President Obama Used in Jacket Ad, Without White House Approval
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: President Obama’s picture is being used without White House approval in an ad campaign for a jacket company. The company Weatherproof Garment Company has put up a billboard in Times Square featuring a photograph of the President wearing one of their jackets while on a recent trip to the Great Wall in China from November. Beneath the photo it says, “A Leader In Style.” The White House says they do not approve of Mr. Obama’s image being used without permission. “The White House has a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the President’s name and likeness for commercial purposes,” White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton says in a statement. The White House says they will be contacting the company and asking them to take the billboard down – as they feel the ad is clearly misleading because the company suggests the approval or endorsement of the President or the White House that it does not have. But Weatherproof feels that they have done nothing wrong, and are not taking down the advertisement. In fact Weatherproof president Freddie Stollmack says they will are looking for additional places to display the ad since it has gotten so much attention so far. “We are very proud of the ad and we have no intention of taking it down,” Stollmack tells ABC News, “we’re not demonstrating that Obama is endorsing our product. We are just basically very happy to see that after 100 years we finally got a stylish president.” The company attained the photograph through the Associate Press’ photo service, and say they have not been contacted by the White House yet about the advertisement. This of course follows First Lady Michelle Obama’s photograph being used this week, also without White House consent, in a fur-free campaign by PETA. -Sunlen Miller
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What is going on here?Is there an under-the-table deal? Two in one day-both organizations refuse to take down the ads.Something is terribly wrong here.
Posted by: Nephron | January 6, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
It never occures to these left wing liberal designer labels that they just might want to request permission. But I’m sure Obama doesn’t really care. He’s probably flattered. Look for this story to go away tomorrow.
Posted by: LongT | January 6, 2010, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Obama should charge them and donate the money to Charity or support our troops.
Posted by: Bill | January 6, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
Was it a straight jacket,or was it a behind closed doors deal. Did somebody get a bribe, a free hospital would be nice. Mabe something for California then maybe Arnold will come back to support this corruption.
Posted by: earl | January 6, 2010, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
What brand was the jacket? Their sales will surely suffer after that ad. But at least he has found his calling. He is more suited for modeling than running the coun5try
Posted by: Surebet | January 6, 2010, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Why not, that is what Obama does best? He spends his time advertising Obamacare, at least the jacket looks real!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | January 6, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
It never occures to these left wing liberal designer labels that they just might want to request permission. But I’m sure Obama doesn’t really care. He’s probably flattered.
LongT | Jan 6, 2010 6:42:07 PM
Is that why the Whitehouse denies permission to EVERYONE who asks?
What is going on here?Is there an under-the-table deal?
Nephron | Jan 6, 2010 6:36:03 PM
Are you serious? Is it too hard to comprehend companies are grabbing images in the public domain and using them for a quick ad and free publicity?
Posted by: jhw539 | January 6, 2010, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
I am pretty sure a prominent conservative politician did not have a say in her photo being used on the cover of a recent issue of Newsweek. Suck it up, Mr. President. You’re an icon too.
Posted by: Matt | January 6, 2010, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
I am pretty sure a prominent conservative politician did not have a say in her photo being used on the cover of a recent issue of Newsweek. Suck it up, Mr. President. You’re an icon too.
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It’s a different story when the image of the President of the United States is being highjacked to sell a commercial product like a jacket, a car or anything else of that sort.
Posted by: tierra | January 6, 2010, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
The president is doing a lot that will affect me without my approval. Maybe he’ll develop some empathy for the lowly taxpayer.
Besides, he’s not looking that weatherproof to everybody waiting for the health care discussions to start on C-Span.
Posted by: Bob | January 6, 2010, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Let’s get real…Obama is the rockstar he wants to be. When Newsweek put Palin on the front of the cover, it too was for commerical purpose — to sell more magazines.
NObama. I’m officialy done with the whole deal.
Posted by: Jordan | January 6, 2010, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
left wing liberal designer labels
Posted by: LongT
you tell em’, what gets me really mad tho’ is the increasing amount of left wing liberal designer baby bottles and cribs… can you imagine the horror, actually making the legs shorter on a crib so that it leans left….
congressional investigation is needed, it’s a danger to our freedoms..
Posted by: Oh Yeah | January 6, 2010, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
He’s a public figure and as a result, they’re well within their rights to use the photo. What’s the big deal?
Posted by: Laura | January 6, 2010, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
When Newsweek put Palin on the front of the cover, it too was for commerical purpose — to sell more magazines.
Posted by: Jordan | Jan 6, 2010 10:07:07 PM
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Jordan surely you know the difference between putting the picture of a celebrity on the cover of a mag – which is commonly done- and stealing that celebrity’s image to promote your clothing company, or your car company. Don’t you?
Posted by: tierra | January 7, 2010, 12:00 am 12:00 am
The Prez has had a long line of accomplishments in his short life…given that he wasn’t born into a wealthy family that gave him a silver spoon. So, I doubt if he’s “flattered”. There are alot of companies now days using the Prez imagine to sell their products. Just look at your internet pages for “Obama wants you to go to school”, Obama has grants for you to return to school, etc., ads for schools that hit you with a 10,000 bill for 6 weeks of “training” that you can’t use anywhere. And it needs to STOP
Posted by: sara | January 7, 2010, 1:08 am 1:08 am
Are these appearances considered employment? The Obamas should be ocmpensated so the world can laugh at the moonlighting first couple.
Posted by: Lani Duke | January 7, 2010, 5:45 am 5:45 am
The ad makes me want to avoid the clothing altogether……….I bet their sales drop off not pick up.
