ODP protests Lamar Advertising's rejection of DNC Schmidt billboard

Sunday, December 4, 2005

Ohio Democrats Protest Lamar Advertising's

Rejection of DNC Jean Schmidt Billboards

For Immediate Release December 4, 2005

Contact: Brian Rothenberg, Comm. Dir. Phone: 614-221-6563

PORTSMOUTH - Protesting censorship, Ohio State Representative John Boccieri, a major in the Air Force Reserve and a C-130 pilot who served four tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom joined Ohio Democratic Party Communications Director Brian Rothenberg for a news conference on Sunday to protest the decision by Lamar Advertising to reject two billboards purchased this week by the Democratic National Committee.

The billboards sought to hold Ohio Republican Congresswoman Jean Schmidt accountable for attacking Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, a decorated military veteran, during a Congressional debate on the

Iraq

war. After signing a contract with the DNC to run the ads this week, Lamar Advertising arbitrarily rejected the billboards, refusing to honor its contract for the Portsmouth billboards and to accept the same advertisement for placement on billboards in Cincinnati .

Boccieri and Rothenberg spoke in front of Schmidt's Portsmouth, Ohio office.

Boccieri pointed out that government regulates billboard advertising and that 70 percent of Lamar’s political donations go to Republican candidates. “With one party in control in Washington and Columbus this shows how far the tentacles Republican influence reaches,” said Boccieri.

“Freedom is what we are fighting for in

Iraq

, while in our own country companies like Lamar can censor free speech. Lamar advertising approved a contract with the DNC and approved the content of the ad, only to reverse itself,” said Rothenberg.