I'm amazed that anyone thought this could go forward under a right wing government. No Right wing government in history anywhere has ever supported free speech or democracy.

I am sure there are many Democratic business that use Lamar billboards for their businesses. It might help if several of them made personal requests as well.

Threats to the pocketbooks seem to make a big impression on these folks.

Consider it done!

Folks, are we in high school again? Is this the best our Democratic leadership can come up with? How petty is it to take out these billboards against this amateur congresswoman who doesn't deserve 1 minute of our time?

I get it, forget about tackling real issues in a real way, let's put up dumb billboards.

What has this party come to?

Once Reagan got rid of the fairness doctrine in the media, free speech became the privilege of the rich and powerful not the common man. This is just another example of how they are trying to stop people from sharing views different from the Bushiviks.

I loved the exchange on Hardball tonight between Ron Reagan and Pat Buchanan about the Pentagon's use of bribes to get favorable stories in the Iraqi media. Even Matthews had to shake his head over Buchanan's view that it's perfectly acceptable to lie to people that you are trying to win over...even in this country.

It's become the first tennet of the Republican Party. They see nothing wrong with lying and bribery...treason, incompetence, croynism, and fraud. How they think they can sell anyone on this stupid occupation with such a blatant disregard for integrity is a mystery to me.

After Abu Ghraibe, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised by anything they do. We are a nation afloat in a sea of lies and mediocrity...the leapers of the civilized world. I only wish our brave men and women of the arm forces were not being used as pawns.

Lamar is easy to find on the internet. Perhaps we should fill their inbox with outrage at their behavior in the Cinn. and Huntington areas. Yes, sign the letter from the Dems but a personal criticism from a few thousand people may also have an impact.

While I agree with the right to freedom of speech - even using a billboard to do it - I really wish this party would sit down and come up with a solid alternative to the plan President Bush laid out yesterday. His doesn't talk specifics - a Democrat version should.
C'mon, Howard, Harry, Nancy and crew...let's get a move on and show this country Democrats have strength - and a plan!

E-mails and letters are easy to ignore. GAmtn is right that boycotting Lamar's business would be the most effective strategy. Most of us do not have that option but we can call their headquarters and let them know what we think of this. Lamar might start getting the message if enough people call. Their number is (225) 926-1000. Another option is faxing your message (225) 926-1005. Again, this are much harder to ignore.

odd question but is Lamar the only billboard outfit in the district? If so this could open them up to an anti-trust case. Just a thought.

Re: Lamar ... if they consider the proposed billboards "too negative", what exactly do they consider the bile exiting this emaciated hag's mouth on the floor of the House ?

Consider: tying this company up in suits in every available venue, state and Federal, including breach of contract, class actions for violation of our Constitutional rights, and every other possibility ... granted it's Ohio, but maybe there are still a few fair-minded judges there ... and the threat of suits might be enough; secondly, threaten -with every intention of carrying through- a boycott of every company advertising in any way with Lamar ... like the suits this hits them in the pocketbook and that is a rebubbacan's most vital spot; print and distribute these [which I consider waaay too bland for this b^@*h's actions] as yard signs and window posters and bumper stickers and inundate the areas around her home in Ohio, her local office, her D.C. area residence, her route to work, etc.; and why hasn't Congresswoman Pelosi introduced a CENTURE MOTION ?

I cry for my bretheren.

They want to give Jean Schmidt and her ilk the freedom to say and do anything they wish to our Veterans, but condemn their own for using their first amendment rights and revealing the truth to the people.

THAT IS BACKWARDS!

It is time for the democrat party to get off their high horse and realize their lies to the american people is what is hurting america right now. I applaud the CEO of Lamar for not falling for the parties lies. It is time for this party to stop twisting the truth and leaders of this party, even war veterans, to stop insulting and degrading our troops.

Now this is just getting asinine. Get the money back that you paid Lamar and be done with it. Sue them for breach of contract if you have to, but don't waste any more time on this than you already have.

I bet you collected enough money for a really good 4-color mailing or for full-page ads in every major Ohio newspaper. Get creative, people. Billboards aren't your only free speech outlet.

What was the content of the rejected ad? It's hard for me to get mad about the rejection if I don't know what the ad looked like. I can imagine some ads that I would reject... where's the link to the picture?

