52°F Some Clouds 
What's happening in:
7/1/09
|
47 comments
campaign Dems accuse GOP hopeful of stealing Obama's 'O'
BARACKOBAMA.COM (LEFT), LESOTTEN.COM (RIGHT)
On the left is the Obama campaign's logo from 2008. On the right is the Otten campaign's for 2010.
|
AUGUSTA, Maine — Mainers don’t head to the ballot box to elect the next governor for another 16 months, but the political mud is already flying between Democrats and Republicans.
On Wednesday, the Maine Democratic Party accused presumptive Republican candidate Les Otten of ripping off President Obama’s Web site. Otten’s camp dismissed the allegation and accused leaders of the other party of being petty.
“We hope our opponents return to talking about the issues that are important to the people of the state of Maine,” Otten’s campaign spokeswoman Edith Smith said in a statement.
Interestingly, Otten isn’t even an official candidate yet. The former Sunday River Ski Resort owner and Boston Red Sox executive announced earlier this week that he was setting up an exploratory committee to consider a run for the Blaine House in 2010.
But Otten’s well-polished and professionally designed Web site quickly caught the attention of Democratic party leaders. In fact, party executive director Arden Manning suggests that the reason the site is so slick is that Otten essentially pilfered it from Obama’s historic campaign.
In his own written missive sent to the press, Manning seized upon similarities between graphics on both sites built around the letter “O.”
Obama’s graphic features what appears to be a sun rising over red and white stripes (or fields) against a blue background. Otten’s graphic displays an apparent sun rising over blue and white stripes (or water) with green hills and a green leaf. It also has stars set against a red background where the sky would be.
“Republicans just don’t get it,” Manning said in his statement. “They think they can succeed if they stand for all the same ideas that were soundly defeated in 2008 and support all the same policies as George W Bush, but simply change their branding to copy Barack Obama’s Web site and logo. Well, to copy an Obama slogan myself, ‘That’s not change, that’s more of the same.’”
Otten’s campaign countered that the site was built from scratch by INsyt of Farmington. The company, Smith said, used standard industry templates and colors found on political Web sites nationwide.
As for the use of “O,” Smith wrote that also happens to the first letter of Otten as well.
Not registered? Click here
|
E-mail this
|
Print this
|
Local News
MEXICO, Maine — A 66-year-old man from the western Maine town of Mexico has been charged with having child …
AUGUSTA, Maine — The National Weather Service and the National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a red flag warning …
Taxpayer funding for a four-year dental school at the University of New England moved forward on Wednesday as lawmakers …
AUGUSTA, Maine — The proponents of an Oxford County resort casino have reached a tentative deal with the …
ORONO, Maine — Robert Kennedy announced his decision to step down as University of Maine president during one of the …
Recent comments
As to this sick degenerate that killed his 70 year old sister and then tried to get free room and board at the looney …
What a scum. I sincerely hope I do not come upon one of these dirtballs in my dwelling, for their sake.
knightscross, what in world does growing your own food have to do with Stalin or hippie communes? The green beans we …
Yes Alcohol by itself is a drug, but a Guinness is a meal in a bottle.
Is anyone else curious to why we can comment on this conviction but not on the court appearance of the teenager who …
OH Yes, I can see how Obama would accuse the Republican of stealing his "O" after all they are both the same letter and all. Give me a break doesn't he have better things to do with his time, like get our Country out of debt!!!
retired2me: It was not our President who accused him.....at least get your facts straight. It was a Maine Democrat. I am not condoning it and think it is silly and a waste of time and thought and will not be effective (to make an issue of this man's new logo ), but the President I doubt is even aware of this Republican's new logo ,or at least not focussed on it! At least get your facts straight. This was the head of the Democratic Party in Maine who made this comment. Every thing he says does not first pass muster with the President.
Oh my goodness, you have to be kidding me. I can't believe that this petty cr*p even makes the news. Don't we have bigger things to worry about? But oh yeah, "He Won!" He can whine when he wants to. Maybe he should consult with Oprah, after all she goes by O, too!
Do people read articles anymore? It was written: "On Wednesday, the Maine Democratic Party accused presumptive Republican candidate Les Otten of ripping off President Obama’s Web site" It does not say 'Obama is upset about the O'. And yes, he did WIN :)
Arden needs to stop making up stories. How long is his nose going to grow? Pilfer? Ripping off? Funny, but I don't see the logo being copyright protected. And there really is not anything to say that they were stolen. Anything drawn in the shape of a circle could be taken that way if one were so ridiculous to do so. Arden and the Maine Dem Party needs to get a clue. Maybe Otten is a candidate that Maine can believe in and that scares the pants of the Dem Party so they accuse rather than deal with issues.
O brother
Lets face it Les Otten is no Barack Obama. I would say he should be more creative, and talk issues rather than making a fancy logo.
I'd check with Joe Biden. He's the expert on plagerism.
First of all....the state has bigger issues then the parties fighting over the letter "O".
Second...this reminds me of the whole President Obama's plane had a flag painted over, no it didn't, yes it did debate. Again, I think we have bigger issues facing our state and I really do not want to live through a two year campaign for governor after living through a 2 year campaign for President!
If you want to start the campaign now talk about the issues, not about a stylized "O".
