Sesame Workshop tells Obama campaign to stop

[monovillage]

Why should the Obama campaign actually have to ask the creators of Big Bird before using him in a campaign ad? This is Obama after all, they should be thrilled. It looks like Big Bird is flipping the Obama campaign the big bird in this case.

Big Bird, it seems, isn’t thrilled about his cameo in the presidential race.

The folks at Sesame Street are asking the Obama campaign to pull down a TV ad released Tuesday that mocks Mitt Romney for vowing to yank the subsidy to PBS.

At the presidential debate in Denver last week, Mr. Romney said he would end the subsidy in view of the nation’s fiscal troubles.“I love Big Bird,” the Republican challenger said “… But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for.”

Up went an ad by team Obama called “Big Bird’’ that suggests Mr. Romney is targeting children’s programming rather than legitimate threats to people’s economic interests.

The ad shows images of Bernie Madoff and others implicated in various financial and corporate scandals. A narrator then intones: “And the evil genius who towered over them?”

A silhouette of Big Bird flashes on screen.

“Mitt Romney knows it’s not Wall Street you have to worry about, it’s Sesame Street,” the narrator said.

The ad is airing on national cable and broadcast TV, in time slots devoted to comedy shows, the Obama campaign said.

Sesame Street isn’t amused. Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit educational organization that produces and owns the show, issued a statement Tuesday saying “we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down.”An Obama campaign spokesman, Ben LaBolt, said the campaign is “reviewing their concerns.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/10/09/big-bird-wants-out-of-campaign-ad/

 

[umbrella39]

Why would they be thrilled either one of them is talking about Big Bird? They own the rights. As a matter of fact they used him on SNL last Saturday on Weekend Update. Their Bird, their whore... I doubt the ads will stay up for long. I don't see these ads as I don't live in a battleground state.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Fail. Never ever use anyone's stuff in your own ads without checking with the owners first for permission.

 

[Dude111]

Why should the Obama campaign actually have to ask the creators of Big Bird before using him in a campaign ad?

Sesame street went to crap in 1992 when they changed the whole reason for the show....

 

[First]

 

[trenchfoot]

The reaction would have been the same if Romney used big bird in his ads.

Sesame Workshop is apoltical. They want to remain apolitical. It's programming for children.

Whatever political dealings they have to wrangle with, like Romney promising to cut their funding, is dealt with outside of the realm of the children's programming itself.

If only Romney had a sudden moment of honesty come over him and announced the REAL reason he wants PBS funding cut (social engineering of children into a liberal mindset perhaps?) We all remember how Bush/Cheney tried to do the same exact thing back in their day.

What I found most interesting is how Romney mentioned cutting funding to a broadcasting entity that moderator Lehrer had/has(?) a longtime relationship with and how Lehrer looked at Romney when he said it. lol

 

[monovillage]

The reaction would have been the same if Romney used big bird in his ads.

Sesame Workshop is apoltical. They want to remain apolitical. It's programming for children.

Whatever political dealings they have to wrangle with, like Romney promising to cut their funding, is dealt with outside of the realm of the children's programming itself.

If only Romney had a sudden moment of honesty come over him and announced the REAL reason he wants PBS funding cut (social engineering of children into a liberal mindset perhaps?) We all remember how Bush/Cheney tried to do the same exact thing back in their day.

What I found most interesting is how Romney mentioned cutting funding to a broadcasting entity that moderator Lehrer had/has(?) a longtime relationship with and how Lehrer looked at Romney when he said it. lol

I find it funny that the Obama campaign didn't bother to check with them first. The debate wasn't about Lehrer, he kept his mouth shut and let the candidates debate, my respect for him went up.

 

[jpeyton]

Wait, what? Do you really think either campaign gives a rats ass about Sesame Workshop?

The Wall Street/Sesame Street zinger is the flavor of the week; when nobody cares about it next week, they'll stop airing the ad.

The only reason Sesame Workshop made this statement is to cover their own asses. They understand their donors are both Republican and Democrat.

 

[Subyman]

I think it's pretty sad that sarcastic jokes about serious issues can sway people. I think it is doubly sad that our president keeps making sarcastic jokes regarding a real discussion about having to trim down some government programs. Smart voters don't give a rats ass about Big Bird jokes and would rather the pres stick to serious issues, like the Lybia debacle becoming more serious by the day. That's good strategy having the 4chan crowd amused by big bird, I'm sure they will be there on voting day...

 

[rudder]

The only reason Sesame Workshop made this statement is to cover their own asses. They understand their donors are both Republican and Democrat.

The obama administration wrote sesame street a $1 check from stimulus funds. You would think they would want obama re-elected. But it seems the people behind sesame street have principles.

 

[D-Man]

I have it from an unnamed source that Big Bird now wants to debate Obama. The Topic will be Why make jokes about Big Bird while Rome is Burning.

On a serious note I wonder if Romney threw Sesame Street out there in the debate because he knew Obama's camp would use it to mock him. Romney's reply then would be Obama can not defend his record and uses Big Bird as a a smoke screen to hide his failed policies.

 

[Exterous]

Maybe the Obama campaign should be sued for IP/Copyright/TM infringment so we can get someone in office that understands what a joke it is in this country

 

[soulcougher73]

Sad that our politics has anything at all to do with Big Bird. Shows the state of our country.