Can the Democrats please stop playing childish games like this billboard stunt and work on a coherent plan for this country? The only thing worse than the disastrous administration we have is the pathetic Democratic response to it. If I get one more email asking me to sign some asinine petition demanding an apology for this or putting up a billboard for that Republican action, I'll scream. It really is like a child who feels a need to pinch the kid who keeps pinching him.

Have you seen the polls that show Democrats are viewed lower by most people in the country than Republicans? There's a reason for that - it's called not having a plan. Lay out what you would do to change things - not just all the bad things Republicans are doing. Give people a realistic, alternative message to what we have and you will see people respond.

Although given the three idiots we have running this party now (Reid, Pelosi, Dean), doing anything that doesn't include histrionics is probably impossible....

This blog is just great!

I have used the name KarlRove in the past and also GarhardtWulf to post here. But it seems that the DNC does not like the truths that come from me so they blocked both of those accounts and I cannot post on this site by using either of them.

This is just perfect! While the DNC is so irate, because they can't have their ad displayed on billboards, they are also preventing me from posting on this blog.

Hypocritical? Damn Right!

I want to continue posting here but this is not my site I support the DNC in blocking me again if they wish. They own this site! Not me.

Lamars has every right to decline business to the DNC.

Let's just see how long they let me post with this account.

God Bless America!

Is there any way to find out if Lamar has allowed "negative" ads by Republican campaigners in the last election cycle? Also, how can they quantify "too" negative? Is it actually called "too" truthful?

Posted by Ninilee on December 2, 2005 at 01:15 PM

This was posted last night on Kos:

"a quick Google search on "lamar advertising reject billboard" shows that they are a non-partisan rejection slip -- they've rejected one from a minister trying to tell gays they can change, one from a conservative group going after a liberal incumbent, one from a gay group in the South, one from PETA -- pretty much rejecting anything that is higher than 2 on the snark scale. (In fact, one rejection was of a shark billboard, so I guess it was high on snark AND shark.)

I don't think it's conservative versus liberal, politically; I think it's conservative versus risk, financially.

Still a shame, and still a breach of contract if there was actually a contract. BUT, I also saw a reference the language of their contract that says they can refuse to run a billboard if they deem the content offensive."

FIRE UP THE MAILING LIST!!!! Send an email to everyone on our mailing list, telling them about this, and get them to sign the letter as well!

Every person who gave money to this will want to sign that letter. So will every person who wanted to give money and couldn't, everyone who was appalled at Schmidt's remark, and frankly nearly every Democrat across the country.

Let's give these people hell! Send them a letter signed by hundreds of thousands of people!

Tell MoveOn.org about this! They'll jump right on the case of fighting this blatant censorship, and get their 3 million memebers to complain as well. We should NOT take this lying down!

Let's scare the heck out of them!

Laughable if it wasnt so serious.

As Vice-President of an Advertising Firm, I do have SOME direction of where much our media buys go.

I certainly know where those buys will NOT go. Lamar has been a viable part of my team-----until now. There are alternatives for my firm's ad placements. Their decision has just made some of my media alternatives very happy for Christmas. Arranging contract changes for clients now. Outrage does not begin to describe my opinion of Lamar's multiple decisions.

Talk about UN-AMERICAN, UN-PATRIOTIC!

What's missing here is an explanation of

"This rejection came more than 24 hours after the DNC had signed a contract with Lamar and 48 hours after they had accepted the artwork for the billboards you helped pay to put up."

There is a part of me that thinks you are wasting energy and money with billboards, especially on such a fleeting thing. The woman was ordered to say what she did (she has admitted that). Call attention to the puppetmasters - they are bigger fish than the puppets.

Still, since they had accepted the artwork already, this suggests intervention. Any likely suspects? Perhaps that could be a more fruitful focus at this point.

ok, so these bozos don;t wanna honor their committment and place those billboard ads then lets build our own. place a call for $$ and let's build our own damn billboard.
or, take the billboard budget to take out ads in papers in her district. there are other PR media we can nail her with.

ok, so these bozos don;t wanna honor their committment and place those billboard ads then lets build our own. place a call for $$ and let's build our own damn billboard.
or, take the billboard budget to take out ads in papers in her district. there are other PR media we can nail her with.
http://einkleinesblog.blogspot.com/

I can't believe some of the ding a lings on this thread...........whine whine whine.......sue sue sue..............being objective is what it is all about........if i read correctly, the main lead in states "OUR" signed contract.......could it possibly be one sided??????????? duh!!!! Sounds to me it could possibly be... Some of you sue hearty people need to get off of your butts and quit trying to get, or suggest to get.....something for nothing......don't go after the people that declined to accept your business........go directly after the woman that is cause for your grief.......I am a war veteran and 2 generations before me were war veterans and IMHO, what the yang yang from PA said, was totally wrong........shades of 1970's. Quit all of yer friggin fightin amoungst yourselves and get a creative plan together for 08.............quit your whining...

