The offensive billboard in Mason City, Iowa insulting the President has been removed after much criticism and debate.
The billboard, which depicted President Obama in the same political and fascist light as dictators Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin, was created by an Iowa Tea party group that intended to “send an anti-socialist message” with the depiction.
Deemed as extremely offensive and borderline racist, the billboard received objections from all aspects of the political arena, including fellow tea party members.
“The purpose of the billboard was to draw attention to the socialism. It seems to have been lost in the visuals,” Tea Party member Bob Johnson said. “The pictures overwhelmed the message. The message is socialism.”
He said he didn’t know of any plans to remove the sign.
The North Iowa Tea Party began displaying the billboard in downtown Mason City last week. The sign shows large photographs of Obama, Nazi leader Hitler and communist leader Lenin beneath the labels “Democrat Socialism,” “National Socialism,” and “Marxist Socialism.”
Beneath the photos is the phrase, “Radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive.”
The co-founder of the roughly 200-person group said the billboard was intended to send an anti-socialist message. But Bob Johnson admitted Tuesday that the message may have gotten lost amid the images of fascist and communist leaders.
Kent Beatty, the general manager of the company that owns the billboard, says a North Iowa Tea Party representative called Tuesday night and asked that the sign in downtown Mason City be removed.
Beatty says his company replaced the sign Wednesday morning with a public service announcement.
