By Todd Starnes, Fox News & Commentary
Seattle’s public transit system is under fire for rejecting an advertising campaign urging people to buy American and shop locally because it was too political.
“It was a shock to us,” said Richard Tso, executive director of TAP America, a Seattle-based nonprofit.
The rejected ads read: “December is Buy American Month, Shop Locally, Join Seattle’s TAPamerica.org.”
UPDATE: Seattle Reverses Ban on “Buy American”
Dec 1, 2011
UPDATE: On Thursday evening Seattle’s Metro Transit reversed its ban and decided to allow the “Buy American” ads to be posted on city buses. “Upon further evaluation, the text of the ad does not express an opinion about a public issue,” said General Manager Kevin Desmond in a statement released to the Seattle Fox television affiliate.
Following is our original story:
Seattle’s public transit system is under fire for rejecting an advertising campaign urging people to buy American and shop locally because it was too political.
“It was a shock to us,” said Richard Tso, executive director of TAP America, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization.
The rejected ads read: “December is Buy American Month, Shop Locally, Join Seattle’s TAPamerica.org.”
Tso said his organization was prepared to pay as much as $9,000 for the ads to be posted on 45 Metro buses running through major shopping districts in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, WA.
“The ads were rejected by King County as being too political,” Tso told Fox News & Commentary, wondering if the county was simply being politically correct.
“Buy American should never be a bad word,” he said. “Those are words we should have pride in as citizens of the United States.”
But county officials told the Seattle Times that they have a policy against ads that express a viewpoint on “matters of public debate about political, religious or social issues.”
“The concept of ‘Buy American’ is an issue of both political and economic debate,” spokeswoman Linda Thielkein wrote in an email to the newspaper.
Tso said government officials were being “hypersensitive” and said they currently “run ads that seem to be quite controversial.”
“I think the ‘Buy American’ message is something that would resonate with more people,” he said. “that shows you the state of where we are as a nation.”
The Seattle Times reported that the bus agency adopted a strict advertising policy after a controversy over another group that tried to purchase ads alleging “Israeli war crimes.”
Tso said he hopes the county will reconsider their ban on the ‘Buy American’ ads.
- Terry Nugent · Top Commenter · Daviess County High School''Too political' Are you freaking serious? Is Seattle a democrat state heavily populated with muslims? or are the so called "leaders" just neo nazi fools? If they're concerned about an economic debate, boycott their bus line, give them something to debate.When are Americans going to grow a backbone and take back our country? We passed the point of stupidity 3 years ago!
- Colleen Hope Donovan · Owner/Photographer at ColleendonovanphotographySeattle (and the entire West side of the state) is over run with liberal democrats who find any and every reason to cram what 'American' or 'America' used to stand for down the throats of conservatives. The leadership (haha) in Washington state continually invites and then supports illegals. They come here and get their driver's licenses and all is well. I'm sure they were just looking out for the feelings of the illegals when they refused to run the ad. Not to mention the Asians who come over in droves to attend the universities there.
- Scott Davis · Ashburn, VirginiaAre you kidding me? These people should all be fired and kicked out of the country. It has nothing to do with politics. It is all about getting our country back to work. What ever happend to America? We have been overrun by idiots!
- Adrian Cepero · Subscribe · North Bergen, New JerseyI'm confused....aren't Republicans for free market capitalism? If you had even a cursory understanding of economics you would view this as socialism. Besides, buying American does not gaurantee jobs here and plenty of foreign companies employ workers here as well. This is very political and very misleading.
- Michael Shepard · Little Falls, MinnesotaAdrian Cepero What the heck is wrong with politely asking people to voluntarily behave a certain way? It is free market capitalism in action. Those who would limit the ability of their fellow citizens to advertise whatever they want are the ones guilty of Socialism. Perhaps you should think prior to posting next time because if you do not see this then your judgement is in doubt.
- Liz GrierBuy American....as long as it' not made in Seattle.
- Neal Barton Jr.HEY, CITY OF SEATTLE, SCREW YOU!
