by Mark Silva
The fur, as they say, is flying over a new advertising campaign by the nation's premier animal rights organization group: "Fur-free and fabulous.''
The White House maintains that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had no right to use the image of First Lady Michelle Obama in its new ads.
Ingrid Newkirk, PETA president, says her group wouldn't have sought Obama's consent for the anti-fur ad because it knows that she can't make such an endorsement.
PETA put the first lady in its Washington ad campaign based on a White House confirmation that the first lady does not wear fur.
Obama appears in the ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks -- three others who have shunned fur from their fashions. The ads appear in Washington's Metro train stations, magazines and on PETA's website.
The organization which maintains that animals are neither ours to eat nor ours to wear, is honoring four "fabulous'' fur-free women.
PETA says its banners "feature a bevy of the smartest, most stylish, and most influential women in America: Carrie Underwood, Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey, and first lady Michelle Obama.
"Tyra Banks first renounced fur 15 years ago when she modeled a faux-fur hat, complete with a "no fur" button, for PETA. Oprah, who refuses to wear real fur or feature it in O magazine, was named PETA's "Person of the Year" in 2008 for her efforts to educate her millions of viewers about the cruelty of puppy mills and factory farms.''
Michelle Obama's press secretary, Semonti Mustaphi, confirmed that "Mrs. Obama does not wear fur,'' PETA reports.
The Associated Press contributed to this fur-free report.
Comments
This ad makes me want to go out to buy some fur right now! It's freaking cold out there!
BTW, Oprah looks old & Ugly. Stay out of politics Oprah & stick to what you know best....BAD TV!
Posted by: wingnut master | January 5, 2010 5:18 PM
I admire all four of these amazing women.
Posted by: Gath | January 5, 2010 5:46 PM
When PETA members sign a pledge to never take medications or avail themselves of surgical or diagnostic techniques that were developed using animals, I may pay some attention to their misguided attacks on medical research. Then again, I may not.
Everything is so simple when you're a true-believing fundamentalist.
Posted by: thebob.bob | January 5, 2010 6:47 PM
It's bad enough when Michelle's husband can't find people that can "connect the dots" when it comes to a jihadist boarding a plane with a valid passport, even though the U.K. knew he was terrorist bomber, but now she's in an ad that may cripple an American industry...a new low for this administration. Totally clueless!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 5, 2010 7:23 PM
The Obama's have a funny marriage. Michelle does an ad for animal rights, and her husband, the Prez, continues to have the wild mustang exterminated in Nevada and other western states. It's time for the Senate to pass Senator Byrd's bill to protect the horses that have been, for a long time, entrusted to the Bureau of Land Mgmt./ Sec of Interior. The bill already passed in the House. Being the stewards of the horses does not mean to kill them off. It means to keep all others off their land and to help them LIVE. Does Michelle pose in the PETA ad to obscure her husband's abysmal record of animal rights? If so, it's not working very well.
Posted by: Vivian | January 5, 2010 8:31 PM
Paulo and Vivian -- did either of you Mensa members actually READ the article? It said -- quite specifically -- that PETA used the image of Mrs. Obama without her approval. PETA even said they didn't even bother to ask for permission to use her image because they knew she wouldn't be able to agree. So, again, bottom line -- Mrs. Obama did not pose for the ad, nor did she allow use of her image. It was done without her consent.
Posted by: Milw-Town | January 5, 2010 10:05 PM
PETA is against pure bred dogs and dog ownership in general. They call it a form of slavery. Obama wouldn't go along with this.
Posted by: Charlie Lerner | January 5, 2010 10:38 PM
Is this the Swamp version of a "fluff" piece?
Posted by: ornery | January 5, 2010 11:32 PM
It looks to me like Oprah has a leather skirt on, but that can't be in a PETA ad?1?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 6, 2010 6:53 AM
Respecting relevant intellectual property laws (here, the right of publicity) can be inconvenient, and it sure can get in the way of an effective marketing campaign. Conversely, violating those laws can stir up a fair amount of media attention. Perhaps that was the plan all along? For the best info on the legal issues involved in this matter and a blog on this ad, go to:
http://www.rightofpublicity.com
Posted by: lglobsrvr | January 6, 2010 12:12 PM
Looks like an ad for an insane asylum.
Posted by: Libtard | January 6, 2010 12:24 PM
Milw-Town--Yes, the article was read. However, Michelle Obama IS in the ad. And, I have not heard or read, to date, that she is demanding that her unauthorized image be removed. Why the immature Beavis and Butt-Head name calling regarding another opinion?
Posted by: Vivian | January 6, 2010 12:53 PM
Here pretty soon PETA will have a picture of somebody biting into a piece of fried chicken and have blood and guts squirting out of there mouth or somebody setting down in a leather seat and have blood ozzing up.That is exactly what they have done with people wearing fur coats.Thats exactly the photo's they have stood outside of schools handing our children!These people are trying to gross people out to benefit there agenda and if i was Michelle i would have no link what so ever to this "Out of Reality Orginization"called PETA
Posted by: Chad Duncan | January 6, 2010 3:47 PM
Vivian -- your first statement shows you did not read the posting. You clearly stated: "Michelle does an ad for animal rights . . . " AND "Does Michelle pose in the PETA ad . . . "
She didn't do an ad OR pose in an ad, as you stated she did. Her image was used without her permission. Shows a clear lack of basic understanding of the English language on your part.
My post had nothing to do with your opinion - rather your inability to understand what was clearly stated a number of times in the post. Your first statement has more to do with finding a way to slam both the President and the First Lady.
Posted by: Milw-Town | January 6, 2010 4:32 PM
Milw-Town--Thank you for standing beside me to know EXACTLY what I did, or did not do or read before commenting. And, thanks for being clairvoyant in knowing my exact thought process and motivation before commenting. Your legalistic, wrongheaded BS is so nothing. My first comment was about slamming the Prez for allowing the extermination of animals that belong to all Americans on land entrusted to the BLM on our behalf.
Posted by: Vivian | January 6, 2010 4:51 PM
Wait. Michelle's wearing pearls. Weere any oysters harmed in the filiming of this ad?
Posted by: The Mad Hatter | January 6, 2010 5:24 PM
Vivian -- I'm sorry, but read your first post again. You have two statements which say that Michelle "did" the ad and "posed" for the ad. She didn't, and that is all that my post was about. I said absolutely nothing about animal rights. And I'm being "legalistic?" As in "viewing from a legal standpoint." Huh?
Posted by: Milw-Town | January 6, 2010 6:47 PM
Alright then -- how many people are sick and tired of PETA, its publicity stunts, its message, and wish the media would just stop feeding their publicity addiction?
Posted by: Steve | January 7, 2010 1:26 PM
Milw-Town you sound like that big dope Star Jones Lawerly speaking dat is
Posted by: Libtard | January 7, 2010 2:31 PM
Does these women wear shoe and carry purses? Case close. Okay Mrs. Michelle Obama make those Peta take down the ad sign. You are in the place to do it!!! Ophra has more shoes than Carter has pills. What is Carrie"s boots made of? Jellis or rubber? Mrs Obama sues Peta, how dare them use you picture. Do some for your girls, stand up!!!!
Posted by: Johnice Hall | January 8, 2010 7:43 PM
Does these women wear shoe and carry purses? Case close. Okay Mrs. Michelle Obama make those Peta take down the ad sign. You are in the place to do it!!! Ophra has more shoes than Carter has pills. What is Carrie"s boots made of? Jellis or rubber? Mrs Obama sues Peta, how dare them use you picture. Do some for your girls, stand up!!!!
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