Dec 1, 2011
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UPDATE: On Thursday evening Seattle’s Metro Transit reversed its ban and decided to allow the “Buy American” ads to be posted on city buses. “Upon further evaluation, the text of the ad does not express an opinion about a public issue,” said General Manager Kevin Desmond in a statement released to the Seattle Fox television affiliate.
Following is our original story:
Seattle’s public transit system is under fire for rejecting an advertising campaign urging people to buy American and shop locally because it was too political.
“It was a shock to us,” said Richard Tso, executive director of TAP America, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization.
The rejected ads read: “December is Buy American Month, Shop Locally, Join Seattle’s TAPamerica.org.”
Tso said his organization was prepared to pay as much as $9,000 for the ads to be posted on 45 Metro buses running through major shopping districts in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, WA.
“The ads were rejected by King County as being too political,” Tso told Fox News & Commentary, wondering if the county was simply being politically correct.
“Buy American should never be a bad word,” he said. “Those are words we should have pride in as citizens of the United States.”
But county officials told the Seattle Times that they have a policy against ads that express a viewpoint on “matters of public debate about political, religious or social issues.”
“The concept of ‘Buy American’ is an issue of both political and economic debate,” spokeswoman Linda Thielkein wrote in an email to the newspaper.
Tso said government officials were being “hypersensitive” and said they currently “run ads that seem to be quite controversial.”
“I think the ‘Buy American’ message is something that would resonate with more people,” he said. “that shows you the state of where we are as a nation.”
The Seattle Times reported that the bus agency adopted a strict advertising policy after a controversy over another group that tried to purchase ads alleging “Israeli war crimes.”
Tso said he hopes the county will reconsider their ban on the ‘Buy American’ ads.
FOX News Talk
At least the government wonks are being up-front about their content based censorship.
Not that it's Constitutional or anything.
How disgusting can a city be. I have canceled my intended vacation there. Too bad. It used to be a great place.
I'm an American citizen. Do I need a visa to visit Seattle?
I guess someone woke up to the real world and made a psoitive maneuver..Well done.
WTF does "too political mean. That doesn't even mean anything in this circumstance..
More lily livered, spineless bureaucrats with no minds of their own toeing the company line. I wake up every morning and news like this gives me cause to ask "What country am I living in?"
Some genius pencil pusher actually thought that this was a valid excuse: "…..too political…"
You can't make this stuff up.
It sounds as if the County Council needs a revamping. Maybe they could look for real Americans to grace their board. People who don't care for the American way of life should just leave.
I will purcahse the best buy whether it be lower in price or more for your money. I do not care where it was made. I am looking out for me right now. If it was not for the companies ging overseas to make things those people over there would not have jobs either. I know you do not care about them seeing only this country matters to you all.
What the agency meant by "too political", was that it didn't sound liberal progressive….that would have been okay…
What the agency meant by "too political", was that it didn't sound liberal progressive….that would have been okay…
boycott Seattle! so many better places to visit!
boycott Seattle! so many better places to visit!
“Upon further evaluation, the text of the ad does not express an opinion about a public issue,”.
Good to know there are still some folks who have the ability to utilize reason and common sense, not to mention… still support their country.
Seattle is the most left wing city in America, go watch the movie "Battle in Seattle" and see how they loot and burn buildings, what a bunch of jagovs.
Probably rejected by people who deny the foundations of our great nation, who want a share of everyone else's earning, who want to teach false history to our children, promote immoral life styles(graft, corruptions, sex outside of marriage, income tax evasion, abortion on demand, and more)…..If we don't buy American our dollars go abroad, our citizens don't work, more homes go into foreclosure, and even more do not work. Lunacy!
buy american,,,, support your neighbors products,,,,, have been out there,, over 30 years,,,, and we are sufering high unemployment because its been falling on deaf ears,,,, imports are not superior products from every other country,,, just brainwashed by the media,,, people have been buying cheaper,,, ( they think ),,, while back stabbing all our great entitlement programs,, just like buying ciggerettes on reservations,,,, althought that's because of super high sin taxes,,,,, these companies,,, went overseas for cheap labor,,, and no regard for waste disposal,,, shoppers have supported this and have the real power,,,,
i make lots comments,,,, lol never thought anyone notices,,,,, lol
I wish more of you right-wingers would show the same passion for America by questioning the the ratio of CEO-to-worker pay: 475 to 1. REAL Americans support fair pay for working families.
The only thing I can figure is that The Bus folks..Don't want to upset other advertisers they have..That advertise foreign products..Example..Toyota…etc.
Holy CHRIST! Who are the traitors saying that we shouldn't advertise buying american goods?
Tell that to my husband who fought in WWII in France, Germany and Austria and was wounded 3 times as an 18/19 year old…back then we all supported America and did without a lot of things to support America and our 'boys'. Today, I say, screw corporate america and congress (small caps to express my distain and lack of respect for those selling us out for a buck! america thy name is GREED….please, somebody give me back my AMERICA!
That ban, to not buy american, it poor judgement.You can not find any shoes in Wal-mart made in America, all from China.I rest my case.
How many of y'all drive a Japanese or German car, watch a big-screen TV not made in America or don't think unions are necessary? Or hold stock in companies that export jobs overseas? Buying American is great, but it's a drop in the bucket. Get over yourselves and get off the Fox kool-aid.
I guess 'Don't Buy American' would be much better huh? Some of these full blooded American folks need to remove head from @$$!
removing them was ass-inine in the first place…….
I find it funny that people are blaming this on the democrats. My husband is a union member (vast majority are democrats) and they are always asking everyone to "Buy American". When they have their annual picnic they give members American made hats & tshirts, same thing at the annual Labor Day Parade. They won't allow members to get insurance reimbursement for their eyeglasses at Walmart because they hire illegal immigrants instead of American workers to build their stores. Guess what. Democrats love America and want to support American workers too.
How does that work, there should not be any debate as to who or what country people living in America should support.If any person has a problem with that they need to go to the country of their choice and live.
Just anither thought , I guess if that was their stance then from the date of that passing till it was change Seattle should not have recieved any monies from the federal government for any projects and if they did it should be be paid back.
I'm sorry, are we not The United States of America, where freedom of speech is highly valued. We have every right to express our views and therefore should be allowed to post it anywhere we please.
I'm sorry, are we not The United States of America, where freedom of speech is highly valued. We have every right to express our views and therefore should be allowed to post it anywhere we please.
I'm sorry, are we not The United States of America, where freedom of speech is highly valued. We have every right to express our views and therefore should be allowed to post it anywhere we please.
Sometimes even stupid people realize they are being stupid. Good to hear they reversed the ban. Now if people would understand what the advertising really means.
As soon as they banned American products, they shouldn't get one red cent of tax money either!
“The ads were rejected by King County as being too political,”.
King County, a wholey owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart.
Seattle; Not exactly a Good Vote in my opinion to entice Anyone with any Conscience about being even the Least bit Patriotic.. There seems to be a Huge BLackHole over that City's Chamber of Commerce. Or Whoever the Minions are who draw up such Idiotic Laws.
Is this our country anymore? People of King County please kick all those politicians that are against Buy American out on your next election before theydo any further damage to your State.
As a proud member of TAP, I'm happy to be part of an organization that truly puts the people first. Instead of being greedy, TAP is trying what few are doing, that is creating jobs to re-boost the economy and spirit of the American people. Even for the holidays, a Gift Giving Guide is located on the website. Check it out http://tapamerica.org/made-in-…
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