(YouTube URL for a news report on this, found here -Video below)
A billboard in Orange County, Florida, is causing controversy today. The billboard has a picture of the burning towers of the World Trade Center from 9/11 with the words "Please Don't Vote for a Democrat" written beside it.
The billboard is at John Young Parkway, which is along Orange Blossom Trail, where the streets are lined with billboards, but this particular one, with the ad that went up last week, is said to stand out.
The man behind the billboard is Mike Meehan, a St. Cloud businessman and musician. His website advertises a CD and music video titled "The Republican Song," with the chorus, "Don't vote for a Democrat." He's selling CDs for $5.
According to a different video report than the one shown above, the company that owns the billboard, Beech Outdoor Advertising, defends their right to host the message, saying they view this as a "fundamental first amendment issue" and say they will not censor the ad. They also have refused to disclose the cost of renting the billboard.
Orange County Democrats are calling for the board to come down and Republicans are calling the ad "inappropriate".
The citizens of Orange country are taking different positions on this controversial billboard, some saying "Just looking at it, I'm not thinking about Democrat or Republican, I'm thinking about the twin towers and all the people killed."
Others say "They can have their opinion. It's a free country, if they want to pay for the ad. I'm sure it's expensive" and Bill Robinson who is the Orange County Democratic Party Chair says this is a "blatant exploitation of that terrible tragedy for political and, perhaps even worse, personal gain."
The ad will be up until after the November elections.
.