Clear Channel to remove airport ad at airline's request

[a kennedy]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A unit of Clear Channel Communications Inc. will take down an anti-nuclear billboard at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at the request of Northwest Airlines, the advertising company said Monday.

The billboard was one of two placed by the Union of Concerned Scientists at the Twin Cities and Denver airports ahead of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions to urge the parties' presidential candidates to reduce the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, said Elliott Negin, a spokesman for the group.

The ad in Minnesota reads, "When only one nuclear bomb could destroy a city like Minneapolis... We don't need 6,000." It also says, "Senator McCain: It's time to get serious about reducing the nuclear threat." And it shows a picture of the Minneapolis skyline with target crosshairs superimposed over it.

The billboard in Denver names and shows that city instead, and addresses the same statement to Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate.

Peggie Hardie, general manager for Clear Channel Airports in Minneapolis, said Northwest has always had the right to reject advertising on its concourses at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Full article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-18-airport-ad_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

[Lint Head]

1. At the request of Northwest Airlines? When they hell did Northwest

Airlines become the arbiter of free speech? :dem:

[KharmaTrain]

2. Free Speech In An Airport?

Try "joking" about having a shoebomb around an airport and see how much that speech can cost ya. Or if you're an Idaho Senator how that speech in that airport ended up in a police station. Airports have become virtual police states these days...between the omni-presence of the TSA or the high handed antics of the airlines.

It's interesting that Cheap Channel...now owned by the Carlyle Group, removed the board as opposed to relocating it. Letsee if they get a similar request in Denver...

[shadowknows69]

3. When they spent more money

[Jim__]

4. Clear Channel - keeping our minds free from thought crimes!