Thursday, January 14, 2010

From Wayne Jackson


Scan12557, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

PETA pulls ads featuring Michelle Obama

Animal-rights group used first lady's image without authorization

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said
Tuesday it is pulling an ad campaign that used the likeness of first lady
Michelle Obama without her permission.

At the same time, PETA is urging the White House to take a stand against
another unauthorized use - the debut last week of the Ringling Bros. circus'
newest performing elephant, "Baby Barack."

PETA said it used photos of Michelle Obama in an anti-fur campaign because
the first lady does not wear fur. But they never received authorization to
use her image.

Michael McGraw, a PETA spokesman, said the decision to pull the Michelle
Obama ad campaign, which also featured Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and
Tyra Banks, was "to show good faith."

In PETA's view, the use of the Obama name by the circus is far more
disturbing. In a letter Tuesday to the president, PETA President Ingrid
Newkirk urges the White House to demand a name change for Baby Barack.

"'Baby Barack' is not even a year old, but his curious and energetic
childhood has been cut tragically short while Ringling attempts to profit
from your popularity by putting him on the road to perform in the circus,"

Posted by Buckles at 1/14/2010 06:23:00 AM

14 comments:

Jimmy Cole said...

While I am a both strong supporter of Ringling's elephant program, and President Obama, I'm not sure that naming this young elephant "Barack" and featuring him on the road at such as young age was a wise decision.

No doubt the Feld team anticipated this objection from PeTA, and this young elephant is getting the very best in care... but Lord forbid anything ever went wrong. The publicity backlash could be devastating.

I also hope that President Obama ignores PeTA, and feels proud to have the baby named after him. However,PeTA just got scolded for using the First Lady's unauthorized image to promote their cause...isn't Ringling sort of doing the same thing with the use of the President's first name?

Without turning this into another political argument, I would be very curious to hear the opinions from some other blog readers, in particular some elephant people.

14 January, 2010 08:40
GaryHill said...

Got an old Donkey in my cliental that is named Obama, kinda insulting to name an Elephant that!

14 January, 2010 15:42
Anonymous said...

Barack is a first name, what was once referred to as a christian name.

It isn't even a unique name as this precedent is a Jr.

14 January, 2010 20:34
Bob Cline said...

As far as publishing goes, ( and I'm not an expert ) unauthorized photos will get you sued.

Naming something after something else happens every day. Just look around you at how many people were named after this or that.I don't believe there will be any legal ramifications about a name.
Just my opinions.
Bob

15 January, 2010 07:11
Randy said...

Jimmy Cole...ARE YOU KIDDING????

15 January, 2010 10:10
Jimmy Cole said...

Let me further clarify my statement by adding that I wish Ringling and Baby Barack a very pleasant and successful tour.

However my previously mentioned concerns are shared by many professional circus animal trainers that I have spoken to.

15 January, 2010 16:00
Wade G. Burck said...

Randy,
He has got to be kidding. Either that, or he is just trying to alibi for wasting his vote.
Wade Burck

15 January, 2010 17:33
Roger Smith said...

Is this naming thing akin to that guy named John Wayne Gacy?

15 January, 2010 22:51
Anonymous said...

There are usually "public" names for bulls and then there's the ones actually used. Perhaps he's already being called "Barry" by the RBBB bull men? Or, he will be, whatever is easier unless a command is given from above.

If a baby had been born and named George within the past decade, would it have caused an outcry?

Is it the uncommonness of the name that provokes the immediate ire? The Biblical use?

Why castigate the beast, it presumably had no voice in the matter.

It's an honor to have something named for a president. It's taken place thousands of times before. Leave it at that. Be glad they didn't name it Fidel, Achmabinajob [sp?] or Osama, as with people that named their kids Che.

Elephant names have also been changed innumerable times in the past. And, how many of you can even name the RBBB elephants?

Need exercise, go volunteer in Haiti. The folks there won't care if you're liberal or conservative, those are real issues there.

16 January, 2010 08:26
Buckles said...

Of all the punks born up at the Stud Farm, few if any, of the names they were politically christened with are used in the barn.
But as names go "Barak" isn't bad.
Easier to say than "Pelosi".

16 January, 2010 09:15
Randy said...

Listen,I dont care what you name the little guy....Buckles is spot on,with his comment...my question was pointed to the"young age,and wise decision crack"
lets look at the last 20 years and look at all that went on the road on ALL the shows....
would love to talk to the CIRCUS ANIMAL TRAINERS....have them call me...
RANDY

16 January, 2010 10:07
Anonymous said...

If they spelled it backward, PeTA would never have said anything. They wouldn't a clue as to the meaning. How dumb (or in their case, dum) for them to blame very nice animal for their own stupidity.
The bikers had it rignt and the freaks got what they were asking for!
Bob Kitto

16 January, 2010 18:55
Jimmy Cole said...

I was hoping that we would hear from some animal people that would either...A: State reasons that my concerns are unfounded, and explain why Ringling made a good choice to tour with this young elephant (I'm open to that). Or B: agree with my concens.

Instead we got mostly anti Obama remarks, and from the one person who could have well stated Ringling's case on this, only a remak that questions me bringing up the issue in the first place.

I can well understand how with regards to recent events, the Ringling elephant people would be suspicious of anyone that questions them. But believe me, I am on your side!

19 January, 2010 06:54
Wade G. Burck said...

Jimmy,
Your concerns are very valid and noteworthy. It has been discussed many times of late in the "backyard" where most important matters/concerns are discussed. It takes courage to express those concerns publicly, and most folks lack that courage. You just experienced what happens when you do. I didn't initially applaud your bringing it up, because it is so often spoken about, in the above mentioned "backyard" that I just assumed everybody agreed with you.
FYI For their own reasons, Fox News/Bill O'Reily gave the name a "pinhead" instead of a "patriot."
Wade Burck

19 January, 2010 07:29

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