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The selling of the president

Rod McCullom | Posted January 8, 2010 9:31 AM

President Barack Obama has become a fashionable, larger-than-life presidential pitchman after a billboard in New York City's Times Square features his unauthorized likeness. Outerwear company Weatherproof used an AP Images news photo of the President standing in front of the Great Wall in Badaling, China for their advertisement with the tagline "A Leader In Style."

The White House said Wednesday that it will ask Weatherproof to remove the billboard because the ad misleads by suggesting it was approved by Obama or the White House, which has a long-standing policy disapproving of the use of Obama's name and likeness for commercial purposes. But Weatherproof did not seek permission from the White House, and [Weatherproof President Freddie] Stollmack said he did not believe it was necessary to do so since the billboard does not say Obama endorses the product. "He didn't come to us. It's just a great looking jacket on a great looking president," Stollmack said.

The New York Times, New York Post and Women's Wear Daily refused to run the image. Weatherproof also put the image on its Website home, promoting "The Obama Jacket, Available at Macy's." Needless to say, the company has pulled similar stunts before.

[image via Politico]

[Original Entry]

Writer and television news producer Rod McCullom is a frequent contributor to The Advocate and The Huffington Post. His blog is Rod 2.0.

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Comments 8

Cecil Jones
2010-01-08 11:43:32

Bill Clinton in this jacket would sell many more if it had a Tiger on it or a large stain. The Presidency has been sold long before Obama arrived. Let's not get angry now that a Black man is in position to profit. Pay the man before you use the image so he can get his cut up front.

Ash
2010-01-08 12:00:45

I think it's great. It shows the President as a regular person with great style. Of course the company who manufactured the coat will make millions because the Pres is sporting it. You have to give those Mad Men execs their props for their super Madison Ave. advertising.

KBR
2010-01-08 13:44:39

Equally disturbing is the fact that they are using his likeness to sell a product without paying him. This resembles a long standing racist practice of using black folks' talents and abilities to make money without compensating them.

Me
2010-01-08 14:24:29

In the big picture the White House has much bigger fish to fry right now. How about some jobs and health care? Pick your battles people.

M
2010-01-08 17:08:24

Of course many day laborers are getting stiffed by so-called employers when it comes time to get the check.

And thanks to all involved for the transparency of the creating/owning of "The Presidency".

Now if Barrack Obama is created/owned is for him to demonstrate.

Merry Jenkins
2010-01-08 17:44:32

This guy can't get a break and this country is a hot mess and I bet he regrets ever taking charge of such a dysfunctional so called democracy. With the myriad of problems created by the cough, cough, conservatives wish it were 1859 fringe of the past 8 years he is trying to fix, now this, and the trolls online, ugh.

M
2010-01-08 17:49:42

***Ultimately this is DISTRACTION generated by the CORPORATE machine.***

Still. If you are a photographer, you have to have a model release form to receive payment for a photo of a person.

Either the photographer isn't getting paid (doubt it) or this company isn't using this to generate publicity and sales (doubt it).

This would be flagrant abuse and this company's president Freddie Stollmack's statement in the article drips like a snide remark.

They want capitalism but not rules to govern it.

Frances
2010-01-10 17:47:32

Obama is president of the united states, not some airhead fashion model. Not only that, his image is being used out of context, since it took place during an official event. Its completely outrageous that this billboard is still up.

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