I think the billboards are a great idea. We should be screaming from the street corner. Where the hell is everyone who protested Nixon and the Vietnam war? Boycott Lamar and call or e-mail them telling them what you think. Cabojoe

You know, I'm sick and tired of you whimps that are afraid to get out in public and voice your opinion. My bumper stickers that I bought two years ago apply today. I was in the minority then and the majority now. I was open for a fight then on the issues and I am just as vocal now. Nothing beats marching down the interstate in protest. cabojoe

The AP has picked up on the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_re_us/anti_schmidt_billboards

Hey Josh

Please delete the village idiot who keeps posting the same Rush Limbaugh message over and over again. This adds nothing to debate or anything. Its just asinine and puerile garbage.

The people posting anti billboard posts are just troop hating neocons who have been sent by Rush Limbaugh on one of his drug rants.

As usual, a troll came by and claimed that his 'free speech' rights are being denied if he can't post on the blog.

Did he pay for the right to do so? The URL of this blog indicates that it is not a free site. So, the Democratic party is spending money for people's posts to be up here. Hence they have every right to delete any post they want to because it's on their nickel.

The case here, in contrast is that the DNC paid for the billboard.

And even if it was free, they still have the right as the blog administrators to steer the discussion and get rid of posts that aren't topical (which nearly all troll posts aren't). I have a (free) blog, and I generally let posts stay up, except for those that are either spam, attacks on other posters or include obscene language. But that is my call. The DNC takes the time (probably by people who are paid a salary for that time) to administer this blog, so they have the right to make the call on what stays and what does not. I may have the right to say or write what I want, but I don't have the right to expect someone else to have to keep what I wrote up on their property.

I have been personally contacted by Kevin Reilly the CEO of Lamar who tells me that they would not run the ad because they wanted to include a standard disclaimer. If this is true then our party is just as guilty of perpetuating propaganda as the other side and that sickens me.

Ok... the congresswoman is shameless! But c'mon, why are we stooping to the Republicans' level?! There are far more important issues we can get mad about!

I think the billboards are a great idea. It hit's the Republicans right in the emotional gut. If Democrats stick to high minded policy debates we may win the intellectual vote, but that and a dollar will still only get you a cup of coffee.
On another note, , it seems to me that there may be some Republicans who see this as
effective, writing in on this blog to try to get the party to abandon this idea.
I don't think we should be faint hearted about this. Lamar needs to be probed to see if they have done this in the past, to see whether this policy was just devised to stop Democratic advertising. If so, I think we not only have to put economic pressure on them but on some of the big companies that advertise with them.

If there's anyone in Mean Jean's district reading this, I have a question: do you know where some of Lamar's billboards are? And have you ever seen the effect a fully-loaded paintball gun has on a billboard? No special reason; I was just wondering.

This is shameful. Lamar is not a right wing company and is not "red". My understanding is that all they wanted was to note "paid for by the DNC" clearly placed on the ads. I am starting to wonder about the DNC's motives, I feel used and degraded by this and wonder how many other times I have been used. Backfire. Jan Falk, LCSW

to billboard company what has schmidt do for you

to billboard company what has schmidt do for you

I agree with all of you who dislike the entire idea of using billboards. Many of us do not like or agree with responding to the GOP with a poke in the eye. It is a waste of financial resources for the DNC. It is also a meaningless way to carry a message to the public. DEMS have become the laughing stock of the media. There is so much infighting to our party. We, rather deservedly, look like a lame choice with no plans of our own to put forth. I want a bipartisan plan that gets us out of Iraq as soon as possible. I want a plan that hopes to decrease the poverty so prevalent in the USA. I want health care for all children and needy adults. I want a comprehensive plan for security within the USA from terrorism. Well, I have a long wish list--none of which relates to negative campaigning against the GOP.

Stop donating to petty nonsense!

