Billboard cartel says no to questioning Obama

Trade group headed by Democrat donor discouraged acceptance of eligibility ad Posted: June 21, 2009 7:14 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily WASHINGTON – A fourth billboard company has rejected a campaign designed to raise visibility on questions surrounding Barack Obama's eligibility for office – this time by claiming the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, a trade and lobbying group that claims to promote freedom of speech, actually discouraged acceptance. The OAAA, headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Nancy Fletcher, a Hillary Clinton financial contributor in 2008, reportedly advised some members not to accept ads from WND that asked, "Where's the birth certificate?" Fletcher, who refused to respond to WND inquiries about the action of the OAAA, points out on the group's website that "outdoor advertising is regulated by multiple layers of government." "Yet while there are so many changes in the industry and in American lifestyles, certain principles haven't changed," Fletcher writes."For more than two centuries, the American republic has drawn strength from its Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The Founding Fathers put a premium on freedom as they wrote clear safeguards against an overbearing government. In particular, the First Amendment protects free speech and the Fifth Amendment protects property rights. Debate is honored and encouraged in a free society. Indeed, people have debated outdoor advertising regulation since the first postings, and debate will continue. As the world changes around us – in ways we perhaps cannot contemplate – we know Americans share deep respect for free expression and for private property." Nevertheless, at least one billboard company, Steen Advertising, backed out of a commitment to lease billboards to WND after a sales executive said the company was warned off the campaign by the OAAA.

"We are not going through with the deal," wrote Candice Berju, account executive for Steen, to a representative for WND Tuesday, June 16. "No one spoke as to what the campaign was, I had to find out on my own. The OAAA has advised companies not to run this campaign." When WND called Berju for further explanation, a company supervisor in Delaware put the call on hold for 10 minutes. When she returned, she said both Berju and her boss would decline to comment. [CONTINUE READING]