 

[Thump553]

I find it funny that the Obama campaign didn't bother to check with them first. The debate wasn't about Lehrer, he kept his mouth shut and let the candidates debate, my respect for him went up.

Same situation as all the music played at Romney or Ryan rallies that the musicians then asked them to stop, and they did. I'm sure the Obama campaign didn't ask permission first and never intended to. If the copywrit holder objected-which they did, take the ad down. Message gotten across and everyone happy except the Grinch, who was startled at the blowback to the one concrete statement he's made in months. Willard should stick to empty platitudes and soaring rhetoric.

 

[D-Man]

Cookie Monster has now entered the fray. Today Cookie Monster announced that he will not stand for the redistribution of his cookies. He further stated he has joined the Tea Party and in a candid reply to a question asked about milk and cookies he replied tea is also good with cookies.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Sad that our politics has anything at all to do with Big Bird. Shows the state of our country.

Agree. This is not the first time he's done this kind of crap...but it is much better than some of his other incredibly slimey campaign ads.

Ryan Throws Granny Off The Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OGnE83A1Z4U

Romney Killed My Wife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fLtA-VDx4A

 

[Bowfinger]

Same situation as all the music played at Romney or Ryan rallies that the musicians then asked them to stop, and they did. I'm sure the Obama campaign didn't ask permission first and never intended to. If the copywrit holder objected-which they did, take the ad down. Message gotten across and everyone happy except the Grinch, who was startled at the blowback to the one concrete statement he's made in months. Willard should stick to empty platitudes and soaring rhetoric.

Actually, it isn't the same. Unlicensed use of a song or set of songs as a theme at public events is a clear violation of IP rights. This is well-established legally. Using Big Bird's image for news or commentary purposes is arguably fair use. The same applies to campaign ads with quotes from newspapers or clips of news people criticizing one side or another. The media often cry foul about using their footage without permission, but they likely have no legal recourse.

 

[FerrelGeek]

Wait, what? Do you really think either campaign gives a rats ass about Sesame Workshop?

The Wall Street/Sesame Street zinger is the flavor of the week; when nobody cares about it next week, they'll stop airing the ad.

The only reason Sesame Workshop made this statement is to cover their own asses. They understand their donors are both Republican and Democrat.

Aannnd, they make a lot of money. They're a PBS goldmine.

 

[Bowfinger]

Agree. This is not the first time his done this kind of crap...but it is much better than some of his other incredibly slimey campaign ads.

Ryan Throws Granny Off The Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OGnE83A1Z4U

Romney Killed My Wife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fLtA-VDx4A

Neither of which was produced by or authorized by the Obama campaign. Are you really so blindly partisan that you cannot recognize that third parties on both sides have aired outrageous ads?

 

[FerrelGeek]

Get with the program. Libs never engage in negative campaigning or dirty politics. Only the evul repus do that. The adds you cite are pure fact. It's not going negative to declare the truth.

That was sarcasm, btw.

Agree. This is not the first time his done this kind of crap...but it is much better than some of his other incredibly slimey campaign ads.

Ryan Throws Granny Off The Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OGnE83A1Z4U

Romney Killed My Wife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fLtA-VDx4A

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Actually, it isn't the same. Unlicensed use of a song or set of songs as a theme at public events is a clear violation of IP rights. This is well-established legally. Using Big Bird's image for news or commentary purposes is arguably fair use. The same applies to campaign ads with quotes from newspapers or clips of news people criticizing one side or another. The media often cry foul about using their footage without permission, but they likely have no legal recourse.

Whoa. I can't buy that. You think you could argue in a court of law that using the Apple trademark for a Romney ad without their permission would be dismissed as fair use? Hardly. This is being used without permission, the holders of the rights to Big Bird have asked it be stopped, and this is not some random pick of a guy in a yellow bird costume at a kids birthday party. Obama's campaign will "consider their request". That's fairly egregious IMO.

 

[jackstar7]

Neither of which was produced by or authorized by the Obama campaign. Are you really so blindly partisan that you cannot recognize that third parties on both sides have aired outrageous ads?

C'mon, Doc can easily provide links to Romney-related ads that are just as inflammatory and disingenuous, he just wanted to offer indirect support for Obama by linking those ads.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Neither of which was produced by or authorized by the Obama campaign. Are you really so blindly partisan that you cannot recognize that third parties on both sides have aired outrageous ads?

I could be wrong but don't recall Obama asking for the ads to be immediately removed which implies tacit approval. The 2 ads I linked were really quite over the top. Has Romney done anything even remotely equivalent? If so, I'd like to see it.

Throwing Grandma off a cliff...really?

 

[xBiffx]

Obama just got cock blocked. No biggie, happens to all of us at some point in time.

 

[jackstar7]

C'mon, Doc can easily provide links to Romney-related ads that are just as inflammatory and disingenuous, he just wanted to offer indirect support for Obama by linking those ads.

I could be wrong but don't recall Obama asking for the ads to be immediately removed which implies tacit approval. The 2 ads I linked were really quite over the top. Has Romney done anything even remotely equivalent? If so, I'd like to see it.

Throwing Grandma off a cliff...really?

Whoops. I guess I called that one wrong. He just hasn't been paying attention to the other side.