newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The creators of the so-called “big yellow menace to our economy” are not happy about the reference in President Barack Obama’s latest political ads.

The company that owns and produces Sesame Street has seen iconic character Big Bird become the star of an Obama ad that suggests opponent Mitt Romney considers Big Bird the biggest threat to the American economy. Romney said in the first Presidential debate that he would cut subsidies to PBS, and mentioned that he liked Big Bird.

According to US News and World Report, the campaign ad shows images of Bernie Madoff, Ken Lay, and Dennis Koslowski, with a background narration saying, “Criminals. Gluttons of greed. And the evil genius who towered over them?”

Big Bird’s image then comes on the screen, and the narrator calls him a big yellow menace to our economy. He concludes, “One man has the guts to say his name. Mitt Romney knows it’s not Wall Street you have to worry about, it’s Sesame Street.”

Nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop has called for the Obama team to remove the advertisement. In a statement, they said, according to WSJ.com, “We do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and have requested that the ad be taken down.”

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The ad has a chance to hurt Obama more than Mitt Romney with its Wall Street reference. CBS News points out that the Justice Department ended investigations of Countrywide Financial, IndyMac, New Century Financial and Washington Mutual last year without filing any criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Obama went after another Sesame Street legend at a fundraiser in San Francisco. He said, according to Constitution Daily, “Elmo has been seen in a white Suburban. He’s driving for the border.”

Only 27 days and this campaign will be over.