Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, issued a statement objecting to the use of Big Bird in a Barack Obama campaign ad.
The new ad spot, launched on cable networks Tuesday, mocks Mitt Romney for saying during last week’s debate that he would cut public funding for PBS … even though he likes Big Bird.
Firing off a terse response, Sesame Workshop stated, “We have approved no campaign ads, and, as is our general practice, have requested that both campaigns remove Sesame Street characters and trademarks from their campaign materials.”
The president, while campaigning in Columbus, Ohio, joked with 15,000 supporters, “Today Romney decided we’re going after Big Bird. Elmo’s making a run for the border and Oscar is hiding out in a trash can.”
His wife told another group of likely supporters, “We all know good and well that cutting Sesame Street is no way to balance a budget.”
Romney told folks in Iowa, “These are tough times with real serious issues. You have to scratch your head when the president spends the last week talking about saving Big Bird.”
Check out the controversial ad below:
Photo: WENN