Thread: Ads fan flames of immigration debate (LA billboard)

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Talk about spin .. Liberman gave a different defense last week..... as if there could be any defense!

snip .... It this were an ad with Big Ben in the photo and two anchors with bagpipes, this would never be an issue," said Lenard Liberman, whose company owns Channel 62.

"The idea was to give pride to the 6.8 million documented Hispanic immigrants living in the Los Angeles area, to say, 'This is your home. Be proud of it like you were of Mexico,'" he said.

"To say that it is promoting illegal immigration is totally turning around the concept."

Uh no, Mr. Liberman, YOU did the spin and you knew EXACTLY what you were doing and what message you were trying to convey!

Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Ads fan flames of immigration debate
Protesters doctor controversial billboards, drawing further ire. By ERIC CARPENTER and GWENDOLYN DRISCOLL
The Orange County Register

It's the talk of talk radio.

Some say it crystallizes the debate over immigration, while others call it an annoying distraction that oversimplifies the real issues.

Billboards across Los Angeles and Orange counties for a Spanish-language newscast read "Los Angeles, CA" with California marked out so that it declares "Los Angeles, Mexico."

About 75 billboards have gone up to promote KRCA-TV/62 since mid-April, prompting arguments about the ad's intention.

The debate grew Monday when word spread that protesters covered the "Mexico" part of the controversial sign with an American flag in Fullerton, at Orangethorpe Avenue and State College Boulevard.

Police aren't sure who added the flag, but photos of the doctored ad were posted - and praised - on at least two Web sites that focus on illegal immigration.

KFI/640 AM, which has railed about the signs for several days, responded by putting up three billboards of its own that read, "Just to clarify, you are here" with an arrow pointing to "Los Angeles, CA, USA."

The ad is signed "Gracias, KFI."

KFI host Bill Handel said the issue has dominated his show in recent days.

"Immigration is at the top of the list of concerns for our listeners, and they consider this a slap in their face," he said. "It's like a wave of the flag from those that want the borders to disappear."

The ad features two news anchors above the phrase: Tu Ciudad. Tu Equipo.(Your City. Your Team.) And the Angel of Independence, a Mexico City icon, is superimposed into the Los Angeles skyline.

"It this were an ad with Big Ben in the photo and two anchors with bagpipes, this would never be an issue," said Lenard Liberman, whose company owns Channel 62.

"The idea was to give pride to the 6.8 million documented Hispanic immigrants living in the Los Angeles area, to say, 'This is your home. Be proud of it like you were of Mexico,'" he said.

"To say that it is promoting illegal immigration is totally turning around the concept."

The Fullerton sign received a lot of attention in Web chat rooms and on talk radio, but little notice where it's located.

Dr. Espiridion Hidalgo, a veterinarian whose animal hospital is directly under the billboard, said he hadn't noticed the original ad or the addition of the flag.

"I don't really care one way or the other," he said. "Seems like how you read the intent is just a matter of interpretation."

Others felt more passionately.

"What message could they possibly be trying to send by crossing out California?" Jim Henry said, looking up at the sign. "They have to know people are going to be outraged seeing that.

"Good for them for adding the flag."

The debate comes at a time when immigration issues are in the spotlight. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called KFI last week to decry the Channel 62 billboards and praise volunteers who traveled to Arizona to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Whenever a top elected official makes a statement, it changes the debate, it makes it significant," said Raphael Sonenshein, a Cal State Fullerton political scientist.

Sonenshein questioned the timing and relevance of the governor's comments.

"It's not necessarily the most useful debate we could have in California right now when we can't balance the budget," he said. "Or it's the most useful debate to have right now to distract people from the fact that we can't balance the budget."

Fullerton Mayor Shawn Nelson said he's not surprised the American flag was draped over the billboard.

"If the intent of the ad was to encourage those who have come to L.A. from Mexico to keep the fires of patriotism burning, I think it's natural to expect that there will be somebody just as aggressive on the other side."

He said he hopes more reasoned debate will follow.

"A fireworks show never solves the problem," he said.
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CONTACT US: (714) 704-3769 or ecarpenter@ocregister.com

It this were an ad with Big Ben in the photo and two anchors with bagpipes, this would never be an issue," said Lenard Liberman, whose company owns Channel 62.

Britain has Rule Of Law, property rights (um, sort of. As long as that property isn't a gun) and a government that does not steal everything that is not nailed down.

So there is no incentive for widespread British immigration to the US.

But on the other hand, watch out when Muslims become the majority there & institute Sharia.

And call me as soon as the Mara Scotatrucha starts hacking rivals to death with a machete and the Welsh Mafia starts a Walmart-sized drug distribution operation.

England is the country that invented soccer hooliganism. And their fans don't shout "Osama, Osama" and they don't throw urine at the US players that play in the English soccer league.