Candidate Banners Can Leave Clients, Businesses Bruised
The sign went up Sunday evening, bold black letters against the stark white background of the marquee at the Colony South Hotel & Conference Center in Clinton: "Country First. McCain/Palin."
By daybreak, pandemonium had broken loose all across heavily Democratic Prince George's County. Many local supporters of Democrat Barack Obama, jolted by the message as they headed down Branch Avenue on their Monday morning commutes, grabbed cellphones and BlackBerrys to notify friends. Operators of neighborhood e-mail group lists cried foul to their memberships. The NAACP logged calls. Community leaders demanded boycotts of the hotel, a common venue for Democratic events.
"Businesspeople have to be mindful of the sentiments and sensibilities of their market trading area, and Prince George's County is overwhelmingly for Obama," said community activist Arthur Turner of Kettering, who was among those advocating a boycott. "People I have talked to look at the sign as a slap in the face. They feel it was blatant disrespect. . . . I have heard people say they will no longer patronize Colony South because of that disrespect." (more)
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11 responses so far ↓
1 Heather // Oct 12, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’ve seen some business vehicles driving around with “NOBAMA” stickers and stuff on them. I think it was a Verizon contractor or Comcast. Can’t recall. I tried to take a photo, but I always pay more attention to the driving than the photo op, so I didn’t get a chance to snap it. I’ve seen at least a few, so I will try and snap a photo next time.
2 thrift_store_angel // Oct 12, 2008 at 10:46 pm
There are a lot of people in Charles Co, who aren’t terribly thrilled with Colony South either…if I were with the Obama campaign I would be half tempted to schedule my victory party there. *EG*
3 Coleman Shedman // Oct 12, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I think I’ve been to the Colony South once…a friend has his wedding reception there. It neither thrilled nor disappointed me.
While I agree it may be foolish from a business standpoint to put up such a sign in a heavily Democratic county, it is just as foolish for anyone to feel “disrespected” because of it. The sign in and of itself is in no way disrespectful. It is simply stating a preference for one ticket over another; an excercise in free speech. Now, if some people don’t want to patronize the establishment because they don’t agree with it’s owner’s political views, that is also their right.
So anyone who expresses their political views who does not agree with the majority in that town, county, state, or country is being disrespectful? Civil disagreement does not equal disrespect in a democracy…it is a big part of what makes a democracy strong.
4 richard // Oct 13, 2008 at 7:06 am
I agree with the Shed.
5 Robert // Oct 13, 2008 at 7:42 am
I concur.
6 Heather // Oct 13, 2008 at 10:59 am
Ditto.
7 Heather // Oct 13, 2008 at 11:00 am
Hee. Me too.
8 Will // Oct 13, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I don’t think there would have been any such outcry if the sign had not said “Country First.” That was the insulting part, insinuating that Obama would somehow be “anti-country.”
“McCain for President” is an endorsement; “Country First; McCain/Palin” is an accusation.
9 Heather // Oct 13, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I see what you’re sayin’. Yeah, I agree with that.
10 thrift_store_angel // Oct 13, 2008 at 9:17 pm
The discussion in this county was just about the McCain/Palin sign having such prime real estate and were we could find a prominent site for an Obama sign.
11 Will // Oct 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I finally put on my glasses and squinted at the photo, and the sign doesn’t even say what the article said it did.
“Country First” is the ticket’s brand slogan here, like “Quality Matters” or “World’s Best.” The article made it sound like it was put up on the marquee by the hotel, putiing forward the idea that all patriotic Americans should vote for McCain-Palin to insure the safety of our country, or else.
And from what TSA said, it doesn’t even seem like there was all that controversy anyway. Just a tempest in a teapot, courtesy of a Post reporter.
Phooey. I keep forgetting Fox isn’t the only “fair and balanced” game in town.
So, instead of arguing for the rights of people to vote outrage with dollars, I should have been arguing for the Post’s right to report nothing as news? Pass. 
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