Posted by: puttheminjail | January 7, 2010, 7:19 am 7:19 am
If Weatherproof will misappropriate an image, it will certainly misrepresent its products. Boycott unethical corporations.
Posted by: JimB from NC | January 7, 2010, 7:25 am 7:25 am
I’m going to need a weatherproof jacket after this healthcare bomb goes off. ABC, seriously? a story about the jacket? How about a story (or 2 or 3) about the stealthcare bill making its way through reconciliation in Pelosi’s underpants.
Posted by: cindy | January 7, 2010, 7:57 am 7:57 am
Who really cares. He’s been a pitchman since he ran for President and there is enough idiots in this country that will go out and buy anything Obama!
Posted by: Neva Stoltz | January 7, 2010, 8:20 am 8:20 am
He has been a marketing tool since we first heard his name, even Oprah used him. Maybe the jacket would sell better if he gave some of his famous speeches on it.
I can’t wait for his star to burn out.
Posted by: indymind | January 7, 2010, 8:50 am 8:50 am
How is possible that a commercial company can get a picture of the President wearing their jacket and run an ad without prior permission. How can they use anyone as a pitch person without a contract and compensation??????????I think this cheapens the office of the president and shows totally disrespect for the office. Very unpatriotic.
Posted by: suarepeg | January 7, 2010, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Racist individuals,had it been been Palin,Bush or some other person, nothing would have been said..give the man PRESIDENT OBAMA a darn Break!
Posted by: coco | January 7, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am
I think all this, including the PETA ad with Mrs. Obama, shows a lack of respect for the office of the Presidency. This growing lack of respect, which goes back to the Clinton days, also includes the appearance on such shows as Leno, etc., by both the President and all the other candidates.
It´s no wonder that Joe Wilson felt it was acceptable to yell out “You lie” during a Presidential speech. He thought he was just a member of a television show audience. I just wonder what will happen during the State of the Nation address.
Posted by: BachisBest | January 7, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
While I don’t think the company should be using Obama’s likeness to sell coats, I do think ole’ O is being hoist on his own petard. Go back to that Asia trip — his aides were absolutely crowing about that photo. They LOVED it. And now it’s being used without O’s permission. I love that. So much of life is a double-edged sword…
Posted by: Lizzie | January 7, 2010, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
I blame Bush.
Posted by: The Obama Cult | January 7, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
Democrats are always looking for new lows. You can blame Clinton for that.
Posted by: Eckhardt | January 7, 2010, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
At least he was not bowing the Emperor of Japan in the ad.
Posted by: scott jeffries | January 7, 2010, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
Weatherproof’s response is ridiculous. They just are glad the President is stylish?!?!? WHAT?
Uh not really important but I found a typo.
“In fact Weatherproof president Freddie Stollmack says they WILL ARE looking for additional places…”
Posted by: Jenna | January 7, 2010, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
Barry Hussein Obama should be allowed to sue for commercial exploitation because he is a celebrity, certainly not presidential.
Seriously, it’s an amazing photo, probably enhanced by photoshop ’cause everyone knows this Emperor has No Clothes, and BHO is the label of a cheap, empty suit like the kind worn by the Chicago mob.
Posted by: Minuteman | January 7, 2010, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
This is one product that I won’t look for. I think this is disrespectful and tasteless.
Posted by: CarolB | January 7, 2010, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
ABC news,you just don’t seem to understand that you are supposed to report on real news affecting the nation,this story brings back fond memories of what kind of dog the Obama’s would get or what Michelle was going to wear.I didn’t want to mention Falcon the Balloon Boy stories that went on and on for what seemed like an eternity.
There is real news out there and you have it on tape where the President is lying about how he would put the Health Care debate on C-Span.Do your job and quit all the fluff for goodness sake!
Posted by: Johnny L | January 7, 2010, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
If Obama wore the presidential sealed clothes like all the presidents before him, he wouldn’t have this problem! I remember pictures of JFK in all types of jackets…all with the presidential seal on them. LBJ and all that came after him wore jackets with the seal on it.
Posted by: Francine Haas | January 7, 2010, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
i have that jacket, its actually pretty cool and really warm. nice to know that the company i bought the jacket from would consider me “stylish,” but you dont see companies in other countries using pictures of their political leaders to advertise their products
Posted by: Kyle | January 7, 2010, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
If they have to take it down can we get rid of all the television commercials for debt relief that show the President speaking.
Posted by: bob | January 8, 2010, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Although a frivolous story when so many serious issues are at stake, certainly anyone would cringe at having his or her image used without permission to sell a product. That said, as “news” transitions into entertainment packages & every story is a segue to market another program, what is the status of using the President’s image to market a television program or to sell a magazine or a documentary when he doesn’t give authorization or is compensated? Hiding behind the “news” label and freedom of expression is an increasingly vague argument when ABC News – owned by Disney – is as much about market share & moving their product as is any jacket manufacturer. And of course that argument holds for all news organizations, with the possible exception of PBS or NPR. I’m not lobbying for the end of video news broadcasts, but as the lines grow more blurred in our age of information, is the bigger question about “open source” rights for all versus different rules for only slightly different business models?
Posted by: Dave | January 8, 2010, 11:29 am 11:29 am
he looks fantastic, most people could never look this good in this jacket give the guy some credit for being cool. I mean really you guys voted for him!!!
Posted by: joanne wells | January 9, 2010, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
i have that jacket, its actually pretty cool and really warm.
Posted by: northface jacket | January 10, 2010, 6:25 am 6:25 am