Posted on 12/04/2005 8:21:08 PM PST by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON — An advertising company that gives most of its political donations to Republicans has refused to put up billboards criticizing Rep. Jean Schmidt, an Ohio Republican.
The Democratic National Committee had sought to rent two billboards in Portsmouth, Ohio, and another in Cincinnati with a picture of Schmidt and the message: “Shame on you, Jean Schmidt: Stop attacking veterans. Keep your eye on the ball — we need a real plan for Iraq.” Lamar Advertising Co. of Baton Rouge, La., owns the billboards.
Schmidt attacked Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who is a Marine veteran, for his call for withdrawal from Iraq. She said: “Cowards cut and run; Marines never do.”
She later apologized.
Lamar’s Huntington, W.Va., regional manager, Mark Watts, rejected the billboards, calling them a personal attack, said Hal Kilshaw, Lamar’s vice president of governmental affairs.
Kilshaw said that Lamar doesn’t do many billboards for either Republicans or Democrats, but the company does have a political action committee that contributes to candidates. In the 2004 elections, it gave Republicans 70 percent of its U.S. House donations and 60 percent of its U.S. Senate contributions.
The billboards sought to hold Ohio Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt accountable for attacking Pennsylvania Rep. 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.
Benedict Arnold was a decorated military veteran.
...if the shoe fits.....
I don't see what the Dems are so upset about. The MSM gives them plenty of free advertising already. Why are they worried about someone refusing to accept money to carry their message?
They should have taken the money. I can not imagine most people in that district going WHAT? when seeing such a billboard. People in DC think the rest of the country pays alot more attention to what they are whining about than we do.
A 60-40 split in favor of GOP donations is an awfully thin definition of "most".
Benedict Arnold was a great American Hero...until he betrayed his country.
Note that she was quoting a veteran - it is not her statement.
Funny how the AP manages to miss little details like this.
Regardless of his record 30+ years ago - for which we are all grateful - his positions border on treason.
If the Left really wants to discuss the topic- why do they want to talk about Murtha's record from 30 years ago? Let's talk about today.
Further evidence of how the MSM is still able to control perceptions of events. Nowhere do they say that she was relaying the comment from a Marine constituent of hers.
The DNC attacking her is nothing new. The GOP acting like a bunch of spineless twits and leaving her twisting in the wind is an abomination.
they are petrified of the mainstream media, its that simple.
When leftists attack their attackers for attacking them, it's usually because the attack hit the mark.
Also, the fact that Schmidt immediately caved simply gives the Rats something to gnaw on. Besides, if she had half a brain, how could she not know Murtha was a veteran (not that it matters)?
"If the Left really wants to discuss the topic- why do they want to talk about Murtha's record from 30 years ago? Let's talk about today."
It's also worthwhile mentioning that enlisted men fight skirmishes and battles; Generals conduct wars. Murtha is waaaay over his head and former pay grade.
Rep. John Murtha will forever be remembered as the left's symbol for "Cut & Run".
She was passing on the words of an American Soldier, they were not her words. ANNNNDDDD...... she did NOT say: "Mr. Murtha, YOU are a coward!" Liberals need to get a grip!
Now liberals think that because Murtha was a veteran then the majority of people will say "Oh yeah because Murtha served in Vietnam then he is absolutely correct to call for the our immediate withdrawal in Iraq and hence our defeat and the victory for terrorists and no one should dare to criticize his stand in Iraq". As usual Liberals and their media whores are fatally mistaken in their calculations.
Its hard to tell now whether this foolishness can take hold, but this is what the democrats are desparately hoping for.
Of course Lamar refused to rent the space. If Rep. Boccieri wants a pissing match, then he can host it on his property. No business would be interested in messages/ actions that would likely result in their property being defaced, damaged, destroyed.
I know I saw around the same time that Schmidt said her statement a Democratic congressman call a Republican congressman "A Howdy Doody lookalike Nimrod".
I was amazed when I saw the video and no boos for the Democrat nor any media coverage. I am wondering if I imaged it or did it go down the memory hole?
Why in the world would you call it or even suggest it was an error in judgement for her to point out that a cut and run Dim wants to cut and run and Marines don't cut and run?
If we really want the GOP to stand up for what we send them to do in DC, then we MUST stand up behind them when they actually dare say the truth about the Dims.
Waitaminute..............
The Democrats want to pay someone to put their message out?
And they criticize the Pentagon for doing the same?
It was an error to have apologized.
The AP is the propaganda wing of the DNC, nothing more.
There was probably an old lady that Schmidt caused her gas bill to be too high making phone calls in her district last week, I bet.
In the name of free speech, this company should be made to run the ads.
(typical open minded lefty answer...)
Was that her comment or was that part of a letter she read on the floor?
Too much message for a billboard, anyway.
Reminds me of the sloppy, juvenile, more often than not incorrect Magic Markered signs Code Pink trots out every Friday night outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Jack.
"we need a real plan for Iraq"
And that would be, what, John F'ing Kerry's plan?
Thanks again for making me laugh :-) you treasonous bunch of snakes.
The only mistake here is that Ms. Schmidt apologized.
Never give a liberal/democrat the opportunity to become a victim in the media.
Send Lamar a attaboy - kreilly@lamarhg.com
oops kreilly@lamarhq.com
Lamar refused the Young Republicans to run an ad against Jubilere's voting for the pay raise. They do not run personal attacks, period.
Smart policy.
She said: “Cowards cut and run; Marines never do.”
She was passing on the words of an American Soldier, they were not her words. ANNNNDDDD...... she did NOT say: "Mr. Murtha, YOU are a coward!" Liberals need to get a grip!
The ditz on Fox in an attempt to soft ball some godless,left wing moron from The New Yorker magazine, just repeated the lie.
"She called Murtha a coward."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.