy (Clayton "the third" is pictured on the website, 2nd link).

http://www.charlesclayton.com/guestbook.htm , or [e-mail]

http://www.charlesclayton.com/

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. The election really is over

Any recount there might be is not covered by federal election laws restricting political speech. Those laws put limits on speech for a certain number of days before the election. The election was November 2.

[Stephanie]

16. That's what I think - it must violate something

Ask them if they would have done the same for Kerry.

[jmatthan]

8. Just sent this link

along with the photo to the International Media network.

Should be some comments coming in soon!!

Will probably see Moon hidden behind the Bush soon.

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

[rawstory]

14. Orlando AP: We don't plan story...

They've seen the signs but they don't plan a story on them unless there's a public response:

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.”

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

[Vote4Kerry]

41. What can DUers do to get this into mainstream news?

Who should we express our outrage to?!! If you can give us some good contacts, I will write a few nasty emails!!

[BlueStatesForever]

15. What if Clinton had done this?

We'd never, ever hear the end of it.

[jdj]

18. Why the hell don't Streisand and Heinz-Kerry have some put

up with Clinton on them saying "Best president ever???"

These people have so much dough, where the hell are they when we need them.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. Let me have a word with my pal Obi.

He says he senses a disturbance in the Force.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. These billboards are potentially a BIIIIIIG PR backlash!

One poster at rawstory said this:

"Do it! Get four people dressed in SS gear, and have them pose with the billboard. Make sure the swastikas can be seen! Hell, pay people to stand there all day in those uniforms! Don’t touch the sign; just pretend to be guarding it!"

I want people to do just that. I really do.

[jdj]

20. get a crowd of dubya supporters in cowboy gear waving little red books!

or something.

[crispini]

23. That's brilliant.

Just a bunck of people in Nazi uniforms saluting it. Preferably during AM / PM rush hour.

Wish I was there.....

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

29. And one of them delivering a faux-German speech on a soapbox!

...de Vaterland is PLAGUED vit LIBERALS und FAGGOTS und MONGREL RACES like ARABS and blah blah blah de STRENGTH von KRISTIAN FALUES! GOTT MIT UNS! (Crosses arms and gives the "Mussolini look").

[robertpaulsen]

33. And a choir with W armbands singing "Tomorrow Belongs to Me". n/t

[callous taoboy]

39. I would drive there day and night

to participate in this bit of fun. Can I wear jack boots?

[cmf]

19. Ein Fuhrer

I have little hope for this country.

[AllegroRondo]

22. And I thought I was going to have a boring weekend

looks like its time for a road trip with a couple cartons of eggs.

[Stephanie]

24. The other thread got locked

But we spent the whole day finding proof and I feel satisfied we have it - so can we unlock the other thread with the pix? This is a DU scoop and a front page story.

We have DU eyewitness in Orlando who have posted, we have confirmation from the Sentinel, we have the LTE that was published in the Sentinel two days ago complaining about the billboard. What else do you need to see - we will get it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2736955#2741211

[Liberal Mommy]

27. I can give Skinner the Sentinel phone number

I have the direct number for Michael Murphy at the Orlando Sentinel and he was quick to say that yes the billboard did in fact exist. Great job on the Raw Story report. This billboard is a sign of things to come... :scared:

[rawstory]

30. Give Skinner the number too, sure.

I gave him the AP number.

[Liberal Mommy]

31. All done

I just sent him a PM with the number.

[HeeBGBz]

25. What a great target for a tater gun

Or as I like to refer to them...Spud missles.

[OneTwentyoNine]

28. Didn't Clear Channel flatly deny there was such a sign??

How in the hell wouldn't they know,gawd what liars...

David

[rawstory]

32. Well, Jacksonville denied...

and Orlando wasn't there to comment. Maybe there's just not one in Jacksonville; there's no real way to know they'd know what was in Orlando from another market. Corporate still hasn't called me back for a comment, tho they've called twice to get more information about me, which was a bit creepy.

[bvar22]

34. Creep me OUT!!!

Somebody did some SERIOUS photoshop on the bush* pic.
The pic on the left is a crop from the billboard. The rest are unretouched photos of the REAL george bush*

[Stephanie]

35. Billboards are not photographs

They often look like paintings -

[LifeDuringWartime]

36. dead pic

do you have the link for it?

[bvar22]

38. You should be able to copy it from the post with right click.

I cropped the pic of bush* from a post on DU that showed the billboard. I added the pics of bush* from my files and uploaded to a host site.

[callous taoboy]

37. An idea-

A la Big Brother, let's start plastering every telephone pole in the land with whistleass photos.

[Vote4Kerry]

42. Michael Moore put billboard up on his site!

I sent him an email with the rawstory article.:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/