The dummycrats have already started creating strife & controversy. What a surprise.
edith smith summed it up perfectly.
this is democratic politics 101: do not deal with the mess their party has put us in being in complete control in augusta for 12 plus years, just distract us away from the real issues. AND how long will it take the D's to stop using George W. Bush and his policies to criticize the R party? HONESTLY, I bet the next 20 years we'll hear these people using GWB to slam good and would be effective Republican candidate simply because that is all they've got.
the maine voters needs to smarter the heck up and quit sending the type of politician manning respresents.
This comment:
"AND how long will it take the D's to stop using George W. Bush and his policies to criticize the R party? "
Really Really cracked me up.
Even after leaving the Presidency and 8 years in the White House, Bush and other Republicans were still blaming Clinton for the economy. Before Obama even took the oath of office, he was being blamed for the economy.
... Ummm... Hypocrisy? hehehe
This is "O" soooooooooooo friggin stupid! Why don't these dinkusses find something to do! Work on something productive. Useing the bathroom is more productive then this crap! I would be embarassed if I got caught dealing with this so called problem. There are families without food, homes being foreclosed on due to hospital bills, insurance premiums are through the roof. WAKE UP. YOU WORK FOR US!!! IN MY EYES YOUR ALL FIRED!!!
OOPS! I ment FRIED!
i'm so sick and tired of listening to people campaigning for years before the elections even take place. Why aren't they working on the job they already have ? AS FOR OTTTEN STEALING OBAMAS 'O' , SINCE WHEN DID ANYONE OWN THE O ? I THOUGHT THE ALPHABET WAS FOR ALL OF US TO USE AND A CIRCLE REALLY ISN'T AN O OTHER THAN IT'S ROUND. Don't these people have anything better to do ???? They sound like kids fighting over a lollipop !
I thought Oprah had the market on the "O"? I think she should be the person upset with this whole issue...:)
It's an obvious rip off, but I don't think it's going to matter in the long run because this two bit hack isn't going to win anyway.
Reminds me of the fraud Glenn Beck. This guy is so lame he could not come up with an original title for a ghostwriten book.
DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME TO ME , NO HUSSIAN IN IT!
Wally, if you're going to call someone dumb perhaps you should learn how to spell. It's Hussein, their and dumb. But hey that's not bad for two sentences.
Otten is free to steal, borrow, or pay respect to whomever he wants. But why lie about it? No one believes this website was built "from scratch". Why not just own up to it?
What's next.......trotting their candidates out in black face?
If it upsets Democrats that's good reason enough for me to vote for the guy...
Can't believe Dems' stupdity in this. What about Otten's record; raised $265 million, blew it, and walked away. Ambitious, Go Big or Go Home thinking is not appropriate for any state in current economy.
What happened to the Stars and Stripes? Oh I forgot, obama has made his own emblem he wants us to bow too. Screw that, His emblem is a attempt to make himself larger than life and become a leader.... what a joke
So stupid...
Why don't Otten just run as a Democrat if he is going to steal Democratic symbols, slogans and web sites.
Arden: Get a life.
TheTruth...what book would that be?
It's a great logo! I'm sure lots of people have copied it. (Hopefully it will turn off Otten's constituents!)
Sounds like no one want to stick to the facts. The state is in a mess, who ever sounds like they can straighten it out will get my vote.
I heard Mr. Otten's radio interview this morning. He is articulate, concise & did not dodge the bullet once. He has a business background & understands the key to survival is growing Maine's GDP. Sorry Ms. Hill, Mr. Otten totally blew you away, absolutely no contest.
And Libs, since when does the Bamster own the shape of circle?
JD2008, I believe The Truth is referring to Glenn Beck's new book "Common Sense", The case against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine....It's a great read !!
There can be no higher truth than what is written in Glenn Beck's book, even the libs can't deny it.
Oh give me a break.
No higher truth huh?
Straight from God to Glen Beck's mouth huh?
Gonna really shake up the country? Is it gonna bring on a Republican revolution?
Well kudos to you, atleast your reading.
Wait a minute..... Is Glen Beck the new Jesus? Oh hallelujah! He's come back to save us from the Out of Control Government!
And as far as the symbol goes, the Maine Deomocrats are probably just jealous they didnt think of it first.
Our government is out of control doesn't matter wether they are democrate or republican. We need conservative people representing us.
Gave my wife 3 of em last night, she ain't complaining
Keep drinking the Kool Aid Blueskies. Here's a couple more you should read:
'Liberalism is a Mental Disorder', Michael Savage
'The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness', Lyle H. Rossitter, Jr., M.D.
It's not the same as Hussein's.
hahahahahahahahahah!
Yeah, I'll get right on it. Running right over to the book store now.
Right after I take my pills for my mental liberal disorder.
hahahahahahahahahah!
Thanks for the chuckle.
Im sure it's a good read for you neo cons and the already converted.
But you can keep it.
maine expatriot kiss where i can't reach ,you sir are no patriot.neither is barry hussiaaaan oooobama
.
"maine expatriot kiss where i can't reach ,you sir are no patriot.neither is barry hussiaaaan oooobama"
Now the educated version:
MaineExpatriot, kiss where I can't reach. You, sir are no patriot, neither is Barry Hussein Obama.
and I'm actually a Ma'am. Thanks for playing.
Actually I punctuated the second sentence incorrectly. That'll teach me not to proofread. : - )
Knew you had to be what Rush calls one of those arousa gap itches