Political Billboard Showing 9/11 Tragedy Creates Controversy

A controversial billboard in Orange County has a picture of the burning World Trade Center and the message, "Please Don't Vote for a Democrat." The man who paid for the ad says he's trying to help Republicans, but officials with both political parties are calling the billboard inappropriate.

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There are billboards up and down busy Orange Blossom Trail, but this at John Young Parkway (see map) one sticks out.

"Just looking at it, I'm not thinking about Democrat or Republican, I'm thinking about the twin towers and all the people killed," resident Mary Anderson told Eyewitness News.

The ad went up last week and is causing quite a reaction.

"Why use the twin towers for that purpose?" Anderson questioned.

Strange News Photos (LEFT) STRANGE PHOTOSView 99 PHOTOS of Strange News The man behind the billboard is Mike Meehan, a St. Cloud businessman and musician. His website advertises a CD and music video titled "The Republican Song," with the chorus, "Don't vote for a Democrat." He's selling CDs for $5.

"This is a blatant exploitation of that terrible tragedy for political and, perhaps even worse, personal gain," said Bill Robinson, Orange County Democratic Party Chair.

Orange County Democrats are calling for the billboard to come down and the local Republican Party has said the ad is "inappropriate." Meehan hadn't returned Channel 9 calls or e-mails Monday afternoon, but some are defending his right to free speech.

"They can have their opinion. It's a free country, if they want to pay for the ad. I'm sure it's expensive," resident Louis Champeau told Eyewitness News.

The company that owns the billboard, Beech Outdoor Advertising, views it as a fundamental first amendment issue and for that reason wouldn't censor the ad. The billboard will be up until after the November election.

Beech Outdoor Advertising declined to say how much the billboard costs to rent.

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