- Diane Emmerich · Top Commenter · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Ken Drift · Top Commenter · Elgin, IllinoisPolitical correctness will be the end of us all. So sad, and we see it happening right before our eyes.
- Phil Jackson · Top Commenter
- Kent WhitakerWOW! REALLY? This city sucks.When did "buy american" become "matters of public debate about political, religious or social issues".
- Bob Zornes · Seabeck, WashingtonSeattle used to be a great city. The continuing liberal social agenda has relegated the city to an also-ran. Now the city spends money on projects not necessary to sustain the imperatives, then runs to the state legislature, hat in hand, whining about how they need the rest of the state to fund it's necessary needs. I am so glad I closed my business there and no longer have to deal with the spiraling costs. As a sanctuary city, it is no surprise that the city council would think buying American is too political. Seriously, the next thing we will see exclusded is display of the American flag. Sad. Please keep your city in King County. The rest of us in this state realy want no part of your agenda.
- Sharon Spraker Barnes · Top Commenter · Dallas / Fort Worth, TX
- Peggy Todd Lee · Wallace State CCThis so unamerican when you can not advertise "Buy American"..what's up Seattle?
Terry Nugent · Top Commenter · Daviess County High School
''Too political' Are you freaking serious? Is Seattle a democrat state heavily populated with muslims? or are the so called "leaders" just neo nazi fools? If they're concerned about an economic debate, boycott their bus line, give them something to debate.When are Americans going to grow a backbone and take back our country? We passed the point of stupidity 3 years ago!
- Colleen Hope Donovan · Owner/Photographer at ColleendonovanphotographySeattle (and the entire West side of the state) is over run with liberal democrats who find any and every reason to cram what 'American' or 'America' used to stand for down the throats of conservatives. The leadership (haha) in Washington state continually invites and then supports illegals. They come here and get their driver's licenses and all is well. I'm sure they were just looking out for the feelings of the illegals when they refused to run the ad. Not to mention the Asians who come over in droves to attend the universities there.
Scott Davis · Ashburn, Virginia
Are you kidding me? These people should all be fired and kicked out of the country. It has nothing to do with politics. It is all about getting our country back to work. What ever happend to America? We have been overrun by idiots!
- Adrian Cepero · Subscribe · North Bergen, New JerseyI'm confused....aren't Republicans for free market capitalism? If you had even a cursory understanding of economics you would view this as socialism. Besides, buying American does not gaurantee jobs here and plenty of foreign companies employ workers here as well. This is very political and very misleading.
- Michael Shepard · Little Falls, MinnesotaAdrian Cepero What the heck is wrong with politely asking people to voluntarily behave a certain way? It is free market capitalism in action. Those who would limit the ability of their fellow citizens to advertise whatever they want are the ones guilty of Socialism. Perhaps you should think prior to posting next time because if you do not see this then your judgement is in doubt.
Liz Grier
Buy American....as long as it' not made in Seattle.
Neal Barton Jr.
HEY, CITY OF SEATTLE, SCREW YOU!
- Diane Emmerich · Top Commenter · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ken Drift · Top Commenter · Elgin, Illinois
Political correctness will be the end of us all. So sad, and we see it happening right before our eyes.
- Phil Jackson · Top Commenter
Kent Whitaker
WOW! REALLY? This city sucks.When did "buy american" become "matters of public debate about political, religious or social issues".
Bob Zornes · Seabeck, Washington
Seattle used to be a great city. The continuing liberal social agenda has relegated the city to an also-ran. Now the city spends money on projects not necessary to sustain the imperatives, then runs to the state legislature, hat in hand, whining about how they need the rest of the state to fund it's necessary needs. I am so glad I closed my business there and no longer have to deal with the spiraling costs. As a sanctuary city, it is no surprise that the city council would think buying American is too political. Seriously, the next thing we will see exclusded is display of the American flag. Sad. Please keep your city in King County. The rest of us in this state realy want no part of your agenda.
- Sharon Spraker Barnes · Top Commenter · Dallas / Fort Worth, TX
Peggy Todd Lee · Wallace State CC
This so unamerican when you can not advertise "Buy American"..what's up Seattle?
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