This some more of the same justice or lack of it that will not allow the oppostions voice. Outragous.

This some more of the same justice or lack of it that will not allow the oppostions voice. Outragous.

Let's start a BOYCOTT of all advertisers on Lamar billboards. I was an executive in the outdoor advertising business many years ago and I am convinced this would be a successful way of making our point. All good Democrats in the country should boycott ALL of LAMAR's advertiser's products--and make it known to Lamar and their advertisers that they are attempting to squelch free speech in the USA.

ES

This makes me laugh!

This has nothing to do with free speech. Show me the line in the constitution where it says that you have the right to use other peoples property to convey you message.

If you don't like Lamars way of doing buisness, then go someplace else. Quit being such big babies.

Would you defened a lieutenant in the Air National Guard if a person or group tried to descredit them?

...I didn't think so.

God Bless America!

Um, yea. Good idea with the letter and all, but can you please spell "general counsel" correctly?

Feel free to remove this posting after amending the error.

******
....Our General Council, Joe Sandler, drafted a letter this afternoon that we plan to send to Lamar President and CEO Kevin P. Reilly, Jr. We thought that before we mailed it, you probably wanted to sign on as well. You can do that by clicking here: http://www.democrats.org/lamar. ********

This is a silly and stupid issue. The DNC is using us to negotiate. Lamar has been forthright in thier negotiations and the DNC is using retribution. I have seen soooo many outrageous billboards especially in the South for crazy right to life causes (with dead fetuses, etc.) and I am hopeful that no one takes it seriously. I do think there should be a campaign against Jean Schmidt but this is no way to go about it.This has been a real learning experience for me about self examination. I have constantly stood against others who go with the argument, "oh, everyone in politics is corrupt, so it doesnt make any difference..." (so I dont vote, so I dont care, so I feel defeated) and I have said, No the dems are different, we stand for...(you know the rhetoric) Now I wonder how true it is. Do they even read this thread????

Does everyone here forget that Lamar has freedome of speech too? They do not have to put anything up for anyone. The DNC still has complete freedom of speech. Just put up your own billboard. Or buy Lamar, etc..... Lamar and the DNC have the same freedoms. I do not know if the reason for the rejection was political, but it doesn't matter. I cannot force the DNC to put up an ad for a Republican on their website, can I? Same thing.... Freedom goes BOTH ways.

All the power to Rep. Jean Schmidt!! Such a double standard you dem's have. You can call President Bush any number of names and say he lied but yet haven't and can't prove it and yet when some truthfull criticism comes to Murtha a so called war hero (how did he earn his medals? I don't think he will release his med records to prove his valor. Maybe he did some self inflicting, John Kerry style!) you cry foul. Babies!!! I must say you are humorous to most of us. You really are anti-American despite your best rhetoric to state otherwise. More people are starting to see through you dems too, as evident by the growing attention to the alternate news media not run by the DNC(NY)-Times. Didn't you want to limit free speech at one time? Oh yeah the Fairness Doctine. What a joke. Rock and Roll Jean!!! In fact I think I will send her a letter supporting her. Yeah...that's the ticket!!!
Beardog

What was the exact wording of the Billboard ? Before I (or anyone) can form an opinion about the appropriateness of it, I need to see what it was going to say.

Peace be with you,brothers and sisters: Your emotional outbursts are understandable...and then again they're not; as your are the leadership of this great nation and all great leaders know that violence begets violence. Love your enemies; not to become their door-mats,but to come close to them,and find out why they are so distressed; then its so much easier to negotiate with them. Politics is the replacement for war,but must be carried on as though it were a war,that is, tactically and strategically,with cool,calm,and collected thought process,not flying off willy-nilly,helter-skelter emotional everytime a confrontation is at hand. Forget the estrogen-coward Schmidt...let the media handle her,the articles are running 7 to 1 against her, wait until her next election to attack her,when it will,in the heat of the campaign,become acceptable to malign her actions; all we are doing now is spinning our wheels and alienating Lamar Advertising,whom we will dearly need later; not to mention,showing ourselves to be the radical extreemists the opposition is saying we are,and wasting the power of our cash flow,support Murtha,backbone is critical,but clear thinking,is even more important. Don't jump on a band wagon just for fun and profit,but for solid,rational, progressive reasons,and always remember,"You can't get everything you want,all at once,you have to knuckle-down,buckle-down for the long haul"..........Peace,Love,& Comprehension...JT

