A “vulgar” billboard in Maryland has caught the attention of many, depicting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a negative light. This billboard, situated in Huntington in Calvert County, showcases cartoon caricatures of the president and VP surrounded by piles of cartoon feces. Accompanying this imagery is a pro-Trump message that reads, “DON’T BLAME TRUMP! YOU ARE STUCK WITH THESE TWO (expletive) HEADS!!!”
While this sign is celebrated by individuals who oppose Biden politically, it has sparked offense and concern among many residents in Maryland. Jeanette Flaim, chair of the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee, has taken a stand against the sign and is determined to see it removed.
Flaim voices her concern, stating, “It’s just vulgar. Kids are going to school, and they’re going by it every day, and parents are driving their kids. We just don’t think kids should have to see that or parents should have to explain that.”
Yet, despite the offensive nature of the billboard, efforts to have it removed may face challenges. The Calvert Record and Southern Maryland News reported that county commissioners might be forced to keep the sign up due to the 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert Supreme Court Decision. This decision favored the individual who posted the “offensive” message, citing the protection of free speech.
Buddy Hance, president of the Board of County Commissioners, acknowledges this dilemma: “There is nothing that we as county government can do for language that’s on a legal sign. You know this country was built on the foundation of free speech, and sometimes we like what that free speech says, and sometimes we don’t.”
However, Flaim remains steadfast in her pursuit to have the billboard removed. While she understands that the location has a history of promoting a pro-Trump agenda, she argues that the current sign’s imagery and message are inappropriate for public display. Her concern lies in the exposure of curse words to the young residents of Maryland. She hopes that by exerting public pressure on those responsible for the sign, they will reconsider and replace it with something less vulgar and controversial.
“We have not complained about any other signs,” she clarifies. “It’s this sign we think is damaging to all of us, all of us in Calvert. The GOP, the Independents, everybody.”
In the meantime, the creator of the anti-Biden billboard has chosen not to comment on the matter. Are they avoiding public scrutiny or perhaps letting the sign speak for itself?
As we reflect on the 2020 general election, it is evident that tensions ran high and divisions were deep. Nevertheless, during the first one hundred days of President Biden’s tenure, he fulfilled one of his campaign promises by successfully vaccinating 100 million Americans against COVID-19.
What are your thoughts on this controversial billboard along the roadside in Maryland? Should it be permitted to remain?