Peace be with you,brothers and sisters: Your emotional outbursts are understandable...and then again they're not; as your are the leadership of this great nation and all great leaders know that violence begets violence. Love your enemies; not to become their door-mats,but to come close to them,and find out why they are so distressed; then its so much easier to negotiate with them. Politics is the replacement for war,but must be carried on as though it were a war,that is, tactically and strategically,with cool,calm,and collected thought process,not flying off willy-nilly,helter-skelter emotional everytime a confrontation is at hand. Forget the estrogen-coward Schmidt...let the media handle her,the articles are running 7 to 1 against her, wait until her next election to attack her,when it will,in the heat of the campaign,become acceptable to malign her actions; all we are doing now is spinning our wheels and alienating Lamar Advertising,whom we will dearly need later; not to mention,showing ourselves to be the radical extreemists the opposition is saying we are,and wasting the power of our cash flow,support Murtha,backbone is critical,but clear thinking,is even more important. Don't jump on a band wagon just for fun and profit,but for solid,rational, progressive reasons,and always remember,"You can't get everything you want,all at once,you have to knuckle-down,buckle-down for the long haul"..........Peace,Love,& Comprehension...JT

I would like to know what companies currently advertise on Lamar billboards so I can boycott them too.

BB

I really hope that the Democratic party starts to show some leadership and plans to move forward. Stop focusing on what the republicans are doing wrong and focus on what the dems are doing right. Everyone can see the disaster that is the republican plan, there is no need to continue to highlight it. It just makes the party look petty.

People are thirsty for an alternative to the republican plan. Lets give them a place to go

I've heard they pulled the same crap in PA when voters attempted to oust state GOP legislators leaders who voted for a 35% pay raise. They said it was company policy not to get personal. I wonder if they apply that policy for politicians of both stripes.

i am a registered democrat voter, and am sick and ashamed of the repeated attacks on our troops in harm's way in iraq. i am also a Navy vet. so i say 'hooray for Lamar' actions (or refusal)! these past few days have brought forth some 'whoppers' out of the mouths of the so-called leaders in the democratic party.
john kerry is supporting the terrorists with his words and lies. john kerry surely is not supporting our troops in harm's way.
and as for "howard dean", i feel that he should take a car ride with teddy kennedy down by the river.
are the leaders of the democratic party so blind as to think that all they say are not utilized by the terrorists and their supporters? are the leaders of the democratic party so full of hate for president bush that they (as dan rather said) will do "what it takes" legal or not?
are the leaders of the democratic party immune to their saying what they want to say, but scream bloody murder when challenged by FACTS ?
and while i am putting in my 2 cents worth....why will john kerry not release his military records? what is he afraid of? what is he ashamed of? what is he hiding from the people of the united states?
thru-out the past 4 years, it is the democratic party that has thrown more mud and baseless accusations than even fidel castro has shoveled out.
it is a matter of fact, and recording, that john kerry lied about matters of the vietnam war, and is now lying about iraq. and each time he or dean or murtha spouts off, the terrorists are estatic and jubilant because this shows other arabs that america is a country divided and all they have to do is wait.
America's military did not lose the vietnam conflict....the dirtyword democrats in washington lost it for us.

I agreed with all of the others who have voiced their disgust with the energies being spent on this particular issue. If this is any indication of how the democratic party is spending their time...I am truly frightened. Please, people...GET IT TOGETHER!!!! This issue doesn't even make the top 200 list of what is remotely important. Maybe, um, like finding a VIABLE CANDIDATE for 2008?!
If this petty and frankly, stupid, billboard were to go up, I would be embarassed. This kind of behavior only serves to strengthen the Republican view that Democrats are just a bunch of pompous hypocrits. And, I for one do not like to be thought of as a hypocrit.
Jean Schmidt will get hers come election time, don't you worry.
What you should be worrying about is getting some decent leadership into the party.

Lamar pulled the same stunt against a group called the Young Conservatives of PA who wanted to post Anti-Pay Raise billboards embarassing various legislators (Both R and D) who voted themselves a 36% (in some cases) payraise.

Lamar claimed something along the lines of "we don't allow attack ads" even though the Young Conservatives of Pennyslvania ads simply stated the voting record and didn't in anyway attack the candidate. Simply Saying "Bob voted for this." was considered an attack ad